A shiur (, , ; , ) is a lecture given any

Torah The Torah ( , "Instruction", "Teaching" or "Law") is the compilation of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, namely the books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. The Torah is also known as the Pentateuch () ...

-related topic of

study Study or studies may refer to: General * Education **Higher education * Clinical trial * Experiment * Field of study * Observational study * Scientific study * Research * Study skills, abilities and approaches applied to learning Other * Study ...

, such as

Gemara The Gemara (also transliterated Gemarah, or in Yiddish Gemore) is an essential component of the Talmud, comprising a collection of rabbinical analyses and commentaries on the Mishnah and presented in 63 books. The term is derived from the Aram ...

Mishnah The Mishnah or the Mishna (; , from the verb ''šānā'', "to study and review", also "secondary") is the first written collection of the Jewish oral traditions that are known as the Oral Torah. Having been collected in the 3rd century CE, it is ...

, ''

Halakha ''Halakha'' ( ; , ), also Romanization of Hebrew, transliterated as ''halacha'', ''halakhah'', and ''halocho'' ( ), is the collective body of Judaism, Jewish religious laws that are derived from the Torah, Written and Oral Torah. ''Halakha'' is ...

'' (Jewish law), or

Tanakh The Hebrew Bible or Tanakh (;"Tanach"
. ''

yeshiva A yeshiva (; ; pl. , or ) is a traditional Jewish educational institution focused on the study of Rabbinic literature, primarily the Talmud and halacha (Jewish law), while Torah and Jewish philosophy are studied in parallel. The stu ...

, though commonly in other Jewish communal settings.

History

The Hebrew term שיעור ("designated amount") came to refer to a portion of Judaic text arranged for study on a particular occasion, such as a

yahrzeit Yahrzeit (, plural , ) is the anniversary of a death in Judaism. It is traditionally commemorated by reciting the Kaddish in synagogue and by lighting a long-burning candle. Name The word ''Yahrzeit'' is a borrowing from the Yiddish (), ul ...

, the dedication of a new home, or the evening of a holiday, and then to a public reading and explanation of the same. The act of teaching and studying these texts at the designated time was known as ''shiur lernen'' (); by

synecdoche Synecdoche ( ) is a type of metonymy; it is a figure of speech that uses a term for a part of something to refer to the whole (''pars pro toto''), or vice versa (''totum pro parte''). The term is derived . Common English synecdoches include '' ...

, the act itself became known as ''shiur''. These shiurim would be attended by all classes of people; it was traditional for learned attendees to engage the lecturer in continuous discussion, and for the larger lay audience to listen intently. Concurrently, in the

-setting it came to refer to the daily study quotient for students, and then to the lecture given thereon. Akiva Eger, for example,

would not miss learning a single ''shiur'' with the yeshiva. His ''shiurim'' with them were always three per day: there was a session of Talmud and
Tosafot The Tosafot, Tosafos or Tosfot () are Middle Ages, medieval commentaries on the Talmud. They take the form of critical and explanatory glosses, printed, in almost all Talmud editions, on the outer margin and opposite Rashi's notes. The authors o ...
, a session of exhaustive
Halakha ''Halakha'' ( ; , ), also Romanization of Hebrew, transliterated as ''halacha'', ''halakhah'', and ''halocho'' ( ), is the collective body of Judaism, Jewish religious laws that are derived from the Torah, Written and Oral Torah. ''Halakha'' is ...
, and a session of
Shulchan Aruch The ''Shulhan Arukh'' ( ),, often called "the Code of Jewish Law", is the most widely consulted of the various legal codes in Rabbinic Judaism. It was authored in the city of Safed in what is now Israel by Joseph Karo in 1563 and published in ...
and Magen Avraham, and these were aside from the session of Tur and Shulchan Aruch
Yoreh De'ah ''Yoreh De'ah'' () is a section of Rabbi Jacob ben Asher's compilation of halakha (Jewish law), the ''Arba'ah Turim'', written around 1300. This section treats all aspects of Jewish law not pertinent to the Hebrew calendar, finance, torts, marr ...
he would learn with his children and some students, and with these he would learn a further ''shiur'' of exhaustive Talmud and Tosafot at night.

Yeshiva learning

"''Shiur''" will typically refer to the type of learning that takes place in yeshivot and

kollel A kollel (also kolel) (, , , , a "gathering" or "collection" f scholars is an institute for full-time, advanced Torah study, study of the Talmud and rabbinic literature. Like a yeshiva, a kollel features Shiur (Torah), shiurim (lectures) and ...

im, where students hear an in-depth lecture on the

sugya A sugya is a self-contained passage of the Talmud that typically discusses a mishnah or other rabbinic statement, or offers an aggada, aggadic narrative.; see for overview. While the sugya is a literary unit in the Jerusalem Talmud, the term is m ...

