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The Mishnah - Writing Down Jewish Law | The Jewish Story | Unpacked
With the destruction of the Second Temple, the rabbis feared for the survival of Jewish life and practice. After generations of strong leaders kept learning alive, the Oral Law was written down for the first time to ensure it would always endure. This text — the Mishnah — still forms the basis of Jewish law or halacha millenia later. So who made the radical decision to write the laws down and what exactly does the Mishnah contain?
The Jewish Story Explained is based on the book "Letters to Auntie Fori: 5,000 Years of Jewish History and their Faith" by Martin Gilbert
Chapters
00:00 Intro
01:04 Pharisees vs. Sadducees
01:43 Pharisee leaders become Rabbis
02:06 Zugot in the Sanhedrin
02:58 Simeon ben Shetach
03:35 Beit Hillel
04:23 Rabban Gamliel and Rabban Simeon ben Gamliel
04:41 Beit Sha...
published: 14 Dec 2020
-
The Mishnah (Essential Lectures in Jewish History) Dr. Henry Abramson
Compiled by Rabbi Yehuda Ha-Nasi in an exceptionally difficult time for the Jewish people, the Mishnah created the possibility of creating a "portable Judaism." After the destruction of the Temple in 70 and the dramatic escalation of the diaspora, the Mishnah allowed Jews to define their religion within an intellectual and textual context, outside of the traditional Temple service.
Join our Community! Membership categories as Student, Researcher and Colleague, explained: https://youtu.be/MQztjZZMfJg
published: 14 Oct 2013
-
What is the Mishnah? Jewish Book of Oral Torah / Oral Law Explained
Ever wonder what is meant by the "Oral Torah" or "Oral Law" (Torah she'b'al Peh) in Jewish sacred literature? Ever hear of "the Mishnah" but don't know what it is? I'll explain in this video what it is, where it came from, why it's so important, and why it's relevant for your life today.
More wisdom from the Mishnah can be found in my upcoming book, The Promised Life. To download the first chapter today, and see if it's for you, click on this link to join the Book Squad: http://bit.ly/BookSquadSampleChapter
If you'd like to know more about this or another Jewish topic, connect with me on the following platforms:
FACEBOOK: http://facebook.com/rabbicarrier
TWITTER: http://twitter.com/rabbicarrier
WEBSITE: http://rabbijohncarrier.com
Or you can meet me and learn with me at my synagogue, B...
published: 02 Jan 2018
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Decoding the Mishnah
October 14, 2021 | Zoom
Mira Balberg, UC San Diego
published: 19 Oct 2021
-
23. The Mishnah (Jewish History Lab)
Brief description of the reign of King Herod (37-4 BCE). This lecture is also part of the course entitled Biblical Jewish History: From Abraham to Bar Kochba. Course information and registration here: https://henryabramson.com/course/bibl...
For recommended reading, please visit: https://henryabramson.com/recommended...
Online Courses:
Biblical Jewish History: From Abraham to Bar Kochba
Course information and registration here: https://henryabramson.com/course/bibl...
A Thousand Years of Ashkenaz!
Course information and registration here: https://henryabramson.com/course/a-th...
Interested in studying more deeply with our Membership perks?
Join our learning community of students, researchers and colleagues: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeNr6gwqin_7e_atjVnJcCQ/join
published: 08 Dec 2020
-
Where Do Jewish Laws Come From? Intro to Torah, Talmud, Halacha
While everyone knows about the Bible, many don't realize the many books that followed after it in Jewish tradition. These books and the bible weave together to create the rules Jews follow to this day.
SUBSCRIBE to RJ on the GO: https://reformjudaism.org/rjonthego to attend live, interactive, virtual experiences for children and families.
