K’tu-VIM is the third and final section of the Tanach. The Hebrew word k’tuvim means, “writings.” This section includes the Psalms, Proverbs, and the book Song of Songs. It includes the stories of Ruth, Esther, and Job as well as Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Ecclesiastes. Additional books in K’tuvim are the Chronicles and Lamentations.
Mish-NAH and Tal-MOOD
Mishnah is the kernal of Talmud, the main post-biblical Rabinnic writing. The Mishnah is a compilation of Jewish practice up until the end of the 2nd century. According to the Rabbis there were two Torahs delivered at Sinai. One to be written down (the Five Books of Moses) and one to be passed on orally. For in addition to the Five Books, the Rabbis conceived that Moses must have received extensive directions and explanations of the specific laws so that Moses passed on the Oral Torah to Joshua who then passed it on to the elders and so on.
Around 200 CE, Rabbi Y’hudah HaNasi assembled other Rabbis and they decided on the proper content of the Oral Torah and called it the Mishnah. For the next 300 years, Rabbinic academies discussed and debated the content of the Mishnah, and the result of their discussion was the Gemarah.
The Gemarah and the Mishnah put together equal the Talmud. The Talmud follows the format for the Mishnah. There are 6 Orders, more or less divided by subject. My friend Amichai Lau Lavie says that, “The Talmud is like your grandparents basement full of ancient boxes of ancient stuff, completely disorganized.”
The term, “The Rabbis” was an academic title for scholars or experts of the Oral Torah. The term was used for the first time after the destruction of the holy Temple, 70CE. The Rabbis made it their work to explain the laws and the ideas stated in the Torah. Led by Rabbi Y’hudah HaNasi, they compiled the Mishnah.
Ge-MA-tri-a is Hebrew numerology using the Alef-bet. Each letter has a numerical value. Meaning is derived from identifying the numerical value of whole words and/or comparing the value of words and phrases to each other. Gematria is used for a deeper exploration and study of Jewish texts.
For example, the numerical value of “Chai”, meaning “Life,” is 18. “Chai” is spelled with a “chet,” which equals 8 plus the letter “Yud” which equals 10. So the number 18 is a special number associated with the value of life.
SE-der is the Hebrew word for “order.” We use it to describe our special meal on Passover, which we go through in a certain order of 15 items. The Tu B’Shvat Seder is modeled after the one for Passover. Seder is also used in reference to the order of prayers that make up our services and the Hebrew word for prayer book is “Siddur.”
