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Gemara Succah Elementary I and II PREMIUMPREMIUM TORAHTORAH COLLEGECOLLEGE PROGRAMSPROGRAMSTaTa l l Gemara Succah Elementary I and II February 2019 Elementary Gemara I and II: Succah —Study Guide— In this Study Guide you will find: • Elementary Succah I: syllabus (page 4), and sample examination (page 11). • Elementary Succah II: syllabus (page 18), and sample examination (page 25). NOTE: a. Since you are required to answer in black ink, be sure to bring a black pen to your exam. b. Accustom yourself to outlining your answers on scrap paper and writing essays clearly. Illegible exams will not be graded. c. The lowest passing score on this exam is 70. You will not get credit for a score below 70, though in the case of a failed or illegible paper, you may be able to retake the exam after waiting six months. Grades for transcripts are calculated as follows: A = 90–100% B = 80–89% C = 70–79% This Study Guide is the property of TAL and MUST be returned after you take the exam. Failure to do so is an aveirah of gezel. GemaraSuccahElemIandIISPCombined-1 v02.indd © 2019 by Torah Accreditation Liaison. All Rights Reserved. Succah Elementary I and II Elementary Gemara I: Succah — Study Guide — This elementary Gemara I examination is based on the beginning of Maseches Succah, from: דף ד עמוד ב on (ושאינה גבוהה עשרה טפחים) 2a) until the two dots) דף ב עמוד א • (4b), and דף ז עמוד א 6b) through) דף ו עמוד ב on (ושאין לה שלש דפנות) from the two dots • .(on the last line גופא 7a) (until the word) In this Study Guide you will find: • The syllabus outline for the elementary Succah I examination (page 4). • A sample Gemara Bava Metzia examination (page 11). Please utilize the sample examination to familiarize yourself with the type of questions that are asked, and for guidance as to how to answer them. The Bava Metzia sample examination is comparable to the Succah formal examination in both level and style. GemaraSuccahElemIandIISPCombined-1 v02.indd Elementary Talmud I (Talmud 101) Succah-1 © 2019 by Torah Accreditation Liaison. All Rights Reserved. Succah Elementary I and II Elementary Gemara I: Succah — Syllabus — The formal examination consists of between 42 and 46 questions assessing your ability to identify the different elements on adaf Gemara; your knowledge of basic background information about Mishnah and Gemara, as well as some history; your ability to translate and understand vocabulary, expressions, rules, acronyms, and Rashi script; and to be familiar with the set pages of Gemara and some elementary Rashis. The syllabus on the following pages covers all the material you need to know to answer the complete range of examination questions. You are required to know: • Some history and general information about Mishnah and Gemara. • The set text. • A number of assigned Rashis. • Common Gemara terminology, methodology, and abbreviations. Although the examination includes history and general information questions, the majority of the questions test your knowledge and understanding of the set text, Rashis, abbreviations, and terminology. While you are expected to know the translation and meaning of all words or phrases appearing in the set text, the examination emphasizes those that are commonly used or that are basic to the central discussion of the set text. Within the set text are many terms and abbreviations that are commonly used throughout the Talmud to indicate specific types of questions, difficulties, resolutions, proofs, conclusions etc. Some of these are used to indicate common Gemara methodologies (such as kal va’chomer). A list of the terms and abbreviations that you are required to know appears on page 10. Learn the meaning of the terms and abbreviations in the list as well as how they are generally used in the Gemara. The following few pages detail the history and general information that you need to know about Mishnah and Gemara. Subsequently, you will find details about the set text, the assigned Rashis, and the Gemara terminology. GemaraSuccahElemIandIISPCombined-1 v02.indd Page 4 of 31 © 2019 by Torah Accreditation Liaison. All Rights Reserved. Succah Elementary I and II The Mishnah I. Historical Background The period of the Mishnah was circa 200 BCE until 200 CE. It began just before the Macabeeim regained control of the Beis Hamikdash from the Yevanim in 165 BCE and continued until the completion of the Mishnah by R’ Yehudah Hanasi, circa 200 CE. It comprises the period of the Tannaim (defined below in section III). During this period, the Jewish people initially enjoyed sovereignty in Eretz Yisrael, but then lost it to the Romans with the destruction of the second Beis Hamikdash in 70 CE. Although halachah forbids writing down the Mishnah — comprising the Torah SheBaal Peh (Oral Torah) — R’ Yehudah Hanasi, together with the Sanhedrin, was forced to do so due to the harsh