(

topic) they are studying at the time. Typically, yeshiva students attend a ''shiur yomi'' (daily lecture) given by a maggid shiur (literally, "sayer of the shiur") and a weekly ''shiur klali'' (comprehensive lecture, which sums up the week's learning) given by the

rosh yeshiva Rosh yeshiva or Rosh Hayeshiva (, plural, pl. , '; Anglicized pl. ''rosh yeshivas'') is the title given to the dean of a yeshiva, a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primarily the Talmud and th ...

. The rosh yeshiva usually also gives the senior shiur—see below—on a daily basis. Before the shiur, a bibliography and a series of textual references, or '' mar'e mekomot'',Example ''marei mekomot'' - Halacha
/ref>Example ''marei mekomot'' - Gemara
/ref> are posted so that students may prepare for the lecture in advance. Students typically spend several hours preparing for the ''shiur yomi''. After the shiur, students spend additional time reviewing and clarifying the lesson that they have just heard. These preparation and review periods take place in a special time period called a ''seder'', in which students study the lesson individually and/or in '' chavrutot'' (study pairs). Shiurim may also be offered in yeshiva on topics in mussar,

Chumash Chumash may refer to: *Chumash (Judaism), a Hebrew word for the Pentateuch, used in Judaism *Chumash people, a Native American people of southern California *Chumashan languages, Indigenous languages of California See also

* Pentateuch (dis ...

, and '' hashkafah'' (Jewish philosophy), depending on the yeshiva and the learning level of its students. The shiur is likewise the typical format for classes at women's seminaries and ''midrashot''.

Class levels

For Talmud-study, the level of complexity and understanding expected from students increases each year, successively incorporating additional layers of commentary and perspectives, and with the analysis compounding correspondingly; see . Thus, following on from the practice of the Telz Yeshiva, studies are typically organized by level. The term "''shiur''" is then used to differentiate different classes, so that first-year students are typically said to be in "Shiur ''

Aleph Aleph (or alef or alif, transliterated ʾ) is the first Letter (alphabet), letter of the Semitic abjads, including Phoenician alphabet, Phoenician ''ʾālep'' 𐤀, Hebrew alphabet, Hebrew ''ʾālef'' , Aramaic alphabet, Aramaic ''ʾālap'' � ...

''"; second-year students in "Shiur ''Bet''"; and third-year students in "Shiur ''Gimmel''", etc. Strong students may be "promoted", but it is less common for a student to be held back. Commonly the fourth ''Shiur'' is that of the ''

Rosh Yeshiva Rosh yeshiva or Rosh Hayeshiva (, plural, pl. , '; Anglicized pl. ''rosh yeshivas'') is the title given to the dean of a yeshiva, a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primarily the Talmud and th ...

'', head of the institution. Here students consolidate the approach to study, or "''derech ha-limud''", emphasized by their yeshiva. See . In ''

im'' ("post-graduate" institutions), the ''shiurim'' address a yet more advanced level of study, with students learning independently, although under guidance of the '' rosh kollel''; Rabbinic ordination, ''

Semicha ''Semikhah'' () is the traditional term for rabbiinic ordination in Judaism. The original ''semikhah'' was the formal "transmission of authority" from Moses through the generations. This form of ''semikhah'' ceased between 360 and 425 CE. Si ...

'', programs similarly require that students have attained a high level in Talmud, this being the base for their advanced study of ''Halacha''. Typically, then, before joining a ''kollel'' or pursuing ordination, students are required to have learned in the "Rosh Yeshiva's Shiur" for at least two years.

Related structures

Some Orthodox yeshivot—such as Ner Yisroel and Kollel Etz Chaim—organize learning (at senior levels) in " ''chaburahs''". Here, the members of the ''chaburah'' all focus on the same specific area or work of Torah study, (informally) led by the rosh-chaburah. A more senior study group in a Yeshiva is sometimes referred to as a "''Kibbutz''", especially in older usage, preceding the use of that term for an agricultural community. The members of the ''Kibbutz'' proceed independent of a ''shiur''. See for example and .

Public study sessions

Synagogue A synagogue, also called a shul or a temple, is a place of worship for Jews and Samaritans. It is a place for prayer (the main sanctuary and sometimes smaller chapels) where Jews attend religious services or special ceremonies such as wed ...

rabbis and noted rabbis also give ''shiurim'' to their communities. In ''

shul A synagogue, also called a shul or a temple, is a place of worship for Jews and Samaritans. It is a place for prayer (the main sanctuary and sometimes smaller chapels) where Jews attend religious services or special ceremonies such as Jewi ...

s'', the shiur given between the ''

Mincha Mincha (, ; sometimes spelled Minchah, Minhah, Mincho or Minchuh) is the afternoon prayer service in Judaism. Etymology The name ''Mincha'', meaning "gift" or "offering", is derived from the meal offering that accompanied each sacrifice offered ...

