orthodox conversion to judaism

Orthodox Conversion to Judaism

The Mishnah

The word Mishnah comes from the root shanah, 'to repeat', so it means 'to learn' or 'teach' through repeptition. It consists mainly of the oral teachings of the Rabbis who taught in the years BCE to 219 CE, i.e. from the time of Hillel to Judah Hanasi, who were known as Tannaim (teachers). These teachings from the basis of what is called Halachah (the guiding and, therefore, authoritative principle of Law).

R. Judah Hanasi (135-219), a man with a brilliant mind, was a direct descendant of Hillel. He shouldered his high office of Nasi, or Prince of the Sanhedrin, with great dignity, and he undertook the preparation of the text of the Mishnah which, next to the Torah, has been the main source of Jewish Law to the present day. Apart from Halachah, the Mishnah contains a number of ethical and moral teachings intended to uphold man's dignity and sanctity.

Though there are some scholars whoa re not certain whether the Mishnah was put in writing by R. Judah or whether it was passed on orally, there can be no doubt that if it had not been for his skilful labour many a tradition would have been lost to us.