Daf Yomi

Daf Yomi (Hebrew: דף יומי‎, Daf Yomi, "page of the day" or "daily folio") is a daily regimen of learning the Oral Torah and its commentaries (also known as the Gemara), in which each of the 2,711 pages of the Babylonian Talmud is covered in sequence. A daf, or blatt in Yiddish, consists of both sides of the page. Under this regimen, the entire Talmud is completed, one day at a time, in a cycle of approximately seven and a half years.

Tens of thousands of Jews worldwide study in the Daf Yomi program,[1] and over 300,000[2] participate in the Siyum HaShas, an event celebrating the culmination of the cycle of learning. The Daf Yomi program has been credited with making Talmud study accessible to Jews who are not Torah scholars,[3][4] contributing to Jewish continuity after the Holocaust,[3] and having a unifying factor among Jews.[5][6]

Genesis
Rabbi Moshe Menachem Mendel Spivak
Rabbi Meir Shapiro, initiator of Daf Yomi.

The novel idea of Jews in all parts of the world studying the same daf each day, with the goal of completing the entire Talmud, was first proposed in a World Agudath Israel publication in December 1920 (Kislev 5681) Digleinu, the voice of Zeirei Agudath Israel,[7] by Rabbi Moshe Menachem Mendel Spivak,[8][9] and was put forth at the First World Congress of Agudath Israel which took place in Vienna starting from Elul 3, 5683 / August 15, 1923 and which lasted for ten days.[10] The proposal for the study of Daf Hayomi was made on Elul 7 or 9, 5683 (August 19 or 21, 1923)[11] by Rabbi Meir Shapiro, then Rav of Sanok, Poland, and future rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin and the resolution was adopted on Elul 10, 5683.[12] In those years, only some of the 63 tractates of the Talmud were being studied regularly, such as Berachot, Shabbat, and Eruvin, which deal with practical laws, while others, such as Zevachim and Temurah, were hardly studied.[13] Rabbi Shapiro also viewed the program as a way to unify the Jewish people. As he explained to the Congress delegates:

What a great thing! A Jew travels by boat and takes gemara Berachot under his arm. He travels for 15 days from Eretz Yisrael to America, and each day he learns the daf. When he arrives in America, he enters a beis medrash in New York and finds Jews learning the very same daf that he studied on that day, and he gladly joins them. Another Jew leaves the States and travels to Brazil or Japan, and he first goes to the beis medrash, where he finds everyone learning the same daf that he himself learned that day. Could there be greater unity of hearts than this?[14][15][16]

Originally, Rabbi Shapiro saw Daf Yomi as an obligation only for the religious youth of Poland. However, the idea was greeted enthusiastically by the nearly 600 delegates at the Congress, including many Torah leaders from Europe and America, who accepted it a universal obligation for all Jews.[13][17]

The first cycle of Daf Yomi commenced on the first day of Rosh Hashanah 5684 (11 September 1923), with tens of thousands of Jews in Europe, America and Israel learning the first daf of the first tractate of the Talmud, Berachot. To show support for the idea, the Gerrer Rebbe, Rabbi Avraham Mordechai Alter, learned the first daf of Berachot in public on that day.[13][16] On 12 November 1923 Tractate Berachot was completed, with small siyums (celebrations marking the completion of study of a Talmudic tractate) in local communities. At that time, Rabbi Shapiro published a calendar for the entire cycle of Daf Yomi study.[13] (For the first cycle, there were only 2,702 pages of Talmud on the schedule; later leading Rabbis increased it to 2,711,[18] changing the edition used for Tractate Shekalim, taken from the Jerusalem Talmud, to one with more pages.) The siyum for the completion of Tractate Pesachim took place after the laying of the cornerstone for Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin. At that time, Rabbi Shapiro conceived the idea of contributing daily groschen to help raise money for the building. Each day, each person who studied Daf Yomi was asked to set aside a grosh (a Polish penny), and at the end of the tractate, to donate the sum to the yeshiva.[19] The Gerrer Rebbe immediately contributed the entire sum of 2,700 groschen (27 złoty) to support this initiative.[13]

The Second World Congress of the World Agudath Israel, held in 1929, coincided with the completion of Tractate Zevachim.[13]