FOLLOW
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reformjudaism
Twitter: https://twitter.com/reformjudaism
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reformjudaism/
ABOUT US
BimBam sparks connections to Judaism through digital storytelling for learners of all ages. Founded in 2008, BimBam’s catalog of hundreds of animated videos and other digital content are now under the auspices of the Union for Reform Judaism, and many can be found on its flagship educational web...
published: 20 Dec 2017
-
The Emergence of the Mishnah (History of the Talmud, Part 2)
Second part of the History of the Talmud series, which briefly describes the history of this important document. Comments are shut off to avoid having to deal with crazy people.
published: 26 Aug 2019
-
The Mishnah
What is the Mishnah? When was it written? What was its historical context? What was the reason this work was created? Should we as believers in Yeshua be using this work?
published: 16 Oct 2015
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The Dangers of The Talmud and Mishnah Part 2
published: 22 Jun 2017
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What's the Mishnah, and what does "Mishnah" mean anyway? ✡ Introduction to the Mishnah 1/4
WATCH SERIES HERE: https://goo.gl/2gdUYj
The Mishnah. Surrounded by urban legends, everyone seems to have an opinion about it - but few have actually read it. Jesus kept it, the Romans outlawed it, the Talmud is commentary on it, and Judaism today is based on it.
The Mishnah and the New Testament come from the same Jewish world - and they have more in common than you would think. Welcome to my new series, Mishnah Snapshots - looking specifically at how the Mishnah sheds light on the New Testament. These startlingly personal glimpses of Yeshua of Nazareth through the lens of ancient Jewish law won't just give you a new perspective on the Bible - they'll make your relationship with Yeshua, and with his Jewish people, better than ever. If you like explosions, you're going to love these less...
published: 18 Feb 2018
10:57
The Mishnah - Writing Down Jewish Law | The Jewish Story | Unpacked
With the destruction of the Second Temple, the rabbis feared for the survival of Jewish life and practice. After generations of strong leaders kept learning ali...
With the destruction of the Second Temple, the rabbis feared for the survival of Jewish life and practice. After generations of strong leaders kept learning alive, the Oral Law was written down for the first time to ensure it would always endure. This text — the Mishnah — still forms the basis of Jewish law or halacha millenia later. So who made the radical decision to write the laws down and what exactly does the Mishnah contain?
The Jewish Story Explained is based on the book "Letters to Auntie Fori: 5,000 Years of Jewish History and their Faith" by Martin Gilbert
Chapters
00:00 Intro
01:04 Pharisees vs. Sadducees
01:43 Pharisee leaders become Rabbis
02:06 Zugot in the Sanhedrin
02:58 Simeon ben Shetach
03:35 Beit Hillel
04:23 Rabban Gamliel and Rabban Simeon ben Gamliel
04:41 Beit Shammai
05:07 Hillel and Shammai
05:48 Tannaim and Chachamim - expansion of commentary on Oral Law
06:38 Famous Tannaim
06:57 The Beit Din in Yavne and the Galilee
07:22 Rav Judah Ha-Nasi compiles the Mishnah
09:16 Jewish life shifts to Torah study and practice
10:00 Overview of lead up to writing down the Oral Torah
Subscribe and turn on your notifications so you don’t miss future uploads!
https://www.youtube.com/UNPACKED?sub_confirmation=1
Missed the last episode? Check it out here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7VHU-eEsoY
Recommended series — “History of Israel Explained”
https://youtu.be/t-sbCMYaFB8?list=PL-DNOnmKkUabmHqdEAhdCAd02JleQjPhA
Let’s connect:
Website — https://www.jewishunpacked.com
Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/jewishunpacked
Twitter — https://twitter.com/jewishunpacked
TikTok — https://www.tiktok.com/@jewishunpacked
Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/jewishunpacked
-----------
Co-Executive Producers:
- Shmuel Katz
- Melinda Goldrich
Gold Level:
- Goldrich Family Foundation
- Morrie Silverman & Lori Komisar
This series would not be possible without the generous support of Esther Gilbert and Michael Kagan
About Jewish Story Explained: Understand three thousand years of Jewish history in these short videos based on the book Letters to Auntie Fori: The 5,000-Year History of the Jewish People and Their Faith by the renowned historian Sir Martin Gilbert. Learn the Jewish story from the ancient Israelites of the Bible to Hellenization, the Jews of the Middle Ages to modern day, and more.
About Unpacked: We provide nuanced insights by unpacking all things Jewish. People are complex and complicated — yet we’re constantly being pushed to oversimplify our world. At Unpacked we know that being complex makes us more interesting. Because of this, we break the world down with nuance and insight to drive your curiosity and challenge your thinking.
