About Rabbi Jack Abramowitz
Rabbi Jack Abramowitz served as Director of Programs for NCSY before becoming Associate Director of the Pepa and Rabbi Joseph Karasick Department of Synagogue Services. Rabbi Abramowitz holds degrees in Jewish studies, communications and Higher Education Administration. Among his accomplishments, he authored NCSY's Torah on One Foot series of educational pamphlets and created negiah.org, the first abstinence web site for Jewish teens. Rabbi Abramowitz is the author of The Shnayim Mikra Companion on Torah, The Nach Yomi Companion volumes 1 and 2 on the books of the Prophets and the Writings, and The Tzniyus Book.

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The 63 Tractates of Shas - part II


The laws transmitted orally from Sinai were organized by Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi into six orders containing 63 tractates, called “mesechtos” in Hebrew.

The laws transmitted orally from Sinai were organized by Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi into six orders containing 63 tractates, called “mesechtos” in Hebrew. (“Shas” is an acronym for “Shisha Sedarim”—the Six Orders.) These are (continued from last week):

IV. Seder Nezikin (The Order of Damages) – matters of civil law
31. Baba Kama* – damages
32. Baba Metzia* – property rights
33. Baba Basra* - real estate and other transactions
34. Sanhedrin* – the courts
35. Makkos* – lashes
36. Shevuos* – oaths
37. Eduyos – testimonies
38. Avodah Zarah* – idolatry
39. Avos – ethics
40. Horayos* – erroneous rulings

V. Seder Kodshim (The Order of Holy Things) – laws of sacrifices
41. Zevachim* – sacrifices
42. Menachos* – flour offerings
43. Chulin* – kosher food
44. Bechoros* – first-born animals
45. Arachin* – evaluating pledges
46. Temurah* – exchanging pledges
47. Kerisos* – spiritual excision
48. Meilah* – misappropriation of sanctified property
49. Tamid* – the daily offering
50. Middos – the Temple
51. Kinnim – bird offerings
VI. Seder Tahoros (The Order of Purities) – laws of ritual cleanliness and uncleanliness
52. Keilim – susceptibility of vessels to ritual impurity
53. Ohalos – impurity transmitted through an enclosure
54. Negaim – tzara’as
55. Parah – the red heifer
56. Tahoros – forms of impurity
57. Mikvaos – ritual immersion
58. Niddah* – menstruation and family purity
59. Machshirin – preparing food to receive impurity
60. Zavim – impurity through a discharge
61. Tevul Yom – between immersion and sunset
62. Yadayim – washing of the hands
63. Uktzin – stems and peels of produce

*37 of these mesechtos have gemaras in the Babylonian Talmud. These are marked with an asterisk above



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