The first stage of Revadim is learning Mishnah. Mishnah transmits halachic traditions from Sinai, and later stages of rabbinic legislation, organized into six divisions (“orders”) and subdivided into sixty-three independent tractates. The tractates are organized into five hundred and twenty-five chapters, and the chapters into over four thousand individual paragraphs, called “mishnayot.” Compilation of the Mishnah is generally attributed to Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi (death circa 220 CE), but it is more correct to say that he edited a text that underwent several earlier redactions. Mishnah also contains additions from the two generations after Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi.

Traditionally, Mishnah was learned by heart with ancient chants, but modern study discarded this practice and adopted Western educational theories which devalued rote learning. Revadim recommends return to the traditional practice of learning by heart with the aid of traditional melodies, since we are meant to know Torah, not only where to find it. The Revadim method for teaching Mishnah in primary grades includes audio diskettes of mishnayot according to the original chants, accompanied by exquisite written materials.

To understand Mishnah, the following skills are necessary:

1. Study of the Written Tradition in Preparation for Study of Mishnah:
The first skill is learning of Written Tradition, including identifying the plain meaning of the verse according to context, separation of the verse into component ideas, and development of the ability to ask relevant questions about the meaning of the verse.
2. The Mishnah as Commentator on the Biblical Text:
Mishnah often acts as a commentator on the Torah, defining, specifying, expanding or applying the Written Tradition.

These first two skills help us define what Mishnah is doing, and understand the “value added” by the Oral Tradition to the Written Tradition.

3. Nesiim, Tannaim, and Locations of Sanhedrin:
Learning Mishnah requires knowing the dynasty of six Nesi’im from Hillel the Elder until Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi, and the locations of the Sanhedrin in their generations. Other leading Tannaim are then placed in historical context by attaching them to a given Nasi or Sanhedrin.
4. Layers in Mishnah:
Once the names and places are known, we can identify layers in the Mishnah. The layers teach us about the evolving application of halachah in new circumstances from generation to generation. Layers may also be discerned by the way a later layer comments on an earlier one.

5. The Editing of Mishnah from Earlier Sources
Mishnah is an anthology of many sources. Some mishnayot are terse, others expansive. Some are laws, others dialogues, precedental cases, or moralistic monologues. Some bring their Biblical sources, most do not. By identifying the different sources, we can see how they were included into Mishnah, causing many topical and formal digressions. Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi also used mneumonic devices to aid memorization of Mishnah.

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