Mishna Task Sheet

The following steps should be taken any time we learn a Mishna moving forward:
Step 1:
Step 2:
Step 3:
Step 4:
Step 5:

Break the Mishna Up Into Its Discrete Units/Topics

Isolate Any Case of Machloket (disagreement)
Identify Who is Arguing
Clearly Restate the Nikudat HaMachloket (point of disagreement)
Craft an Inference for Why there is a Machloket

Here are examples of this process applied to the first Mishna in Chapter 1, and the first Mishna in Chapter 2 of Mesechet/Tractate Sukkah:
Mishna Sukkah 1:1
A sukkah taller than twenty cubits is invalid. Rabbi Yehudah validates it. And one which is
not ten hand-breadths tall, or does not contain three walls, or whose [area of] sun is
greater than its shade is invalid. Regarding an old sukkah, Beit Shammai invalidate it, and
Beit Hillel validate it. What is an old sukkah? Any [sukkah] which one made it thirty days
before the festival. But if one made it for the sake of the festival, even [if he made it] from
the beginning of the year, it is valid.

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Step 1: Break the Mishna Up Into Its Discrete Units/Topics

A sukkah taller than twenty cubits is invalid. Rabbi Yehudah validates it.
And one which is not ten hand-breadths tall, or does not contain three walls, or whose whose [area of] sun is greater than its
shade is invalid.
Regarding an old sukkah, Beit Shammai invalidate it, and Beit Hillel validate it. What is an old sukkah? Any [sukkah] which
one made it thirty days before the festival. But if one made it for the sake of the festival, even [if he made it] from the
beginning of the year, it is valid.
Step 2: Isolate Any Case of Machloket (disagreement)
A sukkah taller than twenty cubits is invalid. Rabbi Yehudah validates it.
Regarding an old sukkah, Beit Shammai invalidate it, and Beit Hillel validate it. What is an old sukkah? Any [sukkah] which
one made it thirty days before the festival. But if one made it for the sake of the festival, even [if he made it] from the
beginning of the year, it is valid.
Step 3: Identify Who is Arguin
[Tanna Kamma] A sukkah taller than twenty cubits is invalid. Rabbi Yehudah validates it.
Regarding an old sukkah, Beit Shammai invalidate it, and Beit Hillel validate it. What is an old sukkah? Any [sukkah] which
one made it thirty days before the festival. But if one made it for the sake of the festival, even [if he made it] from the
beginning of the year, it is valid.
Step 4: Clearly Restate the Nikudat HaMachloket (point of disagreement)
The Tanna Kamma and Rabbi Yehudah disagree regarding whether a Sukkahs Schach can be more than 20 Amot(cubits 30)
above the floor of the Sukkah.
Beit Shammai and Beit Hillel disagree regarding whether or not one can use an otherwise Kosher Sukkah which was built
more than 30 days prior to the festival of Sukkot AND built without specific intention to be used for the festival.

Step 5: Craft an Inference for Why there is a Machloket

The Tanna Kamma and Rabbi Yehudah are engaged in a Cognitive/Rational debate and disagree as to the whether or not a
Sukkah taller than 20 Amot still meets the definition of dwelling in the Sukkah.
Beit Hillel and Beit Shammai are engaged in a debate regarding whether or not a Sukkah must be built with intent to be used
for the Holiday. Within 30 days that intention is assumed (and therefore there is no Machloket). More than 30 days before the
festival, the intention is not assumed.

Mishna Sukkah 2:1

One who sleeps under a bed in a sukkah has not fulfilled his obligation. Rabbi Yehudah says,
"We practiced the custom of sleeping under a bed [in the sukkah] in the presence of the
elders, and they never said a thing to [stop] us." Rabbi Shimon says: It happened that Tavi,
the slave of Raban Gamaliel, would sleep under a bed [in the sukkah], and Raban Gamaliel
said to the elders, "Have you see my slave Tavi? He is a disciple of the Sages, and he knows
that slaves are exempt from [the obligations pertaining to] the sukkah; therefore, he sleeps
under a bed." And thus in accordance with our way we deduce that one who sleeps under a
bed [in a sukkah] has not fulfilled his obligation.

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Step 1: Break the Mishna Up Into Its Discrete Units/Topics

The entire Mishna is a single Unit/Topic
Step 2: Isolate Any Case of Machloket (disagreement)
The entire Mishna constitutes a single Machloket.
Step 3: Identify Who is Arguing
The Tanna Kamma is challenged by Rabbi Yehudah, but then defended by Rabbi Shimon.
Step 4: Clearly Restate the Nikudat HaMachloket (point of disagreement)
There is an argument about whether or not a person is permitted to sleep under a bed which is within a Sukkah (as they would
then have a separation between them and the Schach, and perhaps could no longer be said to be sleeping in a Sukkah, only
under a bed).
Step 5: Craft an Inference for Why there is a Machloket
It is an Empirical/Experiential argument based in Rabbi Yehudahs observation (as captured in a story), which is then
countered by a more detailed observation.