mishnayot

Mishnayot are the written codification of the Oral Torah, compiled by Rabbi Judah ha-Nasi in the early 3rd century CE. The term mishnah means "repetition" or "study by repetition." The Mishnah forms the first major redaction of Rabbinic law and serves as the foundational text of Halakha, used in later discussions and as a basis for the Talmud. It is studied and cited alongside the Gemara in the Talmud.

The Mishnah comprises six orders (sedarim): Zeraim, Moed, Nashim, Nezikin, Kodashim, and Taharot. Each order contains multiple tractates (masekhtot), totaling about 63 across the collection. The text is written in Mishnaic Hebrew, with concise legal rulings, short dialogues, and practical directives.

Content and purpose: It codifies rabbinic opinions, biblical interpretations, and practical rulings on agriculture, festivals, marriage, civil and criminal law, ritual purity, and sacred things. It emphasizes legal reasoning and the transmission of tradition.

Authorship and history: While transmitting earlier traditions from the Tannaim, the Mishnah was redacted by Rabbi Judah ha-Nasi around 200 CE, articulating and organizing teachings that circulated orally over generations.

Impact and study: The Mishnah is central to Jewish study and to the Talmud; together with the Gemara it constitutes the Babylonian and Jerusalem Talmuds. It remains foundational for Jewish law, ethics, and liturgical practice and is studied in yeshivas and across diverse communities.