Understanding Mishna

The AMDAT Method

Dear John
Dear John:
I want a man who knows what
love is all about. You are
generous, kind, thoughtful.
People who are not like you
admit to being useless and
inferior. You have ruined me
for other men. I yearn for you.
I have no feelings whatsoever
when we're apart. I can be
forever happy--will you let me
be yours?
Jane

Dear John,
I want a man who knows
what love is. All about you
are generous, kind,
thoughtful people, who are
not like you. Admit to being
useless and inferior. You
have ruined me. For other
men, I yearn. For you, I
have no feelings
whatsoever. When we're
apart, I can be forever
happy. Will you let me be?
Yours,

The Learning Goal

TLW be able to breakdown and
learn a Mishna on his/her own using
the AMDAT method

What is the AMDAT Method?

Strategy for understanding format of,
and breaking down, the Mishna.
Name is acronym for 4 components
found in a Mishna
Locating these four components
allows the student to learn a novel
Mishna on their own.

AMDAT- Four Components

: The person making a statement
or ruling
: The case we are discussing
: The Halachik ruling or decision
: Reason for the ruling

Individual WhiteBoard
is an acronym for the four
components of a Mishna.
On the piece of paper, please write the
four components of the method and
a brief explanation of each component.
You have 1 minute and 30 seconds to
complete this task

Individual WhiteBoard
Now, I will randomly redistribute these papers to
the class. It is OK if you receive your own paper.
While I review the correct answers, please check
the paper you were given and correct any
mistakes or omissions you notice on that paper.
If there are no mistakes or omissions, put a big
check next to that component.

AMDAT- The Keys

When the Mishna provides a statement without a name, we call

him .

There can be multiple cases discussed in one Mishna.

Key words to look for: , ,, or

Key words to look for: ( because), ( in order that), and

(for the sake of)

IMPORTANT NOTE
ALL four components are not always
found in every Mishna.

Some Mishnayot only mention 2 or 3

out of the four components.

Helpful Tool- Chart

!Lets Try It Together

?- Who Said It

?- Whats the Case

?- Whats the Ruling

- Whats the Ruling?

On Yom Kippur, it is forbidden to
eat, drink, wash, anoint oneself,
wear leather shoes, or have
marital relations. A king and a
bride can wash their face. A
woman who recently gave birth
may wear leather shoes. These
are the words of Rabbi Eliezer.
The Sages say that it is forbidden

Fill In Chart

Check Answers

Forbidden to eat,

()

May wash face

King or Bride

May wear
leather shoes

Woman who
recently gave
birth

These actions
are forbidden
even for a king,
bride, and
woman who just
gave birth

Both of R
Eliezers
cases

drink, wash, anoint

oneself, wear leather
shoes, or have marital
relations

Lets Celebrate!
Choose one of the following topics and
create your own Mishna on that topic using
at least 3 out of the four AMDAT
components. You should be able to explain
the Mishna you create and locate the
AMDAT components

SPORTS
POLITICSMUSIC
INTERPERSONAL