#Jewish #History #Judaism
https://wn.com/The_Mishnah_Writing_Down_Jewish_Law_|_The_Jewish_Story_|_Unpacked
With the destruction of the Second Temple, the rabbis feared for the survival of Jewish life and practice. After generations of strong leaders kept learning alive, the Oral Law was written down for the first time to ensure it would always endure. This text — the Mishnah — still forms the basis of Jewish law or halacha millenia later. So who made the radical decision to write the laws down and what exactly does the Mishnah contain?
The Jewish Story Explained is based on the book "Letters to Auntie Fori: 5,000 Years of Jewish History and their Faith" by Martin Gilbert
Chapters
00:00 Intro
01:04 Pharisees vs. Sadducees
01:43 Pharisee leaders become Rabbis
02:06 Zugot in the Sanhedrin
02:58 Simeon ben Shetach
03:35 Beit Hillel
04:23 Rabban Gamliel and Rabban Simeon ben Gamliel
04:41 Beit Shammai
05:07 Hillel and Shammai
05:48 Tannaim and Chachamim - expansion of commentary on Oral Law
06:38 Famous Tannaim
06:57 The Beit Din in Yavne and the Galilee
07:22 Rav Judah Ha-Nasi compiles the Mishnah
09:16 Jewish life shifts to Torah study and practice
10:00 Overview of lead up to writing down the Oral Torah
Subscribe and turn on your notifications so you don’t miss future uploads!
https://www.youtube.com/UNPACKED?sub_confirmation=1
Missed the last episode? Check it out here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7VHU-eEsoY
Recommended series — “History of Israel Explained”
https://youtu.be/t-sbCMYaFB8?list=PL-DNOnmKkUabmHqdEAhdCAd02JleQjPhA
Let’s connect:
Website — https://www.jewishunpacked.com
Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/jewishunpacked
Twitter — https://twitter.com/jewishunpacked
TikTok — https://www.tiktok.com/@jewishunpacked
Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/jewishunpacked
-----------
Co-Executive Producers:
- Shmuel Katz
- Melinda Goldrich
Gold Level:
- Goldrich Family Foundation
- Morrie Silverman & Lori Komisar
This series would not be possible without the generous support of Esther Gilbert and Michael Kagan
About Jewish Story Explained: Understand three thousand years of Jewish history in these short videos based on the book Letters to Auntie Fori: The 5,000-Year History of the Jewish People and Their Faith by the renowned historian Sir Martin Gilbert. Learn the Jewish story from the ancient Israelites of the Bible to Hellenization, the Jews of the Middle Ages to modern day, and more.
About Unpacked: We provide nuanced insights by unpacking all things Jewish. People are complex and complicated — yet we’re constantly being pushed to oversimplify our world. At Unpacked we know that being complex makes us more interesting. Because of this, we break the world down with nuance and insight to drive your curiosity and challenge your thinking.
#Jewish #History #Judaism
- published: 14 Dec 2020
- views: 46384
22:24
The Mishnah (Essential Lectures in Jewish History) Dr. Henry Abramson
Compiled by Rabbi Yehuda Ha-Nasi in an exceptionally difficult time for the Jewish people, the Mishnah created the possibility of creating a "portable Judaism."...
Compiled by Rabbi Yehuda Ha-Nasi in an exceptionally difficult time for the Jewish people, the Mishnah created the possibility of creating a "portable Judaism." After the destruction of the Temple in 70 and the dramatic escalation of the diaspora, the Mishnah allowed Jews to define their religion within an intellectual and textual context, outside of the traditional Temple service.
Join our Community! Membership categories as Student, Researcher and Colleague, explained: https://youtu.be/MQztjZZMfJg
https://wn.com/The_Mishnah_(Essential_Lectures_In_Jewish_History)_Dr._Henry_Abramson
Compiled by Rabbi Yehuda Ha-Nasi in an exceptionally difficult time for the Jewish people, the Mishnah created the possibility of creating a "portable Judaism." After the destruction of the Temple in 70 and the dramatic escalation of the diaspora, the Mishnah allowed Jews to define their religion within an intellectual and textual context, outside of the traditional Temple service.
