Mishnah

English

Alternative forms

• Mischna, Mishna

Etymology

Borrowed from Hebrew מִשְׁנָה (mišnāh, “repetition, oral law”), from שָׁנָה (šānāh, “to repeat, teach”).

Proper noun

Mishnah

1. The oldest part of the Talmud, rabbinical writings collected by Rabbi Judah ha-Nasi and published in 250 C.E. in Javneh (יבנה, in Israel).

   The Mishnah is believed by Jews to have been handed down orally from the prophet Moses, who received it on Mount Sinai with the written Torah.

Synonyms

• the Oral Torah

Derived terms

• Mishnaic, Mishnic, Mishnical (adjectives)

See also

• Torah