Gemara dictionaries have been around for over 100 years, but not much has changed. First, there was the popular Jastrow, followed by numerous English Gemaras, then more modern dictionaries, and then study guides with just the definitions of the most basic words. Unfortunately, each of these options have their own downsides and limitations.

The problem with Gemara dictionaries is that they trying to alphabetically list and define Aramaic words in English, which does not always work out well. For instance, there could be numerous spellings for the same Aramaic word that might switch an “aleph” for an “ayin” or add an extra “yud” or “vav” to a word. This could make searching for that word in the current dictionaries difficult because one wouldn’t know which version to look up.

These dictionaries also are very unclear and visually “messy” when it comes to just wanting a simple definition of a word. They also list additional information that may not be needed by the user such as the tense of the word, the root of the word, and whether the word is masculine or feminine. 

The addition of English Gemaras to the scene is an amazing advancement in the world of learning and its importance cannot be overstated. However, for the yeshiva student or someone who is trying to wean themselves from these translations, rather than just referring to them for understanding a word or phrase, can be a slippery slope, leading to relying on them for learning the entire sugiya or topic.

Enter Talmudo Beyado, a dictionary that provides a whole new approach to defining Aramaic terms.

The dictionary features a compilation of every moderately hard word on every page of the Gemara and lists them in the order that they appear on that page, for every page of Shas. This method solves the problem of searching for multiple Aramaic spellings by enabling someone just to look up a single word in an easy and clear way. 

Talmudo Beyado comes in two different editions: a single hardcover text and multiple softcover booklets. The hardcover edition covers the entire Shas and also includes an Appendix with charts, graphs and other useful information in many areas of Shas. The softcover editions are divided into twenty-four volumes and are thin enough to store inside a standard Gemara, easily accessible whenever needed most.

My hope is that this new resource will be able to help everyone from serious students of yours and even experienced learners, to the point that users find the sefer unnecessary and will be passed on to someone else.

 

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