Eduyyot

("Testimonies"). Seventh tractate of Order Nezikin in the Mishnah. Unlike most other tractates, Eduyyot contains a great variety of laws on different subjects. The subjects include menstruation, the priest's share of the dough, the Mikveh (ritual bath), the purity of the Levite, priestly dues, Tithes, and Marriage. Its title hints at the purpose of the collection, namely to record the "testimonies" of the later sages on the halakhic opinions of earlier authorities. Its eight chapters mention 30 laws in which the School of Hillel uncharacteristically adopts a stricter opinion than the School of Shammai (see Bet Shammai and Bet Hillel). The fourth mishnah of the first chapter reveals the purpose of recording opinions which are not adopted: "Why do they mention the words of Shammai and Hillel to no purpose? To teach the future generations that a man should not (stubbornly) stand on his opinions, for behold, the great teachers did not stubbornly maintain their opinions." The subject matter is amplified only in the Tosefta.

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