But do we ever stop to think about an integral portion of Torah Sheb’al Peh – essentially a third of Shas! – that seems to be hiding from us in plain sight!
Shisha Sidrei
The term Shas is an acronym for Shisha Sidrei – referring to the six sedorim of Mishnayos that comprise the mainstay of our Torah Sheb’al Peh. Talmud Bavli primarily covers only four of these six sedorim, with the exception of Masechta Brachos, the only Masechta in Seder Zeraim with Gemara in Talmud Bavli and Masechta Niddah in Seder Taharos.
Twenty-One Masechtos
The reasons given for this are varied but the point is that the 21 masechtos without Gemara (out of 63) are very much a part of our fundamental Torah Sheb’al Peh, encompassing many relevant halachos that are applicable in our day-to-day lives.
Uncharted Territory
With the focus of our learning being Gemara, over the centuries, the two sedorim without Talmud Bavli have become uncharted territory amongst mainstream lomdim.
Rav Chaim Kanievsky whose famous, annual Siyum Hashas included the completion of the Mishnayos of Zeraim and Taharos, was a strong proponent for Zeraim and Taharos becoming part of the mainstream learning regimen amongst lomdei Torah. He would say that a proper Siyum Hashas includes learning Zeraim & Taharos.
Masechtos With No Gemara
Truthfully, when Chazal and the poskim speak of the primacy and precedence of learning Gemara, essentially what this refers to is the critical analysis of the Mishnah as per the process of the Amoraim in the Gemara. This includes tracing each halacha of the Mishnah to its source in the Torah, understanding the differing positions of the various Tannaim and the basis behind each, exploring the ramifications and parameters of the mishnah’s choice of words, and ultimately, following through the journey to the Rishonim’s establishment of Halacha Lemaaseh.
For masechtos without recorded Gemara, this very process was executed by the meforshei hamishnah, primarily using corresponding Gemaras recorded in other masechtos or drawing parallels from other sources in Chazal. For the purposes of what Chazal call “Gadol Talmud shemeivi liydei ma’aseh”, the meforshei hamishnah on these masechtos take the place of the Gemara. This can be seen in the way Bais Yosef and Shulchan Aruch establish the halachos of Challah, Mikvaos, Netillas Yadayim and other sugyos, directly from the mishnah and its Rishonim.
A Historic Revolution
A primary impediment to learning these masechtos at any level has been the absence of a framework. The lack of familiarity with the subjects has created a sense of distance or mental abstractness to the concepts of Zeraim and Taharos. Some people are not aware that the halachos pertaining to the challah their wife takes every week come straight from the mishnah in Seder Zeraim. Additionally, the meforshei hamishnah, Rishonim, Acharonim and pirushim, are scattered amongst various editions of the Mishnayos – not all of them readily available.
As of this coming Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan, all this is about to change. Masnisin, an initiative long-anticipated and long-overdue, will be launching a new mishnah-a-day program designed to make the acquisition of Zeraim and Taharos a realistic goal for yidden across every stratum of Klal Yisroel.
Daily Mishnah and Chazarah
The program’s easy-to-follow format of a single mishnah per day can be achieved for each person at his own level and capacity for commitment. Built into the program are daily, weekly and monthly chazaras to facilitate easy retention of all that is learned while the Mishnah is still fresh in one’s memory.
Resources
The program includes beautifully compiled resources and materials to facilitate the learning and acquisition of these 2 sedorim of Shas, tailored for the learner at every level.
Mishnayos
An exclusive Mishnayos edition bringing together all the meforshim, including the Yachin UBoaz, Rav, Tosfos Yom Tov, Rash, Rosh, Rambam as well as the Artscroll translation and commentary all conveniently collated in a single publication.
Marei Mekomos
Carefully chosen marei mekomos, references and sources to provide background and in-depth insight into the daily Mishnah.
Shiurim
Audio and video shiurim in English, Yiddish and Lashon Hakodesh by world renowned maggidei shiur, catering to lomdim on all different levels. Shiurim are available by email subscription and accessible via the web or automated call-in hotline.
Calendar
Convenient print and online calendars to help keep to the daily schedule.
Support
Masnisin provides support and logistical assistance with setting up shiurim, chaburos and chavrusos in communities around the world.
A Hadran on ALL of Shas!
For those of us aiming to finish Shas, Masnisin will enable us to make a true siyum on all of Shas. Join Masnisin and be zoche, be’ezras Hashem, to say Hadran Alach Shisha Sidrei in its true sense!
To join, start a shiur or chaburah, or get a calendar or complimentary Mishnayos Mahaduras Masnisin:
www.masnisin.org • [email protected] • 848-356-8185
