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Ashiur (/ˈʃiːər/,Hebrew:שיעור[ʃiˈʔuʁ], lit. 'amount';pl.:shiurimשיעורים[ʃiʔuˈʁim]) is a lecture on anyTorah topic – such asGemara,Mishnah,Halakha (Jewish law), orTanakh (Bible) – usually in ayeshiva, although commonly in other settings.
The Hebrew term שיעור ("designated amount") came to refer to a portion of Judaic text arranged for study on a particular occasion, such as ayahrzeit, 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 asshiur lernen (Yiddish:שיעור לערנען,lit. 'study of the portion');[1] bysynecdoche, the act itself became known asshiur. These shiurim would be attended by all classes of people;[2][3] it was traditional for learned attendees to engage the lecturer in continuous discussion, and for the larger lay audience to listen intently.[4]
Concurrently, in theyeshiva-setting it came to refer to the daily study quotient for students,[5][6] and then to the lecture given thereon.Akiva Eger, for example,
would not miss learning a singleshiur with the yeshiva. Hisshiurim with them were always three per day: there was a session of Talmud andTosafot, a session of exhaustiveHalakha, and a session ofShulchan Aruch andMagen Avraham, and these were aside from the session ofTur and Shulchan AruchYoreh De'ah he would learn with his children and some students, and with these he would learn a furthershiur of exhaustive Talmud and Tosafot at night.[7]
"Shiur" will typically refer to the type of learning that takes place inyeshivot andkollelim, where students hear an in-depth lecture on thesugya (Gemara topic) they are studying at the time.
Typically, yeshiva students attend ashiur yomi (daily lecture) given by amaggid shiur (literally, "sayer of the shiur") and a weeklyshiur klali (comprehensive lecture, which sums up the week's learning) given by therosh yeshiva.[8] 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, ormar'e mekomot,[9][10] are posted so that students may prepare for the lecture in advance. Students typically spend several hours preparing for theshiur 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 aseder, in which students study the lesson individually and/or inchavrutot (study pairs).
Shiurim may also be offered in yeshiva on topics inmussar,Chumash, andhashkafah (Jewish philosophy), depending on the yeshiva and the learning level of its students.[11]The shiur is likewise the typical format for classes at women'sseminaries andmidrashot.
For Talmud-study, the level of complexity and understanding expected from students increases each year, successively incorporating additionallayers of commentary and perspectives, and withthe analysis compounding correspondingly;seeYeshiva § Talmud study.
Thus, following on from the practice of theTelz 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 "ShiurAleph"; second-year students in "ShiurBet"; and third-year students in "ShiurGimmel", etc. Strong students may be "promoted", but it is less common for a student to be held back.
Commonly the fourthShiur is that of theRosh Yeshiva, head of the institution. Here students consolidate the approach to study, or "derech ha-limud", emphasized by their yeshiva. SeeRosh yeshiva § Role.
Inkollelim ("post-graduate" institutions), theshiurim address a yet more advanced level of study, with students learning independently, although under guidance of therosh kollel;Rabbinic ordination,Semicha, programssimilarly require that students have attained a high level in Talmud, this being the base for their advanced study ofHalacha.Typically, then, before joining akollel or pursuing ordination, students are required to have learned in the "Rosh Yeshiva's Shiur" for at least two years.
SomeOrthodoxyeshivot—such asNer Yisroel andKollel Etz Chaim—organize learning (at senior levels) in "chaburahs". Here, the members of thechaburah 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 anagricultural community. The members of theKibbutz proceed independent of ashiur. See for exampleSunderland Talmudical College § The Kibbutz andYeshiva Ohel Torah-Baranovich § Style of learning.
Synagogue rabbis and noted rabbis also giveshiurim to their communities.Inshuls, the shiur given between theMincha andMaarivservices is usually geared tobaalebatim (laymen).Noted rabbis give more in-depthshiurim to attendees onShabbat or weekday evenings, usually in the local synagogue orbeth midrash (study hall).[12][13]
(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; seemidrash); the former above,baalebatim focused, is avort, while the latter is adrosha.Especially inChasidic settings, a less formal—often inspirational—shiur may be termed "sicha" (שיחה, lit. "speech"); see alsoMaamor andMaamarim (Chabad).
Commonly, theRosh Yeshiva delivers a weeklyshiur on theparashah (weekly Torah portion), 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"communitykollels" hostyemei iyun ("days of in-depth learning";sg.:yom iyun), where community members study a specific topic. These are often held beforereligious holidays—especiallyPesach and theNew Year period—preparing the spiritual andhalakhik elements of the upcoming festival.
A "Memorial Shiur" is often given to the entire yeshiva / community on theYahrzeit of a (founding)Rosh Yeshiva orRabbi; usually exploring a specific topic of general interest.
"Shiur" may include any kind of Torah lesson—including lectures to children, women, andbaalebatim (lay audience), and taped lectures circulated via cassette tape, computer,MP3 orMP4 file, or call-in telephone lines. Somekiruv organizations advertise "five-minute shiurim" to attract new listeners.[14]
Similarly, "Vort" and "Dvar Torah", may refer to any short Torah idea, (often linked to that week's parsha[15]) delivered on various occasions,[16][17][18] and not necessarily by a Rabbi; for example: by the host at theirShabbat table,by the leader before "Benching" (grace after meals), or by a guest atsheva brachot, or anySeudat mitzvah.
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