shmishna
Re-typed input (sa)  of KJ0392b
"A word from Reb Shlomo on Mishnayos"
from Booklet for The Rabbi Chaim Carlebach z'l Memorial Shabbaton
   Febrary 28-March 1, 1992, 24-26 Adar 5752
Viewing the World through Shabbos Eyes:  A Radical Vision of Wholeness
Congregation Kehilath Jacob, 305 W. 79thSt., New YorkNY 10024
Telephone: 001-212-721-SHUL
Source not otherwise indicated; probably original
All copy-rights reserved to the preceeding
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A Word from Reb Shlomo on Mishnayos

Mishna is the essence of the Talmud which is the Oral Tradition.  This isprobably the utmost, there is nothing like it in our tradition.  Itcontains so much in so few words, the essence of all essences.

The word Mishna contains the same letters as the word 'neshomah'.  What isthe most important thing in our lives.  To be in touch with the essence ofour soul, the essence of our life.  Our holy rabbis taught us thatwhenever you learn a mishnah you fix your neshomah, you soul.  And when aperson has moved on to another world, it is a custoe to learn a mishnawhich begins with the letters of the person's name, because the more youlove a person the more you are connected not only to them but to theletters of their name.  We are learning a mishnah to connect with theessence of the soul of the departed.  We are also saying to the departed,if by any chance you are missing a few mishnahs to get to the essence ofyour meshomah we are learning it for you.

Mishnah also comes from the word 'double'.  On Shabbos we eat two challahs-- mish lecha.  Because according to our tradition, when we are alive weare in this world but when we die we are in both worlds, this one and theworld to come.  We don't know how much double strength and double fixingwe do for ourselves and also for the departed when we study Mishnayos.
                                           
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