Everything about Shiur totally explained
Shiur (
Hebrew: שעור, pronounced "
shee-ur", pl.
shiurim, שעורים) has two meanings in contemporary Jewish practice. In its definition as a "lesson", a shiur refers to a
Torah lecture. In its definition as a "measurement", a shiur refers to the minimum volume of solids or liquids one must consume to fulfill a
mitzvah according to
halakha (such as the amount of
matzah or
wine one must consume to fulfill the mitzvot of the
Passover Seder).
As a lesson or lecture
In its academic sense, a shiur is a lesson on any Torah topic, such as
Gemara,
Mishnah,
halakha, etc. Traditionally, a shiur specifically refers to the type of learning that takes place in
yeshivas and
kollelim, where students hear an in-depth lecture on the
sugya (Gemara topic) the yeshiva is studying at the time.
Typically, yeshiva students hear one shiur each day, delivered by the
rosh yeshiva or a
maggid shiur (literally, "sayer of the shiur"). Before the shiur, a bibliography and a series of textual references are posted so that students may prepare for the lesson in advance. After the shiur, students spend additional time reviewing and clarifying the lesson that they've 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
chavrutas (learning pairs).
In modern parlance, the term "shiur" has been extended to include any kind of Torah lesson — including lectures to children, women, and
baalebatim (non-scholarly audience), and taped lectures circulated via cassette tape, computer hookup,
MP3 or
MP4 connection, or call-in telephone lines. Though by definition, a shiur is a comprehensive, structured lesson, some
kiruv organizations advertise "five-minute shiurim" to attract beginning listeners
(External Link
).
Along the same lines, a shiur is also the name given to the different class-levels in a yeshiva. For example, first-year students in a
yeshiva ketana or
yeshiva gedola are said to be in "Shiur
Aleph"; second-year students are in "Shiur
Bet"; third-year students are in "Shiur
Gimmel, etc. In kollelim, the higher shiurim accommodate more advanced levels of learning.
As a unit of measure
The word
shiur also means "measure." In this case, it refers to the minimum volume of solids or liquids one must consume to fulfill a
mitzvah, according to the
halakha.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Shiur'.
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