Questions tagged [mishna]
The mishna which is part of the oral law, was written by the Tannaim in a short-form containing 6 volumes with 64 subvolumes.
241
questions
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A little Yabam who made Yibum and died
See Mishna Yevamot 7.4.
העובר, והיבם, והאירוסין, והחירש, ובן תשע שנים ויום אחד, פוסלין ולא מאכילין. ספק שהוא י בן תשע שנים ויום אחד ספק שאינו, ספק הביא שתי שערות ספק לא הביא, נפל הבית עליו ועל בת ...
3
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1answer
40 views
Why do mourners study Mishnah Kelim, Ch. 24 and Mikvaos, Ch. 7?
Mourners traditionally study two chapters of the Mishnah, these two chapters being Kelim Ch. 24 and Mikvaos Ch. 7.
Besides these sections having to do with ritual purity, what is the underlying ...
2
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0answers
23 views
The Gemoro (& Bartenura on the mishna) quotes pessukim out of order; why?
Bartenura comments on the mishna in Yoma Perek 8(1) that there are five Torah references to affliction of the soul on Yom Kippur. The pessukim in the order in which he quotes them are:
Vayikro 23:32
...
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0answers
50 views
Orientation of Kahati's map of the Beis Hamikdash
R' Kahati's map of the Beis Hamikdash - that is printed just before the beginning of Meseches Midos - has South at the top and North at the bottom. I have always found this a little confusing, being ...
1
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1answer
33 views
Is there any glossary of all the plants mentioned in zeraim?
I have been trying to learn zeraim, but I keep getting stuck on all the names of the plants. Is there any comprehensive listing?
2
votes
0answers
36 views
Difference between תא and לשכה
Middos 4:3 uses the term תאים to refer to the 38 chambers in the Beis HaMikdash.
I was surprised to see this usage, as the term לשכה appears 29 times in Mishnayos, plus another 12 in the plural, ...
1
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1answer
74 views
How life stories turned into Halachot - Mishnaic examples?
The first Mishna in Brochos states:
מעשה ובאו בניו מבית המשתה אמרו לו לא קרינו את שמע אמר להם אם לא עלה עמוד השחר חייבין אתם לקרות
There was an incident where Rabban Gamliel’s sons returned ...
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0answers
59 views
Why is it important that Shammay's daughter-in-law gave birth?
I heard the Gemmorah is justifying Rebbe for omitting key words in the Mishna for his brevity. Succah 2,8 says:
מַעֲשֶׂה וְיָלְדָה כַלָּתוֹ שֶׁל שַׁמַּאי הַזָּקֵן וּפִחֵת אֶת הַמַּעֲזִיבָה ...
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1answer
41 views
קיים vs עומד in Avot 1:18
I occasionally see Pirke Avot 1:18 recited as saying that on three things העולם קיים, and occasionally as on three things העולם עומד. Is there a reason for the discrepancy between Kayam and Omeid?
1
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1answer
40 views
What is learned from the story in Succah 2.7?
מִי שֶׁהָיָה רֹאשׁוֹ וְרֻבּוֹ בַסֻּכָּה, וְשֻׁלְחָנוֹ בְתוֹךְ הַבַּיִת, בֵּית שַׁמַּאי פּוֹסְלִין, וּבֵית הִלֵּל מַכְשִׁירִין.
אָמְרוּ לָהֶן בֵּית הִלֵּל לְבֵית שַׁמַּאי, לֹא כָךְ הָיָה מַעֲשֶׂה, ...
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0answers
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Why the minimal footage of a Succah is not mentioned in the Mishnah?
The first Mishnah in Succah discusses the height of Schach but not the measures. Subsequently, the Mishnah does not deal with it at all (Mishna 2.7 discusses the placement of the table independently ...
2
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1answer
29 views
Better understanding masechtot ketanot
I am not knowledgeable about masechtot ketanot. Wikipedia writes they are essays from the Tannaitic period or later dealing with topics about which no formal tractate exists in the Mishnah. I ...
6
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0answers
47 views
What resources can help me understand agriculture for Zeraim?
