Talmud for Beginners

Introducing "Talmud for Beginners" – a new online course. Delve into the text. Explore the commentaries. Challenge your mind. Discover how Talmudic teachings have practical relevance in your life today.

This introductory class to Talmud explores the rich history of the Oral Tradition, explains the structure of the Talmud, introduces some of its famed personalities and presents the layout of the Talmud page.

This class serves as an introduction to the subject matter discussed in the third chapter of Bava Metzia, namely the laws of the four guardians.

What are a guardian's responsibilities? When is a guardian rewarded for going beyond his call of duty? Are there any legal differences between the types of item one is safeguarding? And a lesson in time management.

In this class, we will encounter a compelling challenge to the Mishnah’s ruling, and discover a brilliantly crafted resolution. We will also explore the following questions: Can one acquire an item that doesn’t yet exist? Can past events be retroactively reinterpreted?

In this class, we explore the nature and reliability of pledges, whether an item found on one's property can be presumed to belong to him, and the evolution process of a halachic sales transaction.

How many different interpretations can a single word have? When can we apply the same rules of linguistics to the teachings of different sages? What is it that makes the borrower's pledge so unreliable?

In this class, the Sages of the Talmud brainstorm all sorts of rare and complex variations of the basic scenario discussed in the Mishnah. We are then introduced to a ubiquitous Talmudic phenomenon--unresolved questions.

In continuation from the previous lesson, we once again participate in a most creative brainstorming session of our Sages. Building upon the ruling of our Mishnah, the Sages explore several complex variations of the Mishnah's base scenario. In turn, many new and fascinating discussions evolve.

We begin this class with exploring possible resolutions for the Talmud's "unresolved" questions, gleaned from the writings of medieval codifiers. Following this, we begin a new segment of the Talmud, which discusses the famous institution known as "Rav Huna's Oath."

In this class we conclude studying and clarifying the Mishnah which was introduced in an attempt to challenge "Rav Huna's Oath."

Following the strong objection raised against Rav Huna's oath, the Talmud provides several resolutions in defense of Rav Huna.

In this second-to-last class of this series, we finally lay to rest all the objections raised against "Rav Huna's Oath."

In this class, we will revisit our Mishnah. After studying the Talmud's exposition in the past classes, does the Mishnah appear any different now from when we studied it for the first time? Word by word, line by line, we will study the Mishnah again, only this time through the lens of the Talmud.