| Part ofa series on |
| Judaism |
|---|
 |
.jpg)
Abeth midrash (Hebrew:בית מדרש, "house of learning";pl.:batei midrash), alsobeis medrash,bais midrash, orbeit midrash, is a hall dedicated forTorah study, often translated as a "study hall".[1] It is distinct from asynagogue (beth knesseth), although the two are often coextensive. InYiddish thebeth midrash may be referred to as azal, i.e. "hall".Beis midrash can also refer to ayeshiva gedolah, the undergraduate-level program inOrthodoxy, for boys over 12th grade.[2]
TheArabic term "madrasah" is derived from the sameSemitic root, and refers to any type of educational institution. The root דרש means "to seek [knowledge]"[3] and is then generalized to mean "expound".
Earlyrabbinic literature, including theMishnah, makes mention of thebeth midrash as an institution distinct from thebeth din andSanhedrin. It was meant as a place of Torah study and interpretation, as well as the development ofhalakha (the practical application of the Jewish Law).
The origin of thebeth midrash, orhouse of study, can be traced to the early rabbinic period, following theSiege of Jerusalem (70 CE) in which thedestruction of the Temple took place. The earliest known rabbinical school was established byRabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai atYavne. Other official schools were soon established under different rabbis. These men traced their ideological roots back to the rabbis of the lateSecond Temple period, specifically theHouses of Hillel and Shammai, two schools of thought.
By late antiquity, thebeth midrash had developed along with the synagogue into a distinct though somewhat related institution. The main difference between thebeth midrash andbeth ha-keneseth (synagogue) is that thebeth ha-keneseth is sanctified for prayer only and that even the study of Torah would violate its sanctity while in thebeth midrash both Torah study and prayer are allowed. For this reason most synagogues designate their sanctuary as abeth midrash so that in addition to prayer the study of the Torah would also be permitted.
There are generally either benches or chairs for sitting, along with tables on which books are placed. In Lithuanianyeshivas thebeth midrash will haveshtenders (standing desks resembling lecterns; theYiddish word is derived from the GermanStänder).
A characteristicbeth midrash has many hundreds of books, including at least several copies of the entireTalmud,Torah,Tanach,siddurim (prayer books),Shulchan Aruch,Mishneh Torah,Arba'ah Turim,Mishnah Berurah,Aruch HaShulchan and other frequently consulted works.
In modern times,batei midrash are typically found as the central study halls of yeshivas or independentkollels, both institutions of Torah study. The location and institution of study are often interchanged, so in popular parlance, yeshivot are sometimes referred to asbatei midrash. Abeth midrash may also be housed in a synagogue, or vice versa. In antiquity, this is a matter of debate (see below). Manybatei midrash originally serve the community but attract a yeshiva in the course of their existence.
A virtualbeth midrash is an online forum that provides articles for self-study and live, online classes, which sometimes makes use of "breakout groups" to provide forchavrusa-style learning typical of a traditional beth midrash study hall.[citation needed]
For more information, seeGeorge Foot Moore'sJudaism, as well as the more recent works ofJacob Neusner. Also,Lee I. Levine'sThe Rabbinic Class of Roman Palestine in Late Antiquity, as well as the relevant articles in Dan Urman and Paul V. M. Flesher's edited volume,Ancient Synagogues: Historical Analysis and Archaeological Discovery.
| International | |
|---|---|
| Other | |
