Mishnah

Mishnah

This collection of early Rabbinic legal code was compiled by Judah ha-Nasi in the 2nd century. It is divided into 6 parts called orders. Each order (or seder) is subdivided into tractates (or masechet/masechtot).

The orders are:

• Zera'im (seeds) - laws of agriculture
• Mo'ed (set times) - laws of holidays and Sabbath
• Nashim (women) - laws of marriage, divorce, and vows
• Nezikin (damages) - civil and criminal law
• Kodashim (Holy things) - ritual sacrifice and offerings
• Tahorot (purities) - laws of ceremonial purity

Finding Mishnah on the shelf

Complete sets of the Mishnah are generally shelved in BM 497. They are shelved in this order: original language (BM 497), selections (BM 497.2), translations (BM 497.5), early works about the Mishnah (BM 497.7), then later works (BM 497.8). Individual orders and tractates of the Mishnah are shelved with individual orders and tractates of the Talmud under BM 506 (see below). Note: many of these works are shelved in the oversized (folio) section.

Finding Mishnah in the catalog

To find texts of the Mishnah do a title browse search for: mishnah <part (order or tractate)> <language>
for example:

• mishnah avot english
• mishnah berakhot german
• mishnah zera'im

To find books written about the Mishnah, do a subject browse search under: mishnah <part>
for example:

• mishnah avot vi
• mishna bezah