Join our Community! Membership categories as Student, Researcher and Colleague, explained: https://youtu.be/MQztjZZMfJg
- published: 14 Oct 2013
- views: 38593
9:46
What is the Mishnah? Jewish Book of Oral Torah / Oral Law Explained
Ever wonder what is meant by the "Oral Torah" or "Oral Law" (Torah she'b'al Peh) in Jewish sacred literature? Ever hear of "the Mishnah" but don't know what it ...
Ever wonder what is meant by the "Oral Torah" or "Oral Law" (Torah she'b'al Peh) in Jewish sacred literature? Ever hear of "the Mishnah" but don't know what it is? I'll explain in this video what it is, where it came from, why it's so important, and why it's relevant for your life today.
More wisdom from the Mishnah can be found in my upcoming book, The Promised Life. To download the first chapter today, and see if it's for you, click on this link to join the Book Squad: http://bit.ly/BookSquadSampleChapter
If you'd like to know more about this or another Jewish topic, connect with me on the following platforms:
FACEBOOK: http://facebook.com/rabbicarrier
TWITTER: http://twitter.com/rabbicarrier
WEBSITE: http://rabbijohncarrier.com
Or you can meet me and learn with me at my synagogue, Burbank Temple Emanu El, a Conservative synagogue in Burbank, Califronia: http://btee.org
https://wn.com/What_Is_The_Mishnah_Jewish_Book_Of_Oral_Torah_Oral_Law_Explained
Ever wonder what is meant by the "Oral Torah" or "Oral Law" (Torah she'b'al Peh) in Jewish sacred literature? Ever hear of "the Mishnah" but don't know what it is? I'll explain in this video what it is, where it came from, why it's so important, and why it's relevant for your life today.
More wisdom from the Mishnah can be found in my upcoming book, The Promised Life. To download the first chapter today, and see if it's for you, click on this link to join the Book Squad: http://bit.ly/BookSquadSampleChapter
If you'd like to know more about this or another Jewish topic, connect with me on the following platforms:
FACEBOOK: http://facebook.com/rabbicarrier
TWITTER: http://twitter.com/rabbicarrier
WEBSITE: http://rabbijohncarrier.com
Or you can meet me and learn with me at my synagogue, Burbank Temple Emanu El, a Conservative synagogue in Burbank, Califronia: http://btee.org
- published: 02 Jan 2018
- views: 11465
57:49
Decoding the Mishnah
October 14, 2021 | Zoom
Mira Balberg, UC San Diego
October 14, 2021 | Zoom
Mira Balberg, UC San Diego
https://wn.com/Decoding_The_Mishnah
October 14, 2021 | Zoom
Mira Balberg, UC San Diego
- published: 19 Oct 2021
- views: 4887
12:11
23. The Mishnah (Jewish History Lab)
Brief description of the reign of King Herod (37-4 BCE). This lecture is also part of the course entitled Biblical Jewish History: From Abraham to Bar Kochba. C...
Brief description of the reign of King Herod (37-4 BCE). This lecture is also part of the course entitled Biblical Jewish History: From Abraham to Bar Kochba. Course information and registration here: https://henryabramson.com/course/bibl...
For recommended reading, please visit: https://henryabramson.com/recommended...
Online Courses:
Biblical Jewish History: From Abraham to Bar Kochba
Course information and registration here: https://henryabramson.com/course/bibl...
A Thousand Years of Ashkenaz!
Course information and registration here: https://henryabramson.com/course/a-th...
Interested in studying more deeply with our Membership perks?
Join our learning community of students, researchers and colleagues: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeNr6gwqin_7e_atjVnJcCQ/join
https://wn.com/23._The_Mishnah_(Jewish_History_Lab)
Brief description of the reign of King Herod (37-4 BCE). This lecture is also part of the course entitled Biblical Jewish History: From Abraham to Bar Kochba. Course information and registration here: https://henryabramson.com/course/bibl...
For recommended reading, please visit: https://henryabramson.com/recommended...
