Editing Tosefta (section)

==Authority==
[[Sherira ben Hanina]] (987 CE), in [[Iggeret of Rabbi Sherira Gaon|his epistle]] written to the heads of the Jewish community in [[Kairouan]] (now in [[Tunisia]]), discusses the authority of the Tosefta in relation to the Mishnah. There, he writes:
{{Quote|We do not follow the opinion of R. Ḥiya, as expressed in a Baraita, if he disputes with Rebbe [Judah ha-Nasi]. For example, let us suppose that a certain ''halacha'' had originally been a matter of dispute between R. Meir and R. Yosi; but Rebbe [Judah ha-Nasi] decided to record in the Mishnah only R. Meir's opinion [anonymously]. Had R. Ḥiya then come along, in the Tosefta, and stated that the ''halacha'' had been originally a matter of dispute – even though it has now been reported anonymously – we follow the Mishnah rather than take up the episode which places the rabbis at variance. Whenever R. Meir and R. Yosi disagree,<ref>e.g. Tosefta ''Demai'' 5:21</ref> the ''halacha'' follows R. Yosi. Nevertheless, since in the Mishnah, Rebbe [Judah ha-Nasi] mentioned only R. Meir's opinion,<ref>e.g. Mishnah ''Demai'' 5:9</ref> we follow R. Meir.<ref>{{cite book | last = Gaon |first = Sherira |author-link=Sherira Gaon |title=The Iggeres of Rav Sherira Gaon |translator=Nosson Dovid Rabinowich | publisher=Rabbi Jacob Joseph School Press – Ahavath Torah Institute Moznaim|date=1988 |location=Jerusalem|page=37 |language=en|oclc=923562173 |title-link=Iggeret of Rabbi Sherira Gaon }}</ref>}}

Sherira then brings down the reverse of this example: "Or, let us suppose that Rebbe [Yehuda Ha-Nassi] in the Mishnah records a dispute between R. Meir and R. Yosi. However, R. Ḥiya prefers R. Meir's argument and records it in a [[Baraita]] without mentioning R. Yosi's opposing view. In such a case, we do not accept [R. Ḥiya's] decision."