Q&A: Studying the Mishnah
Originally published:
This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.
Studying the Mishnah
Question
Hello Rabbi,
Is there value in studying the Mishnah on its own, without the Talmud? Just with the Bartenura, for example?
On the face of it, it sounds like yes, but on the other hand, what is the value of such study? (If this even counts as “study” at all.)
Answer
This is certainly study, as long as you understand it and aren’t just reciting and mumbling. In fact, in my opinion Kehati is preferable to Bartenura. It gives more knowledge and explains things better.
Discussion on Answer
I don’t see any value in that. There is value in knowing Torah and remembering the content, but not in knowing it by heart. In the Hebrew Bible, maybe there is value in that, because the language itself has holiness (the wording is intentional).
Does the Rabbi think there is value in knowing it by heart?