The 1st Siyum HaShas took place on 2 February 1931 (15 Shevat 5691) in several cities in Europe and in Jerusalem, with the main venue being the newly opened Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin in Lublin, Poland. Tens of thousands of Jews attended these events. Rabbi Shapiro presided over the Siyum in his yeshiva in the presence of many leaders of Polish Jewry.[18] In the United States, Siyums were held in Baltimore and Philadelphia.[20]

Siyum HaShas
Main article: Siyum HaShas

The completion of the Daf Yomi cycle is celebrated in an event known as the Siyum HaShas ("completion of the Shas").[21] In America, the main Siyum HaShas is organized by the Agudath Israel of America. Attendance at each successive recent Siyum HaShas has grown. In 1997 the 10th Siyum HaShas was celebrated by some 70,000 participants in the U.S.;[22] at the 11th Siyum HaShas in 2005, participation had grown to 120,000 in the U.S. and 300,000 around the world.[2]

The 12th Siyum HaShas in America was held on August 1, 2012 at the MetLife Stadium at the Meadowlands Sports Complex in New Jersey, which has capacity for over 90,000 attendees. All seats were sold out.[23] Satellite broadcasts were piped to many other locations, including Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin in Poland.[24] Tens of thousands attended celebrations in Israel.[25][26][27]

The 13th Siyum HaShas on January 1, 2020 returned to MetLife Stadium, to a capacity crowd.[28]

Process

Process

With 2,711 pages in the Talmud, one Daf Yomi cycle takes about 7 years, 5 months. The completion of each tractate is typically celebrated with a small siyum, and the completion of the entire cycle is celebrated at an event known as the Siyum HaShas.

Daf Yomi can be studied alone, with a chavruta (study partner), in a daily shiur (class) led by a rabbi or teacher, via a telephone shiur, CD-ROM, or audio and online resources. Typically, Daf Yomi shiurim are held in synagogues, yeshivas, and offices.[29] They also take place in the United States Senate, Wall Street board rooms,[30] and on the Long Island Rail Road, in the last car of two commuter trains departing Far Rockaway at 7:51 am and 8:15 am, respectively, for Manhattan.[29][31][32][33] Daf Yomi shiurim are piped into the in-flight sound system of all El Al flights.[32][34] A typical Daf Yomi shiur lasts one hour.[35] Participants typically study the text with only the most basic commentary, that of Rashi, but some shiurim are more elaborate.[36]

Learning resources
Bilingual page of the Koren Talmud Bavli

The Schottenstein Edition of the Babylonian Talmud, an English-language translation and interpretation published in 73 volumes between 1990 and 2004 by ArtScroll,[37] has been credited with significantly increasing the number of English speakers participating in the Daf Yomi program.[38] ArtScroll planned the publication of each tractate to coincide with its study in the Daf Yomi cycle,[39] releasing the final volume to coincide with the 11th Siyum HaShas in 2005.[40] The Schottenstein Talmud was also translated into Hebrew. ArtScroll released in 2012 a mobile app that contained the entire Babylonian Talmud.[37]

The Koren Talmud Bavli by Koren Publishers offers the Vilna Daf along with a bilingual section (English-Aramaic) with color maps, images, and extensive historical, scientific, biographical, and linguistic notes by Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz. To facilitate comprehension and reading fluency, the Aramaic text and Rashi commentary feature punctuation and vowels, and the text is fully annotated.[41] The Koren Talmud Bavli with Rabbi Steinsaltz's commentary has been credited with opening access to Talmud study for Jews of all backgrounds.[42]

The Dafyomi Advancement Forum, founded by Kollel Iyun Hadaf in 1996, is a free resource center offering English-language translations, outlines, charts, analyses and lectures on every daf, as well as answers to any question by email.[15][43]

Meoros HaDaf HaYomi, founded in 1999, disseminates a weekly Daf Yomi study sheet in both Hebrew and English via email and regular mail. This organization also trains Daf Yomi teachers in its battei medrash (study halls) in Bnei Brak and Jerusalem. It has recorded shiurim on the daf on CD-ROM in English, Hebrew, Yiddish, and French.[44]

Additional resources to assist those endeavoring to complete the cycle for the first time are a range of audiotapes, online websites, and iPods preloaded with lectures covering every page of the Talmud.[45]

Since Spring 2019, Dr. Henry Abramson of Touro College has been posting brief videos describing the historical context of each daf as part of the Orthodox Union Daf Yomi Initiative.[46]

