conduct, a manual of ethics, a treatise on astronomy, and a medical
handbook; sometimes indelicate, sometimes irreverent, but always
completely and persistently in earnest. Its trifling frivolity, its
curious prying into topics which were better left alone, the occasional
beauty of its spiritual and imaginative fancies, make it one of the most
remarkable books that human wit and human industry have ever compiled.

The selections which we print in this volume are from the Mishna, and form
part of the Sedarim, or orders; in them are given minute directions as to
the ceremonial practice of the Jewish religion.

The treatise on "Blessings" speaks of daily prayers and thanksgiving. It
is most minute in prescribing the position of the body, and how the voice
is to be used in prayer. It specifies the prayers to be said on seeing
signs and wonders, on building a house, on entering or leaving a city; and
how to speak the name of God in social salutations. That on the
"Sabbatical Year" is a discourse on agriculture from a religious point of
view. The Sabbatical year among the Hebrews was every seventh year, in
which the land was to be left fallow and uncultivated, and all debts were
to be remitted or outlawed. Provision is made in this section for doing
certain necessary work, such as picking and using fruits which may have
grown without cultivation during the Sabbatical year, with some notes on
manuring the fields, pruning trees and pulling down walls. Very
interesting is the section which deals with "The Sabbath Day." The most
minute and exhaustive account is given of what may and what may not be
done on the seventh day.

The treatise on "The Day of Atonement" deals with the preparation and
deportment of the high-priest on that day. That on "The Passover" treats
of the Lamb to be sacrificed, of the search for leaven, so that none be
found in the house, and of all the details of the festival. "Measurements"
is an interesting and valuable account of the dimensions of the Temple at
Jerusalem. "The Tabernacle" deals with the ritual worship of the Jews
under the new conditions of their exile from Palestine.

All of these treatises show the vitality of Jewish religion in Europe,
under the most adverse circumstances, and illustrate the place which the
Talmud must have occupied in Jewish history, as supplying a religious
literature and a code of ritual and worship which kept Judaism united,
even when it had become banished and dissoc