MISH'NA (Heb., explanation, from shfinah, to learn). The body of the 'oral law',' o• the juridico-political, civil, and religious code of the Jews. As such it forms a kind of com plement to the Pentateuehal codes, which it ex plains, amplifies. and innnut ably fixes in accord once with traditional usage, enforced by the application of the peculiar exegetical methods developed in the rabbinical schools of Babylonia and Palestine. The Mishnah. laws were sub«e quently submitted to a process of exposition similar to that which the biblical enactments underwent. and hence there arose, as a supple ment to the ilishna, the Gemara (q.v.), embodying the discussions on the Alishna by the rabbis of Babylonia and Palestine from the third to the sixth century, when the Slislina and the Gemara were brouOit together in a final compilation known a. the Talmud. The Mislina, to which again there are 'apocryphal' supplements known a. Toseftas )additions) and Baraithas (extras),
was finally redacted. after some earlier ineom collections by B.abbi Jelnidah, called Ilanasi A.D.), at Tiberias. It is mostly written in pure Hebrew. and is divided into six portions ( Seda rim ) : ( 1 ) Zera int seeds ) on tions. ogrieulture, tithes, etc.; (2) Shied (feast), on the Sabbath, festivals, and fasts; (3) Nashim (women), on marriage, divorce. etc. (embracing also the laws on the Nazirship and vows) ; (4) Nezikin (damages). chiefly civil and penal laws (also containing theethical treat ise Abet h ) (.1) Kodashim ( sacred things ) , sacri fices. etc.; description of the Temple of Jeru salem. etc.; (6) Tviiarotii ( purifications) on pure and impure things and persons. (See further An English translation of the Alisima has berm published by J. Barclay (London. 1878).