The Mishnah: Foundation of the Oral Law

The Mishnah: Foundation of the Oral Law

The Mishnah (מִשְׁנָה, "repetition" or "study") is the first written codification of the Jewish oral law. It was compiled by Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi (the Prince) around 200 CE in Galilee, at a time when the oral transmission of tradition was endangered by Roman persecution and the dispersion of the Jewish people.

The Six Orders (Shas)

The Mishnah is organized into six orders (sedarim), collectively known as Shas (שס, acronym for Shisha Sedarim):

1. Zeraim (Seeds, 11 tractates): Agricultural laws, blessings, and prayers. Includes tractate Berachot (blessings).
2. Moed (Festival, 12 tractates): Laws of Shabbat and festivals (Passover, Sukkot, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, etc.).
3. Nashim (Women, 7 tractates): Laws of marriage, divorce, vows, and naziriteship.
4. Nezikin (Damages, 10 tractates): Civil and criminal law, damages, property, courts. Includes tractate Avot (Ethics of the Fathers).
5. Kodashim (Holy Things, 11 tractates): Temple laws, sacrifices, sacred foods, and shechitah (ritual slaughter).
6. Taharot (Purities, 12 tractates): Laws of ritual purity and impurity.

Relationship with the Torah

The Mishnah does not replace the written Torah but explains and develops it. Jewish tradition holds that at Sinai, Moses received both the Written Torah and the Oral Torah. The Mishnah is the oldest and most authoritative expression of that oral tradition. Example: the Torah commands "do not work on Shabbat," but the Mishnah defines what constitutes "work" (39 categories of melakhah).

Language and Style

The Mishnah is written in Mishnaic Hebrew (distinct from Biblical Hebrew), a concise and legalistic language. It uses a case-and-dispute format: "The House of Hillel says... The House of Shammai says..." The discussions record multiple opinions, reflecting the principle that "these and those are the words of the living God."

Importance

Without the Mishnah, the laws of the Torah would be impossible to apply. It is the foundation of the Talmud, and without it rabbinic Judaism would not exist. Today it is studied in all streams of Judaism as a fundamental part of the curriculum.

Recommended reading: The Mishnah: A New Translation (Herbert Danby); Introduction to the Mishnah (J. Neusner). The Hebrew text with Rambam's commentary. Tractate Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers) is the most accessible.