Mishnah Kodashim (Holy Things)

The fifth of the Mishnah’s six orders, Kodashim (Holy Things), addresses matters pertaining to the Jerusalem Temple, its sacrificial service, and the handling of items dedicated to the sanctuary. Tractate Tamid describes Temple procedures in great detail, and Keritot concerns sins that entail the punishment of karet, that is, excision. Ḥullin contains the rules of ritual slaughter that render nonsacred animals fit for consumption. The contents of Ḥullin retained their practical significance even after the destruction of the Temple in 70 CE. The other tractates in Kodashim, however, had no practical application even in the time of the rabbis. Nevertheless, the sanctuary service and related matters were the object of intensive rabbinic study. As a consequence, Kodashim is the third-largest order in the Mishnah. The passages presented here are taken from Zevaḥim and Ḥullin.