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I am not knowledgeable about masechtot ketanot. Wikipedia writes they are essays from the Tannaitic period or later dealing with topics about which no formal tractate exists in the Mishnah. I understand from this question they have been translated in English but not in recent times.

I'd like to better understand the centrality and relevance of these masechtot. Does the gemara make reference to them? Do later halachic codes rely on them? Would some of these tractates be considered important required reading for an educated Jew?

mbloch
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1 Answers1

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  1. “Does the gemara make reference to them?” Yes, to some.
  2. “Do later halachic codes rely on them?” Yes, on some.
  3. “Would some of these tractates be considered important required reading for an educated Jew?” In my opinion, yes. One obvious reason, see 1 & 2.

For more information on the above questions see the prologues of the following critical editions:

  • Soferim
  • Sefer Torah, Mezuzah, Tefillin, Zizit, Abadim, Kutim & Gerim
  • Masechtos Ze’iros, ed. Higger, N.Y. 1929 (cf. DE, below)
  • Masechtos Derech Eretz, ed. Higger, N.Y. 1935
  • Kallah, ed. Higger, N.Y. 1936
  • Semachot (some opine that Semachot and Evel [Rabbasi] are the same), ed. Higger, N.Y. 1931 (republished Jer. 1970); The Tractate Mourning, ed. Dov Zlotnick, Yale University Press 1966
Oliver
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  • 1 and 2 can be easily sourced. – Dr. Shmuel Jul 26 '19 at 16:06
  • @Dr.Shmuel Indeed they could and hence I didn’t bother. Besides, Higger already did it. Any interested reader can use the listed resources. – Oliver Jul 26 '19 at 16:11
  • That perhaps undermines the usage model on this forum – Dr. Shmuel Jul 28 '19 at 03:05
  • @Dr.Shmuel Not sure I follow. Are you suggesting that I should have included sources/examples for 1 & 2? – Oliver Jul 28 '19 at 03:32
  • Yes, essentially, otherwise, coupled with even the rest of your answer, this may just be a comment and not properly answering the question. – Dr. Shmuel Jul 28 '19 at 03:39
  • Technically, a Yes or No would answer OP’s questions; OP didn’t ask for examples. Such a question is essentially asking for a whole discourse on the Minor Tractates. Instead, I provided sources and resources for OP to facilitate “better understanding” - ואידך זיל גמור. – Oliver Jul 28 '19 at 03:58