Tosefta

Tosefta –tōth [key] [Aramaic,=additional], collection of ancient Jewish teachings supplementing the Mishna or Oral Law and closely allied to it in organization. Like the Mishna, it was compiled by the Tannaim. Many of its teachings, called Baraitot, do not appear in the Mishna; others are merely elucidations or alternative versions of Mishnaic material. It contains a larger percentage of aggadic material than does the Mishna. The Tosefta is an independent work and has been made the subject of commentaries.

See H. L. Strack, Introduction to Talmud and Midrash (1931, repr. 1969); S. Lieberman, Tosefta Kifshuta (1955).

See more Encyclopedia articles on: Judaism