Influence

Soon after its introduction, Daf Yomi inspired the founding of other Yomi (Daily) study programs for key texts of Judaism. These include Mishnah Yomis (the daily study of Mishnah), Nach Yomi (the daily study of Nevi'im and Ketuvim), and Mussar Yomi (the daily study of Mussar literature).[47] In 1980 the Gerrer Rebbe introduced Yerushalmi Yomi, a daily schedule for completing the entire Jerusalem Talmud.[48] In 1984 the Lubavitcher Rebbe introduced Mishneh Torah Yomi, a daily study schedule for Maimonides' Mishneh Torah which covers all the material in a yearly cycle.[49] Dirshu has introduced Mishnah Berurah Yomi, a daily learning plan which completes the entire work by Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan in seven years.[50]

Hadaf Hayomi street in Bnei Brak

See also

References
  1. Goldman (2000), p. 264.
  2. Slutsky, Carolyn (30 November 1999). "Daf Yomi program has Polish roots". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Archived from the original on 15 April 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
  3. Heilman (1995), pp. 315-316.
  4. Schloss (2002), p. 296.
  5. Becher (2005), p. 420.
  6. Frand (1999), p. 242.
  7. Spivak, Moshe Menachem Mendel (December 1920). Friedman, Alexander Zusia (ed.). "!הצעה נכבדה" [Great offer!]. Diglenu (in Hebrew). Warsaw, Poland: צעירי אמוני ישראל. I (7): 42–43. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
  8. Rosenberg, B. "Biography of Rabbi Moshe Menachem Shpivak zt"l". In Spivak, Moshe Menachem (ed.). מטה משה (in Hebrew) (1979 ed.). pp. 8–10. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
  9. Katzman, Eliezer (October 1997). "An Unsung Hero - Rabbi Moshe Menachem Mendel Spivak הי"ד" (PDF). The Jewish Observer. Agudath Israel of America. XXX (8): 37–40.
  10. Baumol, A Blaze in the Darkening Gloom page 164 states the convention started on the Elul 3, 5683 and on page 171 he writes it lasted for ten days.
  11. Mandelbaum, David Avraham Yeshivat Chachmei Lublin Volume II, pp. 208 puts the date as Elul 9, 5683 (August 21, 1923), however Halachmi, Dovid in Yeshivat Chachmei Lublin and its founder Rabbi Meir Schapiro pp. 31 puts the date as Elul 7, 5683 (August 19, 1923) as does Skorsky, Ahron in Volume I of Rabbi Meir Schapiro Bmishnah Boimer Ubmaas, p. 296. Zeidman, Hillel (http://www.daat.ac.il/daat/chinuch/mosdot/hahmey-2.htm - accessed 7/18/14) has the date as Elul 5.
  12. In Mandelbaum, Dovid Avraham Igrot Vtoldot Moreinu Maharam Shapiro pp. 63 there is a picture of a poster related to the upcoming (first) Siyum Hashas and in it Rabbi Shapiro writes "Then on the tenth day of Elul 5683 the Knesiah Gedolah decided - upon my advice that God gave me - the learning of a worldwide lecture of Daf Yomi". See also Zeidman, Hillel (http://www.daat.ac.il/daat/chinuch/mosdot/hahmey-2.htm - accessed 7/18/14) who writes regarding another proposal made by Rabbi Meir Schapiro at that same convention (the establishment of Yeshivat Chachmei Lublin) that it was adopted on Elul 10, 5883.
  13. Shlomi, B. "A Brilliant Idea: Daf Yomi". Hamodia Magazine, 3 May 2012, pp. 18–20.
  14. This idea was mentioned by Rabbi Spivak in his Digleinu proposal.
  15. Marks, Yehudah. "It's Question Time at Daf Yomi Kollel: Jews from around the world can get instant answers – in English – to their questions on Gemara, halachah, and many other areas of Jewish interest". Hamodia, 24 May 2012, pp. A30–31.
  16. "Rabbi Meir Shapira – The Rav of Lublin and Creator of Daf Yomi". Hevrat Pinto. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
  17. Baumol (1994), pp. 161-165.
  18. Shlomi, B. "The Historic First Siyum HaShas". Hamodia Magazine, 10 May 2012, pp. 12–13.
  19. Baumol, "A Blaze in the Darkening Gloom", p. 172.
  20. Horowitz, Yisroel. "Celebrating Siyum HaShas in America". Hamodia Magazine, 21 June 2012, p. 3.
  21. Shas, an acronym for Shisha Sidrei (Mishnah) or "Six Orders of the Mishnah", is another name for the Talmud.
