Daf Chazarah
    Glossary

    Daf Yomi & Gemara Glossary

    Quick, clear definitions of the words you hear in every Daf Yomi shiur.

    Dafדף
    A double-sided page (folio) of the Talmud Bavli, with an amud aleph (side a) and amud beis (side b). Daf Yomi learners study one daf each day.
    Daf Yomiדף יומי
    The worldwide programme of learning one daf of Talmud Bavli every day, finishing all 2,711 dafim of Shas in about seven and a half years. Started by Rabbi Meir Shapiro in 1923.
    Chazarahחזרה
    Review. Re-reading material already learned so it is retained. In Daf Yomi, a short chazarah after each shiur is the key to remembering the Gemara.
    Amudעמוד
    One side of a daf. Amud aleph (a) is the front, amud beis (b) is the back. References like 'Chullin 42b' mean daf 42, amud beis.
    Masechtaמסכתא
    A tractate of the Talmud, such as Berachos, Shabbos, Chullin or Bechoros. Shas contains 37 masechtos in the Bavli Daf Yomi cycle.
    Shasש"ס
    Short for Shisha Sidrei Mishnah — the six orders of the Mishnah. Commonly used to mean the entire Talmud.
    Sederסדר
    One of the six orders of the Mishnah: Zeraim, Moed, Nashim, Nezikin, Kodashim and Taharos.
    Sugyaסוגיא
    A self-contained topic or discussion in the Gemara, often spanning several lines or dafim, with questions, answers and proofs.
    Gemaraגמרא
    The Amoraic discussion that explains and analyses the Mishnah. Together, Mishnah and Gemara make up the Talmud.
    Mishnahמשנה
    The foundational compilation of the Oral Torah, redacted by Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi around 200 CE.
    Siyumסיום
    A celebration marking the completion of a masechta or all of Shas. The Siyum HaShas is held at the end of each Daf Yomi cycle.
    Shiurשיעור
    A Torah class. Many learners follow a daily Daf Yomi shiur, such as Reb Eli Stefansky's MDY shiur, on which Daf Chazarah's summaries are based.
    Kashyaקושיא
    A question or difficulty raised in the Gemara against a statement or opinion.
    Teirutzתירוץ
    An answer that resolves a kashya.
    Machlokesמחלוקת
    A dispute between Tannaim, Amoraim or later authorities about the law or its reasoning.
    Halachaהלכה
    Jewish law. The Gemara's discussions form the basis for halachic rulings codified later by the Rambam, Shulchan Aruch and others.
    Tanna / Amoraתנא / אמורא
    Tannaim are the sages of the Mishnah era; Amoraim are the later sages whose discussions make up the Gemara.
    Rashi & Tosafosרש"י ותוספות
    The two classic commentaries printed alongside every daf. Rashi explains the plain meaning; Tosafos raises questions and cross-references.