I am studying Mishnayot from Seder Zeraim and I am often having difficulties because I have no idea how agriculture worked in the days of the Second Temple (or even today). Are there any good ...
4
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1answer
70 views
Learning one mesechta l'ilui Nishmas for two people
It is customary to learn mishnayos in order to elevate the soul of the deceased. Can one learn one tractate of Mishna and have in mind two deceased people l'ilui nishmasom, or can you only have in ...
2
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1answer
31 views
Why is omitting the nighttime Shema called an “aveirah” and not a “bittul aseh?” (Berachos 2a)
The mishnah on Berachos 2a teaches us that according to Chachamim one can say Krias Shema until chatzos ("midnight").
The mishnah proceeds to tell us that anytime Chachamim say a mitzvah can be ...
3
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1answer
251 views
Did Rabbi Akiva accept arguments from ignorance?
There's a common principle found in various academic disciplines, that absence of proof does not equal proof of absence (ie: a lack of evidence for something doesn't mean that it does not exist). I am ...
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2answers
240 views
How many Mitzvos does the Mishnah cover?
How many (out of the 613 Deoraytah) Mitzvos are explicitly discussed in the 6 Sdarim of the Mishah (not including those that are only mentioned tangentially, like Kibud Av at the beginning of Peah)?
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1answer
64 views
Did Beruriah add to, “Women are light-headed,” to say, “…except Beruriah”?
I'm seeing a couple of secondary sources which suggest, without citing a primary source, that Beruriah may have supplemented her husband's teaching "Women are light-headed", either orally or in ...
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0answers
21 views
Whoever saves one soul is like saving the whole world - Mishna edition [duplicate]
There is a famous quote from the Talmud: "Whoever saves one soul is like saving the whole world".
The origin of this quote in the Babylonian Talmud is a Mishna (Sanhedrin 4:5), but the translation is ...
3
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1answer
52 views
What time of day was the afternoon korban mincha offered in the beit hamikdash, according to hazal?
At what halachic hour did chazal think the korban mincha was actually offered, assuming ideal circumstances? I.e. when they say "from the time of the mincha and onwards" (e.g. Rosh Hashana 4:4) what ...
6
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1answer
224 views
Why does the Mishnah use the terms poor person and homeowner when discussing carrying on Shabbat?
This first Mishna in Shabbat (2a) describes the transfer of an item from a private domain to a public domain. The Mishna describes the individuals involved in this transfer as
העני עומד בחוץ ובעל ...
5
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1answer
257 views
Why record retracted opinions in the mishnah?
The mishna Keilim 9:2 records a disagreement between Beit Hillel and Beit Shammai, and then records that Beit Hillel retracted their opinion and agreed with Beit Shammai.
חבית שהיא מלאה משקין ...
4
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1answer
169 views
Writing/drawing in the sand on Shabbos
The Mishnah (Shabbos 12:5) rules that writing in the sand is permitted:
כָּתַב בְּמַשְׁקִין, בְּמֵי פֵרוֹת, בַּאֲבַק דְּרָכִים, בַּאֲבַק הַסּוֹפְרִים, וּבְכָל דָּבָר שֶׁאֵינוֹ מִתְקַיֵּם, פָּטוּר
...
3
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1answer
67 views
What did the Nazir's death add to the story?
Nazir 1:7 states:
הֲרֵינִי נָזִיר כְּמִנְיַן יְמוֹת הַחַמָּה, מוֹנֶה נְזִירוּת כְּמִנְיַן יְמוֹת הַחַמָּה. אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוּדָה, מַעֲשֶׂה הָיָה, כֵּיוָן שֶׁהִשְׁלִים מֵת:
[If one says], “...
7
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1answer
91 views
Does the Mishnah have Taamei Mikrah?
In this book (end of #20, in bold), R' Shmaryahu Horowitz quotes the book "Maase Efod" by R' Yitzhak ben Moshe Halevy (1350-1415), that lists the proper ways of Torah learning and mentions that there ...
5
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1answer
72 views
Why does the Vilna Gaon use the Yerushalmi version of Beitzo 1:10?
