Learners’ Tapestry

I had dreamed of doing daf yomi since I had my first serious Talmud class 18 years ago at Pardes with Rahel Berkovitz, and then a couple of summers with Leah Rosenthal. There is no way I would be able to do it without another wonderful teacher, Michelle, and the Hadran organization. I wake up and am excited to start each day with the next daf.

I have joined the community of daf yomi learners at the start of this cycle. I have studied in different ways – by reading the page, translating the page, attending a local shiur and listening to Rabbanit Farber’s podcasts, depending on circumstances and where I was at the time. The reactions have been positive throughout – with no exception!

I began my Daf Yomi journey on January 5, 2020. I had never learned Talmud before. Initially it struck me as a bunch of inane and arcane details with mind bending logic. I am now smitten. Rabbanit Farber brings the page to life and I am eager to learn with her every day!

I started learning Jan 2020 when I heard the new cycle was starting. I had tried during the last cycle and didn’t make it past a few weeks. Learning online from old men didn’t speak to my soul and I knew Talmud had to be a soul journey for me. Enter Hadran! Talmud from Rabbanit Michelle Farber from a woman’s perspective, a mother’s perspective and a modern perspective. Motivated to continue!

I was exposed to Talmud in high school, but I was truly inspired after my daughter and I decided to attend the Women’s Siyum Shas in 2020. We knew that this was a historic moment. We were blown away, overcome with emotion at the euphoria of the revolution. Right then, I knew I would continue. My commitment deepened with the every-morning Virtual Beit Midrash on Zoom with R. Michelle.

התחלתי ללמוד דף יומי לפני שנתיים, עם מסכת שבת. בהתחלה ההתמדה היתה קשה אבל בזכות הקורונה והסגרים הצלחתי להדביק את הפערים בשבתות הארוכות, לסיים את מסכת שבת ולהמשיך עם המסכתות הבאות. עכשיו אני מסיימת בהתרגשות רבה את מסכת חגיגה וסדר מועד ומחכה לסדר הבא!

“התחלתי ללמוד דף יומי במחזור הזה, בח’ בטבת תש””ף. לקחתי על עצמי את הלימוד כדי ליצור תחום של התמדה יומיומית בחיים, והצטרפתי לקבוצת הלומדים בבית הכנסת בכפר אדומים. המשפחה והסביבה מתפעלים ותומכים.
בלימוד שלי אני מתפעלת בעיקר מכך שכדי ללמוד גמרא יש לדעת ולהכיר את כל הגמרא. זו מעין צבת בצבת עשויה שהיא עצומה בהיקפה.”

התחלתי בתחילת הסבב, והתמכרתי. זה נותן משמעות נוספת ליומיום ומאוד מחזק לתת לזה מקום בתוך כל שגרת הבית-עבודה השוטפת.

I started last year after completing the Pesach Sugiyot class. Masechet Yoma might seem like a difficult set of topics, but for me made Yom Kippur and the Beit HaMikdash come alive. Liturgy I’d always had trouble connecting with took on new meaning as I gained a sense of real people moving through specific spaces in particular ways. It was the perfect introduction; I am so grateful for Hadran!