Rereading the Mishnah

A New Approach to Ancient Jewish Texts

By (author) Judith Hauptman

Book cover: Rereading the Mishnah

Extent: 298 pages

Publisher: Mohr Siebeck

Subjects: Ancient Near East, Jewish Studies

Series: Texts and Studies in Ancient Judaism

Language: English

Hardback (Published)

(July 2005)

ISBN: 9783161487132

6.38 x 9.41 inches

Price: $179.00

In stock

In correcting a centuries-old misperception Judith Hauptman offers a new way to read the Mishnah. She argues that the Tosefta is not later than the Mishnah, as its name suggests, but earlier. When placing the two volumes on a timeline, one can trace the evolution of Jewish practice.


Judith Hauptman argues that the Tosefta, a collection dating from approximately the same time period as the Mishnah and authored by the same rabbis, is not later than the Mishnah, as its name suggests, but earlier. The Redactor of the Mishnah drew upon an old Mishnah and its associated supplement, the Tosefta, when composing his work. He reshaped, reorganized and abbreviated these materials in order to make them accord with his own legislative outlook. It is possible to compare the earlier and the later texts and to determine, case by case, the agenda of the Redactor. According to the author’s theory it is also possible to trace the evolution of Jewish law, practice, and ideas. When the Mishnah is seen as later than the Tosefta, it becomes clear that the Redactor inserted numerous mnemonic devices into his work to assist in transmission. The synoptic gospels may have undergone a similar kind of editing.

  • By (author) Judith Hauptman