The Vilna Gaon famously held that there is no proof from Chazal that the obligation of tefillin applies on Chol HaMo'eid. In Bi'ur HaGro on Shulchan Oruch Orach Chayyim 31:2:2, he refutes the most ...
4
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1answer
469 views
Why teaching kids Torah is the only forbidden profession for singles Yihud-wise?
The Mishnah in Kiddushin (4,12-14) outlines the laws of Yihud. While the Toseftah provided in #14 warns in general about teaching "his son a woman’s trade", the only profession that is explicitly ...
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1answer
23 views
Source for translating סופר as scribe in Kiddushin
The Sefaria's translation of the Mishnah in Kiddushin 4, 13 says:
לֹא יִלְמַד אָדָם רַוָּק סוֹפְרִים, וְלֹא תִלְמַד אִשָּׁה סוֹפְרִים.
An unmarried man must not learn to be a scribe, nor may a ...
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Why do mishnayot teach historical halachot?
Why are there mishnayot which discuss halachot of situations that occured in history and can never occur again?
As an example of this phenomenon, consider Nega'im 7:1:
אֵלּוּ בֶהָרוֹת טְהוֹרוֹת. ...
5
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1answer
205 views
How to determine who offered the second Korban Tamid of the day?
The mishnah in Tamid 3:1 and Yoma 2:3 says there was a daily lottery for who would bring the (morning) Korban Tamid.
There was another Korban Tamid every day.
How was the person for the second Tamid ...
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7answers
295 views
Study Mishna or Mishna-and-Gemara?
There are books and courses on studying the Mishna. Just the Mishna. Why would anyone want to study the Mishna by itself, without studying the Gemara at the same time? Practically speaking, when ...
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1answer
95 views
How can one say “my son is Mamzer”?
הָאוֹמֵר, בְּנִי זֶה מַמְזֵר ... רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר (להלכה), נֶאֱמָנן:
If a man declares, “this son of mine is a mamzer” ... Rabbi Judah says: he is believed. (Mishnah Kiddushin 4,8 adopted)
...
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1answer
59 views
Why is pekida used instead of bedika?
Mishnah Nida 1.1:
שַׁמַּאי אוֹמֵר, כָּל הַנָּשִׁים דַּיָּן שְׁעָתָן. הִלֵּל אוֹמֵר, מִפְּקִידָה לִפְקִידָה, וַאֲפִלּוּ לְיָמִים הַרְבֵּה. וַחֲכָמִים אוֹמְרִים, לֹא כְדִבְרֵי זֶה וְלֹא כְדִבְרֵי זֶה,...
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2answers
43 views
What does R. Meir hold about the case in Nega'im 6:2?
Nega'im 6:3:
בַּהֶרֶת כַּגְּרִיס וּבָהּ מִחְיָה פְחוּתָה מִכָּעֲדָשָׁה ... רָבְתָה הַמִּחְיָה, טְמֵאָה. נִתְמַעֲטָה, רַבִּי מֵאִיר מְטַמֵּא, וַחֲכָמִים מְטַהֲרִים, שֶׁאֵין הַנֶּגַע פּוֹשֶׂה ...
3
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2answers
111 views
Why are doubtful nega'im (generally) pure? (Nega'im 5:1)
Nega'im 5:1 teaches that all cases of doubtful nega'im are to be ruled pure, with two exceptions:
A case where it is unclear whether white hairs in a nega' appeared before or after the nega' itself.
...
2
votes
1answer
61 views
Irrelevant case in Chagiga 1:7?
The Mishna in Chagiga 1:7 continues from the previous mishna (1:6)
in talking about different explanations for the passuk ״מעות לא יוכל לתקון וחסרון לא יוכל להימנות״- “a crookedness that cannot be ...
0
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1answer
48 views
Do we force someone along the דרך מוציאתו מידי עבירה, according to R. Akiva?
Mishnayos Y'vamos chapter 15:
האשה שהלכה היא ובעלה למדינת הים ובאה ואמרה מת בעלי, תינשא ותיטול כתובתה וצרתה אסורה. היתה בת ישראל לכהן, תאכל בתרומה, דברי רבי טרפון. רבי עקיבא אומר, אין זו דרך ...
