One of the most difficult aspects in the teaching of beginning G’mara to students in Junior High School is the simple lack of student-friendly materials that help the student get into the “head” of Talmud. What is Talmud? Where did it come from? How does it work, and why should I learn it? These are only a few of the questions that trouble modern students, and teachers are generally bereft of good material to explain the Talmud to students.

Additionally, even if the student “buys in” to the study of Talmud, how do you teach the student how to learn? How do you collect, organize and order the necessary skills for Talmud?

This is the single greatest contribution of the V’Dibarta Bam Program – it makes Talmud accessible to the average Junior High School student, and teaches the skills that make it possible for the student to achieve a knowledgable, reliable context for Talmud study.

The V’Dibarta Bam Student Book is divided into five units. Below, please find their description, and sample pages from each unit for your review:

Unit One – Orientation to the Page of Talmud

In this first unit, the student discovers the page of Vilna Talmud – how it’s organized, what are its components, and how do you get started in learning it? The student learns that each page of Talmud is comprised of three main layers:  Tannaim, Amoraim and Shakla V’Tarya. Throughout the book, these three layers are indicated with icons of scholars wearing blue, green or grey sashes, respectively.

For example pages, click the icons:

Unit Two – The Amoraim and their Bate Midrash

In the second unit, the student learns the historical and geographical background of the Amoraim and their Bate Midrash, in Eretz Yisrael, in Bavel, and in their travel from one center to the other.

For example pages, click the icons:

Unit Three – Torat Ha’Amoraim – Forms of Amoraic Teaching

In the third unit, the student learns about the teachings of the Amoraim – their various forms, styles and functions. This enables the student to see a memra or ma’aseh of Torat Ha’Amoraim on a page of Talmud and to know immediately how to learn it, even before comprehension of the content. This approach empowers the student to find his own way around the Talmudic sugyah, much the same for him/her as learning how to drive!

For example pages, click the icons:

Unit Four – From Memra to Sugyah

In the fourth unit, the student sees how the memrot and ma’asim about which he/she learned in Unit Three, begin to come together to form sugyot of Amoraim. This exciting unit helps students see four different forms types of Amoraic sugyot and their standard templates, which makes it possible for students to actually scan a page of Talmud in just a few minutes and see how it should be learned, in what stages, and with what tools! Exciting!

For example pages, click the icons:

Unit Five – Sample Sugyot – Putting it All Together

In the fifth and final unit, the student is presented with twelve sample sugyot, which he/she may learn for both structure and content. The student is guided to use the skills learned in Units One through Five, and how the skills affect learning of the content.

For an example sugyah, click the icon:

For more information about V’Dibarta Bam or any other fine Bonayich Publications, please Contact Us at bonayich@bonayich.com.

To purchase these materials please click here.

One of the most difficult aspects in the teaching of beginning G’mara to students in Junior High School is the simple lack of student-friendly materials that help the student get into the “head” of Talmud. What is Talmud? Where did it come from? How does it work, and why should I learn it? These are only a few of the questions that trouble modern students, and teachers are generally bereft of good material to explain the Talmud to students.

Additionally, even if the student “buys in” to the study of Talmud, how do you teach the student how to learn? How do you collect, organize and order the necessary skills for Talmud?

This is the single greatest contribution of the V’Dibarta Bam Program – it makes Talmud accessible to the average Junior High School student, and teaches the skills that make it possible for the student to achieve a knowledgable, reliable context for Talmud study.

The V’Dibarta Bam Student Book is divided into five units. Below, please find their description, and sample pages from each unit for your review:

Unit One – Orientation to the Page of Talmud

In this first unit, the student discovers the page of Vilna Talmud – how it’s organized, what are its components, and how do you get started in learning it? The student learns that each page of Talmud is comprised of three main layers:  Tannaim, Amoraim and Shakla V’Tarya. Throughout the book, these three layers are indicated with icons of scholars wearing blue, green or grey sashes, respectively.

For example pages, click the icons:

Unit Two – The Amoraim and their Bate Midrash

In the second unit, the student learns the historical and geographical background of the Amoraim and their Bate Midrash, in Eretz Yisrael, in Bavel, and in their travel from one center to the other.

For example pages, click the icons:

Unit Three – Torat Ha’Amoraim – Forms of Amoraic Teaching

In the third unit, the student learns about the teachings of the Amoraim – their various forms, styles and functions. This enables the student to see a memra or ma’aseh of Torat Ha’Amoraim on a page of Talmud and to know immediately how to learn it, even before comprehension of the content. This approach empowers the student to find his own way around the Talmudic sugyah, much the same for him/her as learning how to drive!

For example pages, click the icons:

Unit Four – From Memra to Sugyah

In the fourth unit, the student sees how the memrot and ma’asim about which he/she learned in Unit Three, begin to come together to form sugyot of Amoraim. This exciting unit helps students see four different forms types of Amoraic sugyot and their standard templates, which makes it possible for students to actually scan a page of Talmud in just a few minutes and see how it should be learned, in what stages, and with what tools! Exciting!

For example pages, click the icons:

Unit Five – Sample Sugyot – Putting it All Together

In the fifth and final unit, the student is presented with twelve sample sugyot, which he/she may learn for both structure and content. The student is guided to use the skills learned in Units One through Five, and how the skills affect learning of the content.

For an example sugyah, click the icon:

For more information about V’Dibarta Bam or any other fine Bonayich Publications, please Contact Us at bonayich@bonayich.com.

To purchase these materials please click here.