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Mishnah



The Hebrew verb shanah “to repeat” in its technical sense means to learn or teach oral tradition by repeated recitation, in contrast to qara', to study the Holy Scriptures. The derivative noun is mishnah. The Mishnah is in Hebrew language.

Mishnah therefore means study as well as oral instruction. In this sense the Mishnah comprises the three branches of tradition: midrash as the interpretation of the text of Scripture; the halakhot as the statutes formulated independently of Scripture; and finally the haggadot, i.e. all non-halakhic material.

More specifically, Mishnah designates the entire religions law formulated until 200 AD, but also the teaching of a teacher (Tannaite) active in this period as well as an individual proposition (halakhah). The Mishnahpar excellence is the collection attributed to Rabbi Yehudah ha-Nasi.

In its extant form, Mishnah consists of six main divisions or orders (sedarim). This explains the traditional designation of the Talmud as Shas (an abbreviation of shishah sedarim, “six orders”). Each seder has a number of Tractates (massekhot). The Tractates are subdivided into chapters (peraqim), and these in turn into sentence (mishnah, or in the Israeli Talmud halakhah).

  • first Order: Zera'im, “Seeds” (11 Tractates), laws pertaining especially to agriculture.

  • second Order: Mo'ed, “Festival Days” (12 Tractates), Shabbat laws, Passover offerings, etc.

  • third Order: Nashim, “Women” (7 Tractates), levirate marriage, marriage contracts, vows, Nazarite vow, divorce certificate, etc.

  • forth Order: Neziqin, “Damages” (10 Tractates), compensation, use of landed property, Sanhedrin (law court), penalty of neating, types of oaths, etc.

  • fifth Order: Qodashim, “Holy Things” (11 Tractates), sacrificial victims, meal offerings, profane things, assessments, etc.

  • sixth Order: Toharot, “Purities” (12 Tractates), utensils, plagues, immersion pools, etc.

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Books of the Mishnah


Seder Zera'im

Berakhot
Pe'a
Demai
Kilayim
Shevi'it
Teroumot
Ma'asserot
Ma'asser Sheni
Hallah
'Orlah
Bikkourim

Seder Mo'ed

Shabbat
'Erouvin
Pessa'him
Sheqalim
Yoma
Soukkah
Beitza
Rosh haShanna
Ta'anit
Meguilla
Mo'ed Katan
Haguigah

Seder Nachim

Yevamot
Ketoubot
Nedarim
Nazir
Sotah
Guittin
Kiddoushin

Seder Nezikin

Baba Qamma
Baba Metzia
Baba Batra
Sanhedrin
Makkot
Shevouot
Eduyot
Avoda Zara
Pirque Avot
Horayot

Seder Kodchim

Zevachim
Menakhot
Houllin
Bekhorot
Arakhin
Temourah
Keritot
Meilah
Tamid
Middot
Kinim

Seder Toharot

Kelim
Oholot
Negaïm
Para
Tohorot
Mikva'ot
Nidda
Makhshirin
Zavim
Tevoul Yom
Yadayim
Uktzin



The Mishnah is mainly a legal work which records major debates of Jewish law. Statements in the Mishnah are usually short and record only the main teachings of the various rabbis debating a subject or the consensus view.

The rabbis of the Mishnah are known as ''Tannaim'' (singular ''Tanna''); many teachings in the Mishnah are reported in the name of a particular Tanna. Sometimes statements are made without attribution to a particular Rabbi, this often indicates that such a statement was the commonly accepted view.

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