3
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0answers
31 views
Circular reasoning in deriving the time that kohanim can eat terumah and the time that the evening Shema can be recited
The very first Mishnah (Berachot 1:1) states that the earliest time for the recitation of the evening Shema is the time that kohanim can eat terumah:
מאימתי קורין את שמע בערבין משעה שהכהנים נכנסים ...
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0answers
22 views
If Beis Din knew the time of the molad, why have witnesses testify? [duplicate]
In the second parek of Rosh Hashana, the mishna explains how the court would interrogate witnesses who claimed to see the new moon. Only if their testimony agreed with the court's prediction of the ...
3
votes
1answer
48 views
Why is the case of the near-simultaneous deaths in Y'vamos chapter 7?
The seventh chapter of Mishayos Y'vamos discusses under what circumstances someone related to a kohen can eat t'ruma, depending on their relation and on what other relatives are alive. But in the ...
0
votes
2answers
75 views
Why is a statement by רבי included in a beraisa and not in a mishnah?
On Shabbos 147b the phrase is found:
דתניא אמר רבי כשהיינו למדין תורה אצל רבי שמעון בתקוע
I understand that the word “רבי" refers to Rebbi Judah ha-Nasi, the compiler of the mishnah, and that the ...
11
votes
5answers
593 views
What should I use for Mishna study?
I'm new to Mishna study, and I want to participate in a communal effort to study Mishna. I picked out a section to study, and now I need to find a convenient resource to learn from. I don't ...
0
votes
0answers
50 views
Why Mishnah doesn't mention Halochos of Mishloach Manot, Matanot laEvionim and the Seudah?
Following my previous question on the origin of Purim Halochos, I wondered why the Mishnah doesn't mention Halochos of Mishloach Manot, Matanot laEvionim, and the Seudah and only mentions a lot of ...
1
vote
0answers
29 views
Name of avoda zara in the mishna?
Avoda Zara 3, 4:
שאל פרוקלוס... שהיה רוחץ במרחץ של אפרודיטי
Proclus asked... because he was washing in the bathroom of aphroditi ...
Given it is forbidden to say name of avoda zara (Sanhedrin ...
2
votes
1answer
51 views
Mishnayot not in Bavli
Does anyone know of a list of all Mishnayot to which there is no Gemara in Talmud Bavli? I.e., those Mishnayot that are not quoted at the head of a section of their own Gemara.
Apologies if this ...
0
votes
0answers
26 views
5 or 6 - Written vs Oral Torah (Z"A vs Malchus)
This question is intended only for those familiar with some basic Kabbalistic concepts.
As we know (from יהו"ה), that ו (Vav, number 6) stands for Z"A (masculine) and ה (He, number 5) stands for ...
9
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5answers
784 views
Reading Mishnayos without understanding
Is it considered Talmud Torah if one just reads mishnayos without understanding what he's saying?
7
votes
1answer
127 views
Generally speaking, how should one interpret Mishnayos that go off-tangent?
To pose a few examples of the types of Mishnayos I'm speaking about:
Pesachim 4:1-5 discusses various activities which depend on the local custom, most of which have nothing to do with Pesach
Gittin ...
2
votes
2answers
94 views
What does it mean “…idleness leads to Shiamum”?
Mishnah Ketubot 5:5:
רַבָּן שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן גַּמְלִיאֵל אוֹמֵר, אַף הַמַּדִּיר אֶת אִשְׁתּוֹ מִלַּעֲשׂוֹת מְלָאכָה,
יוֹצִיא וְיִתֵּן כְּתֻבָּתָהּ, שֶׁהַבַּטָּלָה מְבִיאָה לִידֵי שִׁעֲמוּם:
......
0
votes
2answers
102 views
Acquiring Torah without Subvocalization
The Mishnah in Avos (6.6) tells of difference ways to acquire Torah. Here is Rashi’s commentary on one of the items, translated by Sefaria.org.
בַּעֲרִיכַת שְׂפָתַיִם. שֶׁאֵינוֹ מְגַמְגֵּם ...
