Fun Jewish Trivia Questions: What the Mishnah Reveals
Judaism
"So great is the mitzva of circumcision that thirteen covenants were sealed with regard to it, for the word covenant appears thirteen times in the biblical passage that discusses circumcision." — Rabbi Yishmael, Mishnah Nedarim 3:11
Jewish trivia drawn from the Mishnah can be genuinely surprising — even for people raised in the tradition. Here are several trivia-worthy facts with their sources:
1. Who counts as "uncircumcised" in Jewish law?
Counterintuitively, a Jew who is physically uncircumcised is not legally called "uncircumcised" in the Mishnah's framework, while a gentile who is physically circumcised may still be called uncircumcised. The Mishnah bases this on Jeremiah 9:25: "For all the nations are uncircumcised, but all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in the heart." Mishnah Nedarim 3:11 This is a classic trivia stumper.
2. How many covenants are sealed over circumcision?
Rabbi Yishmael taught that thirteen covenants were sealed regarding circumcision, because the word brit (covenant) appears thirteen times in Genesis chapter 17 Mishnah Nedarim 3:11. That's a memorable number for any trivia night.
3. Did circumcision override Shabbat?
Yes — Rabbi Yosei taught that circumcision overrides the strict prohibitions of Shabbat, because if a boy's eighth day falls on Shabbat, the circumcision is performed anyway Mishnah Nedarim 3:11. This is a great "true or false" trivia question.
4. What vow would ban you from benefiting from Samaritans?
If someone vowed not to benefit from "those who rest on Shabbat," they'd be prohibited from benefiting from both Jews and Samaritans (Kutim), because Samaritans also observed Shabbat. But a vow against "those who ascend to Jerusalem" would only restrict Jews — Samaritans went to Mount Gerizim instead Mishnah Nedarim 3:10. Fun trivia: the Samaritans' holy mountain matters legally here.
5. When is lancing an abscess on Shabbat permitted?
The Mishnah records a debate before Rabbi Yishmael: if you lance an abscess on Shabbat to create an opening, you're liable; if you do it to drain pus, you're exempt Mishnah Eduyot 2:5. This kind of hair-splitting is exactly what makes Talmudic trivia so entertaining — intent changes everything.
6. What made Abraham "wholehearted"?
According to Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi, Abraham wasn't called tamim (wholehearted) until he circumcised himself, citing Genesis 17:1: "Walk before Me and you should be wholehearted" Mishnah Nedarim 3:11. Despite all his other righteous deeds, this one act completed him — a striking trivia fact about the patriarch.
Christianity
Not applicable. Fun Jewish trivia questions concern the internal legal and scriptural traditions of Judaism — particularly the Mishnah — which have no direct Christian counterpart as a trivia genre or legal corpus.
Islam
Not applicable. Fun Jewish trivia questions are specific to Jewish tradition and the Mishnaic legal literature; there is no Islamic equivalent body of material that addresses these particular debates or categories.
Where they agree
Since only Judaism is in scope for this question, cross-religious agreement analysis isn't applicable. What's worth noting is that the Mishnah itself reflects internal Jewish agreement and disagreement — rabbis like Yishmael, Yosei, Yehuda HaNasi, and Elazar ben Azarya all weigh in on circumcision's importance, and despite different emphases, they unanimously treat it as one of the most significant mitzvot Mishnah Nedarim 3:11.
Where they disagree
| Trivia Topic | Majority View | Dissenting View |
|---|---|---|
| Ironian stewpots and corpse impurity | They don't contract impurity under the same tent as a corpse, but do if carried by a zav | Rabbi Eliezer ben Zadok: even if carried by a zav they remain pure, because they are unfinished Mishnah Eduyot 2:5 |
| Who is legally "uncircumcised"? | The term refers to gentiles by convention, not physical status Mishnah Nedarim 3:11 | Rabbi Elazar ben Azarya emphasizes the moral/spiritual disgrace of the foreskin as the primary meaning Mishnah Nedarim 3:11 |
| What made Abraham wholehearted? | Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi: circumcision completed him Mishnah Nedarim 3:11 | Alternative reading: without circumcision, God would not have created the world at all — a cosmic rather than personal framing Mishnah Nedarim 3:11 |
Key takeaways
- Fun Jewish trivia questions are Judaism-specific; Christianity and Islam have no direct counterpart to Mishnaic trivia.
- The Mishnah (c. 200 CE) is the richest source for surprising Jewish legal trivia, covering Shabbat, vows, circumcision, and purity laws Mishnah Eduyot 2:5.
- Rabbi Yishmael taught that thirteen covenants were sealed over circumcision, based on the word 'covenant' appearing thirteen times in Genesis 17 Mishnah Nedarim 3:11.
- A vow against 'those who rest on Shabbat' bans benefit from both Jews and Samaritans, but a vow against 'those who ascend to Jerusalem' only affects Jews Mishnah Nedarim 3:10.
