Talmud Builders
    Login
    Back to course page
    Learning path · Course 2

    Gemara for beginners - the foundations

    37 lessons in 8 chapters: from page layout and Aramaic to independent sugya reading. Tools, live vocab, quizzes and practice.

    Progress0 of 37 · 0%
    Start lessonPractice summaryFinal exam
    01

    Chapter 1 · The map of the Shas and the Oral Torah

    4 lessons
    1. 01
      Written Torah and Oral Torah
      15 min
    2. 02
      What is the Talmud? Bavli, Yerushalmi, the order of the Shas
      18 min
    3. 03
      The hierarchy - Tanna, Amora, Savora, Gaon, Rishon, Acharon
      20 min
    4. 04
      How a tractate is built - chapter, mishnah, sugya
      14 min
    02

    Chapter 2 · The page layout

    5 lessons
    1. 05
      The page layout - Rashi, Tosafot, Masoret HaShas, Ein Mishpat
      22 min
    2. 06
      Navigating the page - amud A/B, M.S., paragraphs, abbreviations
      16 min
    3. 07
      How to read Rashi
      18 min
    4. 08
      Tosafot - a first introduction
      15 min
    5. 09
      Common abbreviations
      14 min
    03

    Chapter 3 · Aramaic: the first tools

    5 lessons
    1. 10
      Question words - Mai, Amai, Mena Hani Milei
      18 min
    2. 11
      Answer and source words - Dʼamar Krāʾ, Ta Shma, Amar Rav
      18 min
    3. 12
      Connectors and particles - Dʼ, Bʼ, Lʼ, Min, Iy
      16 min
    4. 13
      Aramaic pronouns - ana, at, ihu
      15 min
    5. 14
      There is and there is not - ika, leika, la, lav
      14 min
    04

    Chapter 4 · Aramaic: the words of debate

    5 lessons
    1. 15
      Logic connectors - Hakhi Kaʾamar, Eitiveih, Rominhu
      20 min
    2. 16
      Frequent nouns and verbs - Gavra, Cheftza, Pligi, Savar
      18 min
    3. 17
      Conclusion phrases - Shma Mina, Tnan, Mena Teimra
      16 min
    4. 18
      Dispute formulas - pligi, mar savar u-mar savar
      17 min
    5. 19
      Kashya, teyuvta and teiku - how a debate ends
      16 min
    05

    Chapter 5 · The Mishnah

    3 lessons
    1. 20
      Mishna structure - Reisha, Seifa, T"K and Rabbi X
      18 min
    2. 21
      Tannaitic disputes in the Mishnah - the Sages and an individual
      16 min
    3. 22
      Reading a mishnah on your own - the five-step method
      18 min
    06

    Chapter 6 · Sources inside the Gemara

    4 lessons
    1. 23
      Tanu Rabanan, Tanya - intro to baraitot
      16 min
    2. 24
      Amora memra - who, what, on what
      18 min
    3. 25
      De-amar kra - a verse as a source
      16 min
    4. 26
      Mena hani milei - searching for the source
      15 min
    07

    Chapter 7 · Shakla ve-tarya

    6 lessons
    1. 27
      Mishna ↔ Gemara - clarify, challenge, contradict
      20 min
    2. 28
      The Shakla v'Tarya skeleton - Kushya ⇄ Teirutz ⇄ Raya
      22 min
    3. 29
      Lo kashya, kan... kan... - the distinction answer
      17 min
    4. 30
      Okimta - ha-kha be-mai askinan
      16 min
    5. 31
      Hava amina and the conclusion
      15 min
    6. 32
      Colour-marking a sugya - question, answer, proof
      16 min
    08

    Chapter 8 · Independent reading

    5 lessons
    1. 33
      First sugya read - Berakhot 2a
      28 min
    2. 34
      Gemara with Rashi - a guided reading
      20 min
    3. 35
      Diagramming a sugya - a map of the discussion
      17 min
    4. 36
      Self-practice - a sugya of your choice
      30 min
    5. 37
      Wrap-up and roadmap - where next
      16 min
    Progress is saved on this device only.