  22. Henry, Marilyn (28 September 1997). "Tens of thousands to mark end of Talmud study cycle". The Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on 16 May 2011. Retrieved 11 October 2007. All told, 70,000 are expected to participate in the event, which was organized in North America by Agudath Israel of America.
  23. Bauman, Casriel (6 June 2012). "Majority of Siyum Hashas Tickets Sold Out". matzav.com. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  24. "Siyum HaShas Lublin & Poland Tour". nesivos.com. 2012. Archived from the original on 25 June 2012. Retrieved 12 June 2012.
  25. Klein, Yonoson (24 May 2012). "Dirshu World Siyum: 48 hours of achdus, simcha, and accomplishment". Five Towns Jewish Times. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  26. Walz, Steve K. (11 January 2012). "Behind The Plans For Jerusalem Siyum Hashas Celebration". The Jewish Press. Retrieved 12 June 2012.
  27. "Jerusalem City Hall Says 'NO' to Funding Siyum HaShas for Shas". Yeshiva World News. 19 June 2012. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  28. https://www.northjersey.com/amp/2782290001%5B%5D
  29. Heilman, U; Lerner, I. "Tractates on Track: Learning on the railroad". Jewish Holiday Online. Archived from the original on 25 May 2013. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
  30. Scharfstein, Sol (1999). Understanding Jewish Holidays and Customs: Historical and Contemporary. KTAV Publishing House. p. 165. ISBN 9780881256260.
  31. Schuster, Dana (6 January 2011). "Easy Riders: Meet the 'commuter pals' who make trips to work cheery instead of dreary". New York Post. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
  32. Frand, Yissocher (1999). Listen To Your Messages: And other observations on contemporary Jewish life. Mesorah Publications Ltd. p. 239. ISBN 9781578191390.
  33. "VIDEO & PHOTOS: Today's Historic Siyum HaShas On The LIRR". Yeshiva World News. 31 March 2014. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
  34. "Midstream". Midstream. 40: 44. 1994.
  35. Yated Ne'eman staff (9 March 2005). "Jews Around the Globe Celebrate Completion of Shas". Dei'ah VeDibur. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
  36. Castle, Dovid (1996). Living with the Sages: Rashi and the Tosafists. 1. Feldheim Publishers.
  37. Shubert, Baruch (7 March 2012). "Artscroll Set to Release Digital Version of Schottenstein Talmud". The Jewish Voice. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  38. Zakon (2005), p. 262.
  39. Liberman Mintz and Goldstein (2005), p. 161.
  40. Lipman, Steve. "On The Same Page: Studying the seven-year Talmud cycle together, a Modern Orthodox family embodies the spirit of Daf Yomi program." Archived 2012-02-12 at the Wayback Machine, The Jewish Week, February 25, 2005. Accessed October 11, 2007. "ArtScroll is issuing the 73rd and final volume of its Schottenstein English translation to coincide with the Siyum HaShas."
  41. Gordon, Uri. "Book Review: Koren Talmud Bavli with Commentary by Rabbi Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz". Lookjed. Archived from the original on 24 June 2014. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  42. Ackerman, Matthew (26 June 2012). "America's Most Important Jewish Event?". Commentary Magazine. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  43. "Kollel Iyun Hadaf, Authors of the Dafyomi Advancement Forum". dafyomi.co.il. Retrieved 10 June 2012.
  44. Meoros HaDaf HaYomi, pp. vii-x.
  45. Mindlin, Alex (17 March 2005). "2,000 Talmud Tapes, Or One Loaded IPod". The New York Times. Retrieved 11 October 2007. Enter the ShasPod. For $399, Mr. Shmidman sends his customers a 20-gigabyte iPod loaded with Talmud lectures given by Rabbi Dovid Grossman of Los Angeles.
  46. https://www.ou.org/blog/torah-blog/ou-daf-yomi-initiative-presents-new-jewish-history-series/
  47. Baumol, "A Blaze in the Darkening Gloom", p. 167.
  48. Holder (1986), p. 315.
  49. Loewenthal (2009), pp. 303-304.
  50. Lustig, Yosef (February 26, 2019). "Live and Learn". Mishpacha. Retrieved January 4, 2020.

Sources
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