Roman persecution that would otherwise have caused knowledge of its laws to be lost and forgotten. II. Mishnah, Tosefta, and Beraisa The Mishnah is comprised of six sections, known collectively as Shas, an abbreviation of ”.meaning “six orders ,(ששה סדרים) shishah sedarim In addition to the Mishnah, there is another collection of statements of the Tannaim called the Tosefta, meaning “additions” or “supplements.” These statements were intended to supplement the Mishnayos. Beraisos (plural of “Beraisa”) are additional passages of the Tannaim that were never collected. The term Beraisa literally means “outside” of the Mishnayos. Beraisos are cited throughout the Gemara as part of its analysis and discussions. III. Well-known Tannaim The term Tanna (plural: Tannaim) means “one who studies.” It is used to identify the rabbanim of the period of the Mishnah. You should be familiar with the names of some of the Tannaim that appear in the Mishnah and Beraisos in the set text, as follows: [2b] R’ Yehudah [4a] R’ Yosi (ר”ש) 3a] Beis Hillel, Beis Shammai, Rebbe [6b] R’ Shimon] GemaraSuccahElemIandIISPCombined-1 v02.indd Page 5 of 31 © 2019 by Torah Accreditation Liaison. All Rights Reserved. Succah Elementary I and II The Gemara I. Historical Background Immediately after the completion of the Mishnah, the Amoraim (see below, section III) began producing the Talmud. This work began simultaneously in the two Torah centers of Eretz Yisrael and Bavel (Babylonia — modern day Iraq) and developed over many generations. Jerusalem) תלמוד ירושלמי The development of the Talmud of Eretz Yisrael, known as the Talmud), was unfortunately brought to a premature end due to the harsh Roman persecutions. One of its main contributors was a second generation Amora called R’ Yochanan who lived in Teveria. He played such an important role that the Rambam refers to him as the author of this Talmud, even though it was developed by subsequent generations until circa 350 CE. Babylonian Talmud) continued after this time. It was) תלמוד בבליThe development of the organized into the order in which we have it today by Ravina and R’ Ashi in about 425 CE. After the death of R’ Ashi’s son in about 500 CE, the Talmudic era came to an end. was subsequently edited by the Savoraim (Rabbanan Savorai) until תלמוד בבלי However, the circa 600 CE. The period of the Gemara can thus be said to extend from 200 to 600 CE. II. Content of the Talmud Each Mishnah in Shas was discussed and analyzed by the rabbanim in the period of the Gemara, who are known as Amoraim (see below, section III). Since the Mishnayos dealing with agricultural dinim were not relevant in Bavel, they were less studied there. As a result, there is no Talmud Bavli on most of these dinim, which are found in the order of Mishnayos known as Seder Zeraim. Additionally, since the halachos of tumah and taharah were not relevant after the destruction of the Beis Hamikdash, there is no Gemara on most of the Mishnayos of Seder Taharos, the Mishnayos that deal with those halachos. Each tractate of Gemara is called a masechta, the Aramaic word for tractate. As will be explained in more detail below, a masechta contains both Mishnayos and Gemara. The discussion presented in the Gemara often goes beyond the specific issues of the particular Mishnah being discussed, and digresses to related and seemingly unrelated subjects raised by the Gemara. GemaraSuccahElemIandIISPCombined-1 v02.indd Page 6 of 31 © 2019 by Torah Accreditation Liaison. All Rights Reserved. Succah Elementary I and II III. Well-Known Amoraim The term Amora (plural: Amoraim) means “one who speaks or interprets.” It is used to identify the rabbanim in the period of the Gemara, both in Bavel and Eretz Yisrael. You should be familiar with some of the names of the Amoraim cited in the set text of the Gemara, as follows: (Only the first place where each Amora appears is noted here.) [2a] Rabba, R’ Zeira, Abaye [2b] Rav, R’ Huna [3a] Rav Ashi, R’ Nachman bar Yitzchak [3b] R’ Chisda [4a] Rava [7a] Shmuel, Rav Yehudah The Gemara’s Structure I. The Masechta Each masechta is organized according to the Mishnayos. Each Mishnah is a distinct meaning “our ,”מתניתן“ short for ,מתני׳ unit which is introduced with the abbreviation ( גמ׳Mishnah.” The Mishnah is then followed by a section titled Gemara (abbreviated which begins the discussions and analysis related to the topic of the Mishnah, as well as periodic digressions from it. Although the Mishnah is generally only several lines long, the Gemara’s discussion usually covers several pages, known as dapim (daf in the singular). The masechta is divided into perakim, with each perek named after its first Mishnah. The top of each page of the Talmud displays the name of the perek on the right side, the number of the perek in the middle, and the name of the masechta on the left side.
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