Q&A: Who Is the Tanna of This Teaching?
Originally published:
This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.
Who Is the Tanna of This Teaching?
Question
Hello Rabbi Michi,
Why is it sometimes important to the Talmud to clarify the identity of the author of a Mishnah—”who is the tanna of this teaching?”—for example in the opening of the chapter HaKones in Bava Kamma?
Answer
For example, in order to check consistency with other statements. Perhaps to cross-reference information when everything was transmitted orally.