Online Courses:
Biblical Jewish History: From Abraham to Bar Kochba
Course information and registration here: https://henryabramson.com/course/bibl...
A Thousand Years of Ashkenaz!
Course information and registration here: https://henryabramson.com/course/a-th...
Interested in studying more deeply with our Membership perks?
Join our learning community of students, researchers and colleagues: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeNr6gwqin_7e_atjVnJcCQ/join
- published: 08 Dec 2020
- views: 11184
3:51
Where Do Jewish Laws Come From? Intro to Torah, Talmud, Halacha
While everyone knows about the Bible, many don't realize the many books that followed after it in Jewish tradition. These books and the bible weave together to ...
While everyone knows about the Bible, many don't realize the many books that followed after it in Jewish tradition. These books and the bible weave together to create the rules Jews follow to this day.
SUBSCRIBE to RJ on the GO: https://reformjudaism.org/rjonthego to attend live, interactive, virtual experiences for children and families.
FOLLOW
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reformjudaism
Twitter: https://twitter.com/reformjudaism
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reformjudaism/
ABOUT US
BimBam sparks connections to Judaism through digital storytelling for learners of all ages. Founded in 2008, BimBam’s catalog of hundreds of animated videos and other digital content are now under the auspices of the Union for Reform Judaism, and many can be found on its flagship educational website, ReformJudaism.org. Watch something Jewish at https://reformjudaism.org.
https://wn.com/Where_Do_Jewish_Laws_Come_From_Intro_To_Torah,_Talmud,_Halacha
While everyone knows about the Bible, many don't realize the many books that followed after it in Jewish tradition. These books and the bible weave together to create the rules Jews follow to this day.
SUBSCRIBE to RJ on the GO: https://reformjudaism.org/rjonthego to attend live, interactive, virtual experiences for children and families.
FOLLOW
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reformjudaism
Twitter: https://twitter.com/reformjudaism
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reformjudaism/
ABOUT US
BimBam sparks connections to Judaism through digital storytelling for learners of all ages. Founded in 2008, BimBam’s catalog of hundreds of animated videos and other digital content are now under the auspices of the Union for Reform Judaism, and many can be found on its flagship educational website, ReformJudaism.org. Watch something Jewish at https://reformjudaism.org.
- published: 20 Dec 2017
- views: 306940
23:44
The Emergence of the Mishnah (History of the Talmud, Part 2)
Second part of the History of the Talmud series, which briefly describes the history of this important document. Comments are shut off to avoid having to deal w...
Second part of the History of the Talmud series, which briefly describes the history of this important document. Comments are shut off to avoid having to deal with crazy people.
https://wn.com/The_Emergence_Of_The_Mishnah_(History_Of_The_Talmud,_Part_2)
Second part of the History of the Talmud series, which briefly describes the history of this important document. Comments are shut off to avoid having to deal with crazy people.
- published: 26 Aug 2019
- views: 33776
12:39
The Mishnah
What is the Mishnah? When was it written? What was its historical context? What was the reason this work was created? Should we as believers in Yeshua be using ...
What is the Mishnah? When was it written? What was its historical context? What was the reason this work was created? Should we as believers in Yeshua be using this work?
https://wn.com/The_Mishnah
What is the Mishnah? When was it written? What was its historical context? What was the reason this work was created? Should we as believers in Yeshua be using this work?
- published: 16 Oct 2015
- views: 1864
18:28
What's the Mishnah, and what does "Mishnah" mean anyway? ✡ Introduction to the Mishnah 1/4
WATCH SERIES HERE: https://goo.gl/2gdUYj
The Mishnah. Surrounded by urban legends, everyone seems to have an opinion about it - but few have actually read it. ...
WATCH SERIES HERE: https://goo.gl/2gdUYj
The Mishnah. Surrounded by urban legends, everyone seems to have an opinion about it - but few have actually read it. Jesus kept it, the Romans outlawed it, the Talmud is commentary on it, and Judaism today is based on it.
