Rabbinical Works
The Mishna & later rabbinic collections & commentaries on oral Torah [talmudim & tosefta] are arranged in six general "orders" [sedarim], each of which contains several named tractates [massektoth] reporting tannaitic traditions vaguely related to a central theme. The bulk of the traditions recorded in the Mishna have to do with rules o...
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The historian known to posterity by the Latinized name Josephus was a member of Jerusalem's priestly aristocracy who, at age 30, was taken hostage in the great Jewish revolt against Rome [66-70 CE] & spent the rest of his life in Roman circles as a protégé of three emperors [Vespasian, Titus & Domitian]. His constant need to explain his r...
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Sacred Days and Seasons
154. Sabbath Rest
--- Exodus 20:8-11
155. Covenanters' Sabbath Rules
--- Dead Sea Scrolls, Damascus Covenant (CD) 10.17-23
156. Covenanters: No Aid for Animals
--- Dead Sea Scrolls, Damascus Covenant (CD) 11.13-14
157. Rabbinic Definition of Work
--- Mishna, Shabbath 7.2
158. Postponing the Sabbath
--- Mishna, Shabba...
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Hebrew: "Sayings of the Fathers"
The only tractate in the Mishna that is devoted entirely to transmitting non-legal opinions. Aboth catalogs the wisdom sayings of rabbinic sages, including several of the 2nd temple period, without providing any connecting narrative frame. It was probably composed before & originally published independently of ...
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Zera'im ["Seeds"] Agriculture Berakoth ["Blessings"] Prayer
Mo'ed ["Festivals"] Calendar & Ritual Shabbath ["Sabbath"] Sabbath observance
Erubin ["Blendings"] Resolution of problems
Pesachim ["Passovers"] Passover observance
Yoma ["Day (of Atonement)"] Yom Kippur
Rosh HaShanah ["New Year's Day"] Calendar calculations
Ta'anith ["Fasting"] ...
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Rabbis. Abba Arika Gamaliel I Jeremiah Samuel bar Abba
Abtalion _______ II Johanan bar Nappacha ______ the Small
Acha bar Jacob _______ III ________ ben Zakkai ______ ben Nachmani
Alexandri Jonathan ben Eleazar Shammai
Aqiba ben Joseph Hanan ha Nechba José ben Halaphta Shemaiah
cHanania ben Teradion ____ the Priest Shila
Dosa ben Harkinas c...
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An Unclean Cup, What Defiles?, Whose House is Dirty?, Tax Collectors Visit, A Leper's Visit, Passing Lepers, Sin causes Sickness, Gentiles & Heretics, Who profanes?, Other Interpretations of Torah, Disciples of Abraham and Balaam, Who is Hostile?, Against Trusting Secular Types, Kosher Marriage, A Woman with Child, Reason for Divorce, Letter of...
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Simeon the Just 140 BCE high priest ;
Simeon ben Shetach 80-50 BCE led Pharisees
to power ;
cHoni the Circle-drawer 60-50 BCE wonder-worker ;
Abtalion 60-30 BCE taught 7 ;
Shemaiah 50-30 BCE taught 7 ;
Shammai 40 BCE- rigorist ;
20 CE rival of 7 ;
HILLEL (the elder) 30 BCE- forms middoth ;
20 CE school prevails ;
Hilkiah 20-10 BCE wonder-worke...
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Writing of the Rabbi's: Atonement for Sins, Life or Death?, Composition of a Court, Cases for the Supreme Court, Capital & Non-capital Cases, Court Protocol, Warning to Witnesses, Offenders Sentenced to Stoning, What constitutes Blasphemy?, Sabbath Violators Stoned, Hidden Witnesses, Prelude to Stoning, Stoning & Hanging, Parable of the Twi...
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Writings of the Rabbi's: Where Two or Three are Gathered, Daily Bread, Blessing the Meal, Blessing Wine & Bread, The Way of Torah, Price of Loose Discipline, Aqiba's Cautions, Frequent Feasting, Preparing for the Real Banquet, One who Serves....
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