Re: General: New To Talmud

[Kollel Iyun Hadaf]

x-mailing-list: daf-disc...@shemayisrael.com
(Please include header and footer when redistributing this material.)
_________________________________________________________________

                 THE DAFYOMI DISCUSSION LIST

      brought to you by Kollel Iyun Hadaf of Yerushalayim
             Rosh Kollel: Rabbi Mordecai Kornfeld
                      d...@dafyomi.co.il

 [REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE TO DISCUSS THE DAF WITH THE KOLLEL]
________________________________________________________________

Re: General: New To Talmud

Chaim Garcia asked:
>>2) Traditionally, what is the first Tractate studied and why?  
>>4) And lastly, do you recommend Soncino or Artscroll?

The Kollel replied:
>>2) The custom has developed that the first part of the Talmud that boys learn 
>>in yeshiva is the second chapter of tractate Bava Metzia - referred to as Elu 
>>Metzios.  I can only speculate on the origin of this custom.  First, this 
>>chapter - and indeed the whole tractate - deal with monetary issues (in this 
>>case returning lost objects) which is a central subject in the yeshiva 
>>curriculum because of the complexity and depth of the laws involved.  Second, 
>>the language and logic of this chapter is not too difficult for a ten year 
>>old.  Third, it is a subject that a young child can relate to.  Finally, it 
>>was suggested to me by a certain Talmid Chacham that this chapter is chosen 
>>because it begins with a long debate between the sages Abaye and Rava, and 
>>these classic debates between these two sages have come to represent the 
>>dialectic which is the hallmark of the Talmud (see Sukah 28a).
>>4) The Artscroll translation of the Talmud has gained tremendous popularity 
>>in the last few years.  I would attribute this to its "user friendliness".  
>>The translation is in a modern idiom, vowelling of the text is included in 
>>the translation, introductory statements are used liberally to keep the 
>>reader oriented.  Try both and see which feels more comfortable.

--------------

Avrohom Glenn commented:

As an interesting aside, Rav Moshe Feinstein, ZT"l, is quoted a giving the 
reason for starting with Perek Elu Metzios as following: The first thing that a 
budding Yeshiva student must firmly establish in his heart and mind is the idea 
that someone else's money and property are not available for the taking. 
Property belonging to another, even if found not in the actual possession of 
another, must be returned to its rightful owner. This also teaches a young 
child ( or beginner of any age) to "keep his hands clean of someone else's 
property!
 
Respectfully.
Rabbi Avrohom Glenn
Far Rockaway, NY
--------------

Y. Hollander commented:

For Chaim Garcia, but worth publishing:

ONLINE Talmud:

Soncino: http://www.come-and-hear.com/talmud/

another translation [not the whole Talmud, but includes Baba Metziah]: 
http://www.sacred-texts.com/jud/talmud.htm

Easy to Read in the original language [paragraphed...]: 
http://www.geocities.com/yeshol/

Another site with the original text with Rashi and other [mainly translations 
of terms into modern Hebrew] hypertexed: 
http://he.wikisource.org/wiki/Bavli_brachot_2 [from this opening page you can 
choose the tractate and later the daf]

Yeshayahu Hollander

 >>><><><>><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><<<
The *D*AFYOMI *A*DVANCEMENT *F*ORUM, brought to you by Kollel Iyun Hadaf
Write to us at d...@dafyomi.co.il or visit us at http://www.dafyomi.co.il
Fax(US):(206) 202-0323; Fax(Isr): (02) 591-6024; Tel(Isr): (02) 651-5004  


_______________________________________________
Daf-discuss mailing list
Daf-discuss@shemayisrael.co.il
http://shemayisrael.co.il/mailman/listinfo/daf-discuss_shemayisrael.co.il