The Mishnah and the New Testament come from the same Jewish world - and they have more in common than you would think. Welcome to my new series, Mishnah Snapshots - looking specifically at how the Mishnah sheds light on the New Testament. These startlingly personal glimpses of Yeshua of Nazareth through the lens of ancient Jewish law won't just give you a new perspective on the Bible - they'll make your relationship with Yeshua, and with his Jewish people, better than ever. If you like explosions, you're going to love these lessons - because we're going to be blowing urban legends out of the water at every turn.
"What is the Mishnah?"
Essentially, the Mishnah is the earliest historical record of how the Jewish people interpreted and applied the Torah. Much of the Mishnah is case law - a legal question is raised, differing opinions are noted, and finally a majority decision is reached. Sometimes a precedent is also listed - either the specific situation prompting the question, or a case illustrating it. This is called a ma'aseh, from the verb asah - to act or do. The plural of ma'aseh is ma'asim.
As a side note, this gives us a fuller understanding of the Acts of the Apostles, which in Hebrew is called the Ma'asei ha'Shlichim - the ma'asim of the shaliachs. Notably, the book of Acts contains several precedents and legal decisions arrived at by the sages of the early Messianic community.
The Mishnah is divided up into 6 orders and 63 tractates, which are further divided into 525 chapters and 4224 verses. An order is called a seder, plural sdarim. A tractate is a masechta, plural masechtot. A chapter is a perek, plural prakim. And a verse is a mishna, plural mishnayot. A verse is also called a halacha, plural halachot.
Throughout the Mishnah, a distinction is made between the written Torah and the oral Torah. The written Torah is referred to as the Torah she'bichtav - "the Torah which is in writing". Rulings which come directly from the Torah are called mi'd'Orayta in Aramaic, and min ha'Torah in Hebrew, both of which mean "from the Torah". The oral Torah is referred to as the Torah she'b'al peh - "the Torah which is on the mouth". And rulings which come from the Rabbis are called mi'd'Rabbanan - Aramaic for "from our Rabbis".
You may have heard it said that the Jewish people don't differentiate between the written and oral Torah, or that the two are placed on the same level. Well, now you know that ain't true!
The big takeaway here is that the Mishnah is how Israel interpreted and applied the Torah. And your bonus takeaway? That stuff about the Jewish people clumping the oral and written Torah together is an oralban - er, I mean, urban - legend.
"What does Mishnah actually mean?"
The word Mishnah doesn't actually mean "oral law" - it literally means "repetition". Mishnah comes from the verb shanah, from which we also get the number two - shnaim. This probably refers to how the Mishnah was originally transmitted. It was taught word of mouth and repeated until memorized. This verb is behind the following two Hebrew words translated in these verses as "repeating" and "copy".
"Now as for the *repeating* of the dream to Pharaoh twice, it means that the matter is determined by God, and God will quickly bring it about." (Genesis 41:32)
"Now it shall come about when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself a *copy( of this Torah on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests." (Deuteronomy 17:18)
Considering that Mishnah is related to the Hebrew word for two, it's probably not suprising that Mishnah also means "second", as is visible in the following verse.
He had him ride in his *second* chariot; and they proclaimed before him, "Bow the knee!" And he set him over all the land of Egypt. (Genesis 41:43)
You may be wondering, why is the Mishnah referred to as "second"? The preface to the Mishnah published by Judaica Press in 1964 answers, "The Mishnah is second in importance to the Torah".
So your first big takeaway is that the Hebrew word Mishnah means both repetition - I repeat, it means repetition - and secondly, it means second. The second meaning is that it means second.
And a bonus takeaway? While the Mishnah was the Jewish law that was originally communicated orally, Mishnah doesn't literally mean "oral law" - that's something of an urban myth.
WATCH MISHNAH SNAPSHOTS HERE: https://goo.gl/2gdUYj
TEXT VERSION: https://goo.gl/pQWv5d
POWERPOINT: https://goo.gl/ENTRSw
https://wn.com/What's_The_Mishnah,_And_What_Does_Mishnah_Mean_Anyway_✡_Introduction_To_The_Mishnah_1_4
WATCH SERIES HERE: https://goo.gl/2gdUYj
The Mishnah. Surrounded by urban legends, everyone seems to have an opinion about it - but few have actually read it. Jesus kept it, the Romans outlawed it, the Talmud is commentary on it, and Judaism today is based on it.
