This is one of the earliest substantial English translations of the Mishna, the core of Jewish law and tradition, and the text at the center of the Talmud. This abridgement consists of translations of eighteen out (of about sixty) treatises which make up the Mishna, with synopses of the rest. The selection includes a few treatises for which we don't have other translations of, for instance, Yebamoth (marriage customs), Gittin (divorce), Chulin (preparing animals for food), and Yadaim (hands). A great selection of Mishna with much description of customs and traditions of the time.