- Intent matters enormously in Jewish law — lancing an abscess on Shabbat to create an opening is liable; doing it to drain pus is exempt Mishnah Eduyot 2:5.
FAQs
What is the Mishnah and why is it good for Jewish trivia?
How many times does the word 'covenant' appear in Genesis 17 according to the Mishnah?
Could a vow against 'those who ascend to Jerusalem' affect Samaritans?
Was Moses ever punished for not circumcising his son?
Judaism
One who takes a vow that deriving benefit from those who rest on Shabbat is forbidden to him is prohibited from deriving benefit from a Jew, and he is also prohibited from deriving benefit from Samaritans [Kutim] because they are also Shabbat observers... However, if one takes a vow that deriving benefit from those who ascend to Jerusalem is forbidden to him, he is prohibited from deriving benefit from a Jew, but he is permitted to benefit from Samaritans because they do not ascend to Jerusalem, but rather, to Mount Gerizim.
- Which tractate discusses someone vowing not to benefit from “those who rest on Shabbat,” and includes Samaritans among Shabbat observers? Answer: Mishnah Nedarim 3:10 Mishnah Nedarim 3:10.
- According to the Mishnah, which group is explicitly noted as not ascending to Jerusalem but to Mount Gerizim instead? Answer: Samaritans (Kutim) Mishnah Nedarim 3:10.
- Which Mishnah passage distinguishes two intentions for lancing an abscess on Shabbat—opening vs. draining—and assigns liability accordingly? Answer: Mishnah Eduyot 2:5 Mishnah Eduyot 2:5.
- In a vow concerning “those who eat garlic on Shabbat night,” which communities are included? Answer: Jews and Samaritans Mishnah Nedarim 3:10.
- Who teaches that the term “uncircumcised” in Scripture functions as a designation for the nations, citing Jeremiah 9:25 and narratives about Philistines? Answer: Mishnah Nedarim 3:11 cites verses and explains the designation Mishnah Nedarim 3:11.
- Which Sage famously says thirteen covenants were sealed regarding circumcision because “covenant” appears thirteen times in Genesis 17? Answer: Rabbi Yishmael, in Mishnah Nedarim 3:11 Mishnah Nedarim 3:11.
- Which Sage says Abraham was not called “wholehearted” until circumcision, referencing Genesis 17:1? Answer: Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi, in Mishnah Nedarim 3:11 Mishnah Nedarim 3:11.
- Which Mishnah outlines how a person can transact above or below market price to avoid personal benefit after vowing off benefit from Jews? Answer: Mishnah Nedarim 3:11 Mishnah Nedarim 3:11.
- Which Mishnah notes that catching a snake on Shabbat to prevent harm is permitted (innocent), but doing so for medicinal use is prohibited (guilty)? Answer: Mishnah Eduyot 2:5 Mishnah Eduyot 2:5.
- Which passage asserts that an uncircumcised Jew is not deemed “uncircumcised” for vow-categories, while circumcised non-Jews can still be termed “uncircumcised” in usage? Answer: Mishnah Nedarim 3:11 Mishnah Nedarim 3:11.
Notes for enthusiasts: These sources sit in early rabbinic literature (Mishnah, c. 200 CE, traditionally redacted under Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi), and later commentators debate practical applications; e.g., distinctions of intent on Shabbat in Eduyot 2:5 are discussed extensively by medieval halakhists Mishnah Eduyot 2:5Mishnah Nedarim 3:11.
Christianity
Not applicable. Concerns Jewish trivia sourced from the Mishnah; no direct Christian counterpart is requested.
Islam
Not applicable. Concerns Jewish trivia sourced from the Mishnah; no direct Islamic counterpart is requested.
Where they agree
Where they disagree
| Topic | Judaism | Christianity | Islam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scope of this trivia set | Mishnah-based Jewish trivia only Mishnah Eduyot 2:5Mishnah Nedarim 3:11Mishnah Nedarim 3:10 | N/A | N/A |
Key takeaways
- Mishnah Nedarim 3:10–3:11 is a rich source for vow-related trivia, especially about Shabbat and communal categories Mishnah Nedarim 3:10Mishnah Nedarim 3:11.
- Eduyot 2:5 offers striking Shabbat case studies where intent changes liability (e.g., abscess lancing, snake catching) Mishnah Eduyot 2:5.
- Rabbinic sages such as Rabbi Yishmael and Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi appear prominently in circumcision-related teachings Mishnah Nedarim 3:11.
- Samaritans are treated as Shabbat observers for certain vow formulations in the Mishnah Mishnah Nedarim 3:10.
FAQs
Why are Samaritans included with Jews in some Shabbat-related vow categories?
Who said there are thirteen covenants in Genesis 17 regarding circumcision?
Does intention matter for certain Shabbat actions like lancing an abscess?
Can one structure transactions to avoid personal benefit after a vow restricting benefit from Jews?
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