Pinchas Kehati
Encyclopedia
Pinchas Kehati was a rabbi and the author of משניות מבוארות Misnayot Mevuarot (literally "Clarified Mishnayos", popularly known as "the Kehati Mishnayot") which is a commentary and elucidation on the entire Mishnah
. This work was written in Modern Hebrew
. This work was translated into English and published in 1994 as The Mishnah.
Kehati worked as a teller in the Israeli Bank, Bank Mizrachi. Even though he was a Religious Zionist, his works can be found in many Haredi
homes and Synagogues.
In the wake of the Holocaust, many religious Israelis began to study Mishna in memory of the souls of loved ones. In response to the growing demand for a commentary of the Mishna in Modern Hebrew, Kehati was sponsored by the B'nei Akiva of B'nei Berak to develop a commentary. Kehati wanted to spread Torah
throughout the world, so he sought to write a clear, concise, and easy-to-read commentary and elucidation on the entire Mishnah.
Between 1955 and 1964, Kehati published a weekly pamphlet which was hand-delivered to 5,000 subscribers. In each pamphlet, he explicated 14 Mishnayos (two per day), two laws from the Shulchan Aruch
, two laws from the Rambam
, and a selection from Tanakh
. The first pamphlets contained commentaries that Kehati complied from local yeshiva students. Frustrated at the inconsistencies in the commentary quality and approach, Kehati hired Rabbi Zvi A. Yehuda, who taught Mishna on an Israel Broadcasting Service (Kol Israel) radio program, to help develop a consistent approach to his commentary. Between 1956 and 1959, approximately 150 of pamphlets included attribution to his co-author. The first book-edition of the Kehati Mishna includes this attribution (see image). Many editions have since been published after Kehati's death in 1976. Recent editions include the traditional Bartenura commentary, improving its appeal to the Haredi community.
Kehati's Mishna was written in Modern Hebrew, the book cover design used a modish font and color, and it lacked decorative edge-marbling. The page layout of the Kehati commentary mimics the layout found in Dr. Symcha Petrushka's Yiddish commentary of the Mishnayot (published in Montreal, 1946). Both Kehati and Petrushka were raised in Warsaw. Kehati's commentary was influenced by the clarity of the Me'eri
, as well as the modern approaches of Dr. Petrushka, Rabbi Zvi A. Yehuda, and Professor Hanoch Albeck
whom he quotes in his commentary.
Mishnah
The Mishnah or Mishna is the first major written redaction of the Jewish oral traditions called the "Oral Torah". It is also the first major work of Rabbinic Judaism. It was redacted c...
. This work was written in Modern Hebrew
Modern Hebrew
Modern Hebrew , also known as Israeli Hebrew or Modern Israeli Hebrew, is the language spoken in Israel and in some Jewish communities worldwide, from the early 20th century to the present....
. This work was translated into English and published in 1994 as The Mishnah.
Kehati worked as a teller in the Israeli Bank, Bank Mizrachi. Even though he was a Religious Zionist, his works can be found in many Haredi
Haredi Judaism
Haredi or Charedi/Chareidi Judaism is the most conservative form of Orthodox Judaism, often referred to as ultra-Orthodox. A follower of Haredi Judaism is called a Haredi ....
homes and Synagogues.
In the wake of the Holocaust, many religious Israelis began to study Mishna in memory of the souls of loved ones. In response to the growing demand for a commentary of the Mishna in Modern Hebrew, Kehati was sponsored by the B'nei Akiva of B'nei Berak to develop a commentary. Kehati wanted to spread Torah
Torah
Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five...
throughout the world, so he sought to write a clear, concise, and easy-to-read commentary and elucidation on the entire Mishnah.
Shulchan Aruch
The Shulchan Aruch also known as the Code of Jewish Law, is the most authoritative legal code of Judaism. It was authored in Safed, Israel, by Yosef Karo in 1563 and published in Venice two years later...
, two laws from the Rambam
Maimonides
Moses ben-Maimon, called Maimonides and also known as Mūsā ibn Maymūn in Arabic, or Rambam , was a preeminent medieval Jewish philosopher and one of the greatest Torah scholars and physicians of the Middle Ages...
, and a selection from Tanakh
Tanakh
The Tanakh is a name used in Judaism for the canon of the Hebrew Bible. The Tanakh is also known as the Masoretic Text or the Miqra. The name is an acronym formed from the initial Hebrew letters of the Masoretic Text's three traditional subdivisions: The Torah , Nevi'im and Ketuvim —hence...
. The first pamphlets contained commentaries that Kehati complied from local yeshiva students. Frustrated at the inconsistencies in the commentary quality and approach, Kehati hired Rabbi Zvi A. Yehuda, who taught Mishna on an Israel Broadcasting Service (Kol Israel) radio program, to help develop a consistent approach to his commentary. Between 1956 and 1959, approximately 150 of pamphlets included attribution to his co-author. The first book-edition of the Kehati Mishna includes this attribution (see image). Many editions have since been published after Kehati's death in 1976. Recent editions include the traditional Bartenura commentary, improving its appeal to the Haredi community.
Kehati's Mishna was written in Modern Hebrew, the book cover design used a modish font and color, and it lacked decorative edge-marbling. The page layout of the Kehati commentary mimics the layout found in Dr. Symcha Petrushka's Yiddish commentary of the Mishnayot (published in Montreal, 1946). Both Kehati and Petrushka were raised in Warsaw. Kehati's commentary was influenced by the clarity of the Me'eri
Menachem Meiri
Rabbi Menachem Meiri was a famous Catalan rabbi, Talmudist and Maimonidean.-Early life:Menachem Meiri was born in 1249 in Perpignan, which then formed part of the County of Barcelona...
, as well as the modern approaches of Dr. Petrushka, Rabbi Zvi A. Yehuda, and Professor Hanoch Albeck
Hanoch Albeck
Hanoch Albeck was a professor of Talmud at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Israel. He was one of the foremost scholars of the Mishna in his time and he was one of the founders of the scientific approach to the study of the Mishna.Hanoch's father Shalom Albeck, known as the Talmudic scholar,...
whom he quotes in his commentary.