Mishnah Video

How and why the Oral Torah came to be put in writing for the first time.

Rabbi Yehudah HaNassi put the Oral Torah down on paper in the year 212, in the form known as the Mishnah. What prompted this radical move in the history of Jewish literacy? What constitutes the Mishnah? And what is its function in the Tradition?

Rabbi Judah the Prince (circa 135–219 CE), also known as Rabbeinu Hakadosh, is credited with having compiled statements of earlier sages to form the Mishnah, when the Oral Law was in peril of being forgotten. In this class we also go through Maimonides’ list of the generations of Torah transmission.

The tractates of this book of the Mishnah explain the detailed laws of agriculture, including kohanic gifts and tithes for the poor. Also treated are the laws of prayer and blessings.

This Book of the Mishnah deals with the Jewish calendar, its festivals and important days. Included are the laws of refraining from labor on Sabbath and Holidays.

The importance and uniqueness of Jewish education. How the Mishnah, arranged by Rabbi Yehuda Hanasi, shaped generations of Jewish children.

On the 15th of Av young men and women would meet in the vineyards of Jerusalem for the purpose of finding their soul-mate. The beautiful girls among them would declare that a young man aught set his eyes to beauty alone. The Talmud does not censure them, even mildly. But surely, as Scripture states, "Charm is false and beauty has no substance"?! (Likutei Sichos vol. 19, p. 80)

Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz discusses the first element of the Oral Law, the Mishna. He discusses the orderly organization of this large work. He then proceeds to how the Talmud develops as a commentary on the Mishna.

This Book of the Mishnah addresses laws governing aspects of Jewish family life such as marriage, betrothal, divorce and inheritance.

Civil litigation, criminal codes, business regulations, and real es¬tate law are all treated in this Book of the Mishnah.

The "holy things" referred to in this Book of the Mishnah are the sacrifices performed in the Temple by the kohanim (priests).

This final Book of the Mishnah deals with the complex laws of the ritual purity and defilement of people and of objects as well as the means for purification.

At the age of twelve, Menachem completed learning the entire 6 books of the Mishna.

“The Alter Rebbe writes that in the merit of the study of Mishnah we will be redeemed from exile. May you bear good tidings in your project to encourage Mishnah study in memory of those who perished in the Holocaust.”

When Mrs. Alice Zlotnick’s husband, Professor Dov Zlotnick, told the Rebbe about the success of his Talmud class in Riverdale, New York, he received an unexpected challenge, which he duly passed on to his wife.

“The Alter Rebbe writes that in the merit of the study of Mishnah we will be redeemed from exile. May you bear good tidings in your project to encourage Mishnah study in memory of those who perished in the Holocaust.”