'' and ''

Maariv ''Maariv'' or ''Maʿariv'' (, ), also known as ''Arvit'', or ''Arbit'' (, ), is a Jewish prayer service held in the evening or at night. It consists primarily of the evening '' Shema'' and ''Amidah''. The service will often begin with two ...

'' services is usually geared to ''baalebatim'' (laymen). Noted rabbis give more in-depth ''shiurim'' to attendees on

Shabbat Shabbat (, , or ; , , ) or the Sabbath (), also called Shabbos (, ) by Ashkenazi Hebrew, Ashkenazim, is Judaism's day of rest on the seventh day of the seven-day week, week—i.e., Friday prayer, Friday–Saturday. On this day, religious Jews ...

or weekday evenings, usually in the local synagogue or

beth midrash A ''beth midrash'' (, "house of learning"; : ''batei midrash''), also ''beis medrash'' or ''beit midrash'', is a hall dedicated for Torah study, often translated as a "study hall". It is distinct from a synagogue (''beth knesseth''), althoug ...

(study hall). (Public) ''shiurim'' range in length and depth: from a short "''vort''", or "'' Dvar Torah''" ("word (of Torah)", in Yiddish and Hebrew respectively), to a detailed "''drasha''" ("study", from the Aramaic; see

midrash ''Midrash'' (;"midrash"
. ''Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary''. ; or ''midrashot' ...

); the former above, ''baalebatim'' focused, is a ''vort'', while the latter is a ''drosha''. Especially in Chasidic settings, a less formal—often inspirational—shiur may be termed "''sicha''" (שיחה, lit. "speech"); see also Maamor and Maamarim (Chabad). Commonly, the ''Rosh Yeshiva'' delivers a weekly ''shiur'' on the ''parashah'' (

weekly Torah portion The weekly Torah portion refers to a lectionary custom in Judaism in which a portion of the Torah (or Pentateuch) is read during Jewish prayer services on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday. The full name, ''Parashat HaShavua'' (), is popularly abbre ...

), exploring a particular question or theme. This is usually in-depth, of an hour in duration, and typically open to the public. Many yeshivot, midrashot, and "community ''kollels''" host ''yemei iyun'' ("days of in-depth learning"; : ''yom iyun''), where community members study a specific topic. These are often held before religious holidays—especially

Pesach Passover, also called Pesach (; ), is a major Jewish holidays, Jewish holiday and one of the Three Pilgrimage Festivals. It celebrates the Exodus of the Israelites from slavery in Biblical Egypt, Egypt. According to the Book of Exodus, God in ...

and the New Year period—preparing the spiritual and ''halakhik'' elements of the upcoming festival. A "Memorial Shiur" is often given to the entire yeshiva / community on the ''

Yahrzeit Yahrzeit (, plural , ) is the anniversary of a death in Judaism. It is traditionally commemorated by reciting the Kaddish in synagogue and by lighting a long-burning candle. Name The word ''Yahrzeit'' is a borrowing from the Yiddish (), ul ...

'' of a (founding)

Rabbi A rabbi (; ) is a spiritual leader or religious teacher in Judaism. One becomes a rabbi by being ordained by another rabbi—known as ''semikha''—following a course of study of Jewish history and texts such as the Talmud. The basic form of t ...

; usually exploring a specific topic of general interest. "Shiur" may include any kind of Torah lesson—including lectures to children, women, and ''baalebatim'' (lay audience), and taped lectures circulated via cassette tape, computer,

MP3 MP3 (formally MPEG-1 Audio Layer III or MPEG-2 Audio Layer III) is a coding format for digital audio developed largely by the Fraunhofer Society in Germany under the lead of Karlheinz Brandenburg. It was designed to greatly reduce the amount ...

or MP4 file, or call-in telephone lines. Some kiruv organizations advertise "five-minute shiurim" to attract new listeners. Similarly, "Vort" and "Dvar Torah", may refer to any short Torah idea, (often linked to that week's parsha) delivered on various occasions,''Vedibarta Bam'' - topic areas
/ref> and not necessarily by a Rabbi; for example: by the host at their Shabbat table, by the leader before "''Benching''" (grace after meals), or by a guest at '' sheva brachot'', or any ''

Seudat mitzvah A ''seudat mitzvah'' (, "commanded meal"), in Judaism, is an obligatory festive meal, usually referring to the celebratory meal following the fulfillment of a ''mitzvah'' (commandment), such as a ''bar mitzvah'', '' bat mitzvah'', a wedding, a ' ...

''.

References

External links

"How to Review Shiur: A Practical Guide""Video Shiurim"
{{Orthodox Judaism Torah Orthodox yeshivas Hebrew words and phrases Jewish education Lectures