MS Add.470.1 Cambridge University Library ark:/12090/cula/qn68bn7m3 ark:/12090/cula/248b75961 ark:/12090/cula/rhk4mr12x

Cambridge University Library

 Images made available for download are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 Unported License (CC BY-NC 4.0) This metadata is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 Unported License. Cambridge University Library (CC BY-NC 4.0) Cambridge University Cambridge University Library Hebrew Manuscripts MS Add.470.1 The text of the Mishnah describes the first written account of the early Jewish oral tradition and the earliest significant work of Rabbinic Judaism. It dates from the period of the second century BCE at a time when persecution of the Jewish populations gave rise to the fear that the details of the oral traditions dating from the first five centuries BCE might be lost. As a written authority it is second only to the Bible text and can be used as a source of authority for making judgements. The Mishnah is divided into six orders (Shisha Sedarim) and over the next six centuries, along with further commentaries, came to form the Talmud. The major part of the text of the Mishnah is written in Hebrew and reflects the debates which took place in the first and second centuries CE by a group of Rabbinic thinkers known as the Tannaim. It teaches by drawing on examples of specific judgements along with debates by notable Rabbis, and discusses problems from all areas of human existence. This is one of only three complete manuscripts of the Mishnah, and considered to be 'an outstanding witness of the western type of Mishnaic Hebrew'. Of the manuscript, Schiller-Szinessy (vol. ii p. 9) writes: ‘Although this copy can lay claim neither to a very great age, nor to absolute correctness, we cannot hesitate to pronounce it to be a MS. beyond all price.’ Edited by W. H. Lowe, ‘The Mishnah on which the Palestinian Talmud Rests’ (Cambridge, 1883) – although that title can be considered inaccurate given more recent research on the manuscript. Judah, ha-Nasi, ca. 135-ca. 220 Mishnah משנה f. 1r: איהו איהו is written at the top of the page (abbreviation of Psalms 118:25). There are marginal additions/corrections/glosses on the following folios: ff. 4r, 7v, 8r, 9r, 13v, 37v, 38v, 39v, 88v, 90r, 131v, 152r, 153v, 162v, 170r, 183v, 201v, 203v, 213v, 214r and 233r. There are jottings in the margin of f. 67v, mirrored on f. 68r. There are crude alphabetical exercises in the bottom margin of f. 106v in a childish hand, and there are further jottings by a child in ff. 143v-144r. Orders, tractates (beginnings and ends) all clearly marked. Hebrew, occasional Tiberian vocalisation (approx. 200 fully or partially vocalised forms) 1r-32r Zeraʿim 1r-3r Beraḵot 3v-6v Peʾa 7r-8v Demay 9r-13r Kilayim 13r-17r Ševiʿit 17v-22r Terumot 22r-25r Maʿaser Šeni 25v-27v Maʿaser Rišon 27v-29r Ḥalla 29r-30v ʿOrla 30v-32r Bikkurim 32v-69r Moʿed 32v-39v Šabbat 39v-44v ʿEruvin 44v-49r Pesaḥ 49r-52v Kippurim 52v-56r Šeqalim 56r-58v Sukka 58v-60v Beṣa 60v-62v Roš ha-Šana 62v-65r Taʿaniyyot 65r-66v Megilla 67r-68r Ḥagiga 68r-69r Mašqin 69r-106r Našim 69r-77v Našim (Yevamot) 77v-84r Ketubbot 84v-90r Nedarim 90r-94r Nazir 94r-98v Giṭṭin 98v-100v Qiddušin 100v-106r Soṭa 106r-149r Neziqin 106r-111r Neziqin (Bava Qamma) 111r-117r Bava Tinyana (Bava Meṣiʿa) 117r-123r Bava Batra 123r-129r Sanhedrin 129r-131v Makkot 131v-136r Ševuʿot 136r-140v ʿEduyyot 140v-143v ʿAvoda Zara 143v-148r Avot 148r-149r Horayot 149v-192r Qodašim 149v-156r Zevaḥim 156r-163r Menaḥot 163r-168r Šeḥiṭat Ḥullin (Ḥullin) 168r-173r Beḵorot 173r-176v Araḵin 176v-179r Temura 179r-182v Keritot 182v-184v Meʿila 185r-188r Middot 188r-191r Tamid 191r-192r Qinnim 192r-250r Ṭoharot 192r-206r Kelim 206r-214v Ohalot 214v-221v Negaʿim 221v-227r Para 227r-232r Ṭoharot 232r-236v Miqvaʾot (מקוות in the ms) 236v-240v Nidda 240v-243v Maḵširin 243v-245v Zavim 245v-247r Ṭevul Yom 247r-249r Yadayim 249r-250r ʿUqṣim Paper with two different watermarks, both of the scissor type, Italian. 250 ff. 300 220

Slightly affected by damp; some repairs; margins cropped

30 lines

Byzantine bookhand

 Catchwords at the bottom of each leaf, many lost through either cropping or water damage.

Bound in full Morocco.

 Fifteenth century Byzantium Rustat benefaction; bought in 1869 from H. Lipschütz Lipschütz, H. . Previously belonged to a Midrash in Constantinople (according to Lipschütz).

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 Descriptions of the manuscript Catalogue of the Hebrew manuscripts preserved in the University Library, Cambridge Cambridge University Library contributor S. M. Schiller-Szinessy Cambridge Printed for the University Library 1876 The Mishnah on which the Palestinian Talmud rests contributor W. H. Lowe Cambridge Cambridge University Press 1883 Hebrew manuscripts at Cambridge University Library: a description and introduction Stefan C. Reif Cambridge Cambridge University Press 1997 University of Cambridge oriental publications 52 052158339X Library of Congress Subject Headings Image Role Typology document-thumbnail download thumbnail Mishnah Ben Outhwaite Item released ARKCAM persistent identifier added by CUDL PID Workflow