The Mishnah and the New Testament come from the same Jewish world - and they have more in common than you would think. Welcome to my new series, Mishnah Snapshots - looking specifically at how the Mishnah sheds light on the New Testament. These startlingly personal glimpses of Yeshua of Nazareth through the lens of ancient Jewish law won't just give you a new perspective on the Bible - they'll make your relationship with Yeshua, and with his Jewish people, better than ever. If you like explosions, you're going to love these lessons - because we're going to be blowing urban legends out of the water at every turn.
"What is the Mishnah?"
Essentially, the Mishnah is the earliest historical record of how the Jewish people interpreted and applied the Torah. Much of the Mishnah is case law - a legal question is raised, differing opinions are noted, and finally a majority decision is reached. Sometimes a precedent is also listed - either the specific situation prompting the question, or a case illustrating it. This is called a ma'aseh, from the verb asah - to act or do. The plural of ma'aseh is ma'asim.
As a side note, this gives us a fuller understanding of the Acts of the Apostles, which in Hebrew is called the Ma'asei ha'Shlichim - the ma'asim of the shaliachs. Notably, the book of Acts contains several precedents and legal decisions arrived at by the sages of the early Messianic community.
The Mishnah is divided up into 6 orders and 63 tractates, which are further divided into 525 chapters and 4224 verses. An order is called a seder, plural sdarim. A tractate is a masechta, plural masechtot. A chapter is a perek, plural prakim. And a verse is a mishna, plural mishnayot. A verse is also called a halacha, plural halachot.
Throughout the Mishnah, a distinction is made between the written Torah and the oral Torah. The written Torah is referred to as the Torah she'bichtav - "the Torah which is in writing". Rulings which come directly from the Torah are called mi'd'Orayta in Aramaic, and min ha'Torah in Hebrew, both of which mean "from the Torah". The oral Torah is referred to as the Torah she'b'al peh - "the Torah which is on the mouth". And rulings which come from the Rabbis are called mi'd'Rabbanan - Aramaic for "from our Rabbis".
You may have heard it said that the Jewish people don't differentiate between the written and oral Torah, or that the two are placed on the same level. Well, now you know that ain't true!
The big takeaway here is that the Mishnah is how Israel interpreted and applied the Torah. And your bonus takeaway? That stuff about the Jewish people clumping the oral and written Torah together is an oralban - er, I mean, urban - legend.
"What does Mishnah actually mean?"
The word Mishnah doesn't actually mean "oral law" - it literally means "repetition". Mishnah comes from the verb shanah, from which we also get the number two - shnaim. This probably refers to how the Mishnah was originally transmitted. It was taught word of mouth and repeated until memorized. This verb is behind the following two Hebrew words translated in these verses as "repeating" and "copy".
"Now as for the *repeating* of the dream to Pharaoh twice, it means that the matter is determined by God, and God will quickly bring it about." (Genesis 41:32)
"Now it shall come about when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself a *copy( of this Torah on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests." (Deuteronomy 17:18)
Considering that Mishnah is related to the Hebrew word for two, it's probably not suprising that Mishnah also means "second", as is visible in the following verse.
He had him ride in his *second* chariot; and they proclaimed before him, "Bow the knee!" And he set him over all the land of Egypt. (Genesis 41:43)
You may be wondering, why is the Mishnah referred to as "second"? The preface to the Mishnah published by Judaica Press in 1964 answers, "The Mishnah is second in importance to the Torah".
So your first big takeaway is that the Hebrew word Mishnah means both repetition - I repeat, it means repetition - and secondly, it means second. The second meaning is that it means second.
And a bonus takeaway? While the Mishnah was the Jewish law that was originally communicated orally, Mishnah doesn't literally mean "oral law" - that's something of an urban myth.
WATCH MISHNAH SNAPSHOTS HERE: https://goo.gl/2gdUYj
TEXT VERSION: https://goo.gl/pQWv5d
POWERPOINT: https://goo.gl/ENTRSw
- published: 18 Feb 2018
- views: 9648