Overview of Jewish History: From the Exodus to the Exilarch

Exodus from Egypt c BCE “Pitom and Raamses” Evidence of destruction and new settlements in Israel in the 13 th cent. Pharaohs of Shemot are likely: –Seti I ( BCE) –Ramses II ( BCE) –Merneptah ( BCE)

Merneptah’s sarcophagus and the Merneptah Victory Stele

ysrỉr [ 8 ] [ 8 ] fk.tbnpr.t=f Israelwaste[negative]seed/grainhis/its The stela does make clear that "Israel" at this stage, refers to a people or tribal confederation [7] [7] “Canaan is captive with all woe. Ashkelon is conquered, Gezer seized, Yanoam made nonexistent; Israel (nomadic tribe) is wasted, bare of seed.” – Merenptah Stele This shows that Israel was in its land before 1200BCE but was still group of semi-nomadic tribes, not well-established.

King David BCE

Divided Kingdom BCE

722BCE – Exile of Northern Tribes by Assyria

Destruction of Temple I 587 BCE by Nebuchadnezzar

Cyrus the Great conquers the Babylonians and permits the Jews to return to Israel and rebuilt the Temple 539BCE

Building of Temple II 516 BCE under Zerubabel

Purim Story – under Persians

Alexander the Great

Hanukah Story – 164 BCE

Destruction of Temple II – 70 CE

Arch of Titus

Rabbis Reconvene at Yavneh after 70 CE

Bar Kokhba Revolt CE Front: Trumpets. "לחרות ירושלים" Back: Lyre. "ש[נה] ב לחר[ות] ישראל"

Texts and Time Periods 1000BCEKing David 587 BCEDestruction of Temple I 539 BCECyrus the Great – Persian rule 516 BCESecond Temple Built 332 BCEAlexander the Great – Greek rule 164 BCEMaccabean Revolt 150BCE-70CEPharisees 70 CESecond Temple Destroyed 132 CEBar Kokhba Revolt CETannaitic Period 220 CEMishnah & Tannaitic Midrash Compiled CEAmoraic Period 400 CEYerushalmi & Amoraic Midrash Compiled CESavoraim in Babylonia 600 CEBavli Completed

Rabbinic Texts Mishnah Tosefta Tannaitic Midrashim Talmud Yerushalmi Talmud Bavli Amoraic Midrashim 200CE 400CE 600CE See

Tannaitic Midrash רבי עקיבארבי ישמעאל בראשית מכילתא דרבי שמעון בר יוחאי מכילתא דרבי ישמעאל שמות ספרא(רק קטעים)ויקרא ספרי זוטאספריבמדבר ספרימדרש תנאיםדברים

Why is it called the “Mishnah”? The Hebrew root "ShNH" means "to repeat," (ושננתם לבניך) and refers to memorization by repetition. "Mishnah" therefore has the sense of "that which is memorized by rote," as distinct from the Rabbinic designation for the Bible: "Miqra,"that which is read and recited from a written text. The Jewish sages whose statements are quoted in the Mishnah are known as Tanna'im (singular: "Tanna"), derived from the Aramaic root related to the Hebrew "ShNH". The era in which the Mishnah was developed is therefore referred to as the "Tanna'itic" era.

“Our” Mishnah On the Talmud page, the passages from the Mishnah (for which the Talmud serves as a commentary) are introduced with the abbreviation "MTNY'," short for the Aramaic “Matnitin," "our mishnah." It is customary for the Babylonian Talmud to refer to "our Mishnah" (or: We learned), to distinguish it from other, "external," mishnahs, referred to in Aramaic as "baraita.“ Some of the bataitot are collected in the Tosefta.

Contents of the Mishnah First Order: Zeraim ("Seeds"). 11 tractates. It deals with agricultural laws and prayers.Zeraim Second Order: Moed ("Festival"). 12 tractates. This pertains to the laws of the Sabbath and the Festivals.Moed Third Order: Nashim ("Women"). 7 tractates. Concerns marriage and divorce.Nashim Fourth Order: Nezikin ("Damages"). 10 tractates. Deals with civil and criminal law.Nezikin Fifth Order: Kodshim ("Holy things"). 11 tractates. This involves sacrificial rites, the Temple, and the dietary laws.KodshimTemple Sixth order: Tohorot ("Purities"). 12 tractates. This pertains to the laws of purity and impurity, including the impurity of the dead, the laws of ritual purity for the priests (cohanim), the laws of "family purity" (the menstrual laws) and others.Tohorotmenstrual

Order of Masechtot within a Seder Rambam tries to explain order of tractates in the Mishnah based on either chronological or logical progression.

SEDER MOED Shabbat Eruvin Pesachim Shekalim Yoma Sukkah Beitzah Rosh Hashanah Ta'anint Megillah Moed Katan Hagigah

SEDER MOED Shabbat 24 Eruvin 10 Pesachim 10 Shekalim 8 Yoma 8 Sukkah 5 Beitzah 5 Rosh Hashanah 4 Ta'anint 4 Megillah 4 Moed Katan 3 Hagigah 3

SEDER NASHIM Yevamot16 Ketubot13 Nedarim11 Nazir 9 Sotah 9 Gittin 9 Kiddushin 4

SEDER NEZIKIN Bava Kamma 10 Bava Metzia10 Bava Batra10 Sanhedrin11 Makkot3 Shevuot8 Edutoyot8 Avodah Zarah5 Avot5 (6) Horayot3

SEDER KODASHIM Zevahim 14 Menahot13 Hullin12 Bekhorot 9 Arakhin 9 Terumah 7 Keritot 6 Me'ilah 6 Tamid 6 Middot 5 Kinnim 3

SEDER TOHOROT Keilim30 Oholot18 Negaim14 Parah12 Tohorot10 Mikvaot10 Niddah10 Makshirin 6 Zavim 5 Tevul Yom 4 Yadaim 4 Uktzin 3

SEDER ZERAIM Berakhot 9 Peah 8 Demai 7 Kilaim 9 Sheviit10 Terumot11 Ma'asrot 5 Ma'aser Sheini 5 Hallah 4 Orlah 3 Bikkurim 4

The most reliable complete manuscript of the Mishnah.

Save one life… משנה מסכת סנהדרין פרק ד משנה ה לפיכך נברא אדם יחידי ללמדך שכל המאבד נפש אחד מישראל מעלה עליו הכתוב כאילו איבד עולם מלא וכל המקיים נפש אחת מישראל מעלה עליו הכתוב כאילו קיים עולם מלא ומפני שלום הבריות שלא יאמר אדם לחבירו אבא גדול מאביך

Mishnah Sanhedrin 4:5 – Ms. Kaufman

Important Political Events 313CE Constantine converted to and declared toleration for Christianity 351CE Jewish Revolt against Gallus protesting anti-Jewish legislation 362CE Julian the Apostate announced rebuilding of the Bet Hamikdash 380 Christianity declared the official religion of the Roman Empire 395 Roman Empire splits into two 425CE Elimination of the Patriarchate 638CE Muslim Conquest