Author of Gemara Steps & Structure
Rabbi Yechezkel Norman has successfully been teaching Gemara for over three decades to hundreds of talmidim.
Rabbi Norman learned in Yeshivas Chaim Berlin, and in Eretz Yisroel under R’ Shlomo Zalman Aurbach zt”l in Yeshivas Kol Torah and in Ponevich under Hagoan HaRav Shach zt”l. Rabbi Norman then learned in Beis Medrash Gevoah in Lakewood NJ under R’ Shneur Kotler zt”l for six years.
Upon Rabbi Norman’s return to Eretz Yisrael he joined Yeshivas Be’er Yaakov under Rav Shlomo Volbe zt”l, afterwards in the kollel of Reb Abba Berman zt’l in Yeshivas Iyun Hatalmud.
With Rabbi Norman’s passionate interest for teaching gemara, he began his teaching career of two decades in Yeshivas Ner Yaakov under Rabbi Yehoshua Liff shlita, during which, “Gemara Steps and Structure” was formulated. The program has been successfully implemented in a number of American yeshivas in Eretz Yisroel. Many talmidim in Rabbi Senters, Lev Aryeh, and Imrei Bina have benefitted from Rabbi Norman’s methods of studying Gemara with clarity.
In 2018, “Gemara Steps and Structure” was published in multiple languages and has already reached its second printing.
As his fourth decade of teaching Gemara has begun, he formed and directs his teaching program called “Gemara Byadcha”, designed to train Rabbeim of elementary schools and up, with a specialized expertise. It is a systematic user friendly approach, which grants the tools and skills for developing the student’s abilities, and in turn, helping them reach independent learning of gemara.
His many years of training experience in various organizations combined with consistent stories of success, has generated his foresight for future programs in the American school systems.
Additional helpful methods of study are always welcomed in all schools especially as the generations have weaker academic skills and an increasing amounts of distractions, minimizing their natural internal desires for spiritual growth and study. He hopes to see his new “Gemara Byadcha” program spread globally, b’siyatta diShmaya
Please tell us about the book.
I must begin with a disclaimer. Almost all of the information in the book is not my own.
The content’s origin stems from the works of “Kadmonim”, contemporary works and from common knowledge.
My input is the arrangement and presentation of all the facts for today’s needs.
I was careful to design the content to be thorough and informative, yet on the other hand, short and clear to the point, lest it be too lengthy, only to lose and confuse the reader.
The book covers a broad range of unique topics which guide one along the brilliant arrangement of the Gemara’s infrastructure, until actually demonstrating how one can practically approach learning a Gemara for the first time. .
The book contains some history of the Tannaim and Amoraim who are the authors of the actual Talmud
It demonstrates what to focus on when learning a Mishna and how to break it down to its basic parts.
It broadly explains how the standard Gemara’s topic is developed within a framework of Seven Steps,
which are the back and forth heated and deep discussions of the Amoraim. Examples of the text are quoted.
The book presents an extensive clearly arranged chart of the Key Terms consistently used in the Gemara to begin a new Step.
The chart translates the Terms and explains their functions and usage in accordance to the Seven Steps.
The matching of the Terms with the corresponding Steps is the main focus of my book
Also included are regular word translations and grammar charts helping one figure out the Hebrew and Aramaic language blend.
There is a unique list of the prefixes and suffixes with examples since the prefixes and suffixes camouflage the root word, causing much confusion with the translation. This complication is especially true for the Anglo Saxon crowd.
Likewise, there is vital information regarding the study of Rashi’s four goals and a lengthy explanation how to deal with five common difficulties learning Tosafos.
As you can probably realize, this book is not only meant to be read once, rather to be used continuously for reference throughout one’s learning.
Why did you write the book?
At the onset of my teaching career, I taught with the same approach as I was taught by my Rabbeim.
This meant, having the talmidim prepare the Gemara, rashi and some Tosafos with an added commentary or two.
In shiur, I would go over the prepared material with simple translation and “speak out” the meforesh, ask and explain them etc. Classic. Standard.
I thought this would suffice. I implored them to come over to me with any questions. Not too many did, but that was normal.
However it became clear to me after some time that they don’t really understand the content of the Gemara itself and are even struggling with translation.
I couldn’t allow myself to produce ignorant Gemara learners that would not be capable of mastering the gemara text. This is only to set them up for failure in the future. I had to change my style to make sure that they should at least attain clarity in the words, content and flow, so they too would one day be comfortable going through a daf Gemara. I put myself to work heading for this goal
By studying books and works that focused on the steps and terminologies, I found and developed an approach which I began using. Although sometimes it bordered on the remedial, the talmidim actually began to get a true understanding. They were fulfilled and I knew I was indeed forming their future learning .
My students throughout the years began to see how all the helpful rules and points I was teaching gave them Gemara proficiency. They said it could help so many more students and kept on advising me to publish a book on the approach and all of the information. After a while I realized how correct they were, so the project was born.
What method is your book offering which is different from the rest of the methods?
Actually, a Rebbi’s standard response to the request, “Teach me how to learn”, is, “Start learning and you will pick it up all by yourself”.
Unfortunately this response is in essence saying, “I do not have any method”, so start and you’ll learn the hard way just like we did!
They lack an awareness that there is an approach that they could benefit their tamidim with as they teach them the ‘scary looking” Gemara.
It became clear to me that they were very lost along the page and lines, constantly messing up with the Hebrew / Aramaic words. As if they were trekking through a BWF (Black Word Forest) without any trail or knowledge of what the gemara was involved in or attempting to do. They may have heard some geshmake ideas but as they walked inside the words and lines, they fell down, got bruises and scratches and felt lost in the Gemara page.
How disappointed they would feel at the end of the year if they weren’t able to learn Gemara.
After all, isn’t knowing how to learn Gemara one of the main goals that they want to accomplish in Yeshiva?
I created helpful word sheets to prepare the page of Gemara but they still lacked a deeper understanding of the actual movements and goal of the Gemara..
I explained to them the Gemara’s approach of quoting the discussions from the great Babolonian Yeshivos.
Then came the Seven Steps of the Gemara’s back and forth debates and discussions.
The next step was introducing them to the Key Terms since they lay down the trail along the Gemara”s lines.
Finally came the matching of the Key Terms with the Gemara Steps to have them realize the trail in this forest of words.
They really started to get a solid grip on the greater picture and idea of what Gemara in general means
How long did you spend working on it?
The actual time of book preparation went through a course of eight years beginning with a handwritten format eventually moving into the computer.
However, what granted me the necessary background and information to develop the methods and clarity of presentation
was from all the years of teaching talmidim as Chaza”l taught us ,”Umitalmidai Yoser Mikulom”, the practical day to day teaching.
I learned how to present the context and advise them in their learning as shortcomings and mistakes surfaced. This helped me develop the proper approaches and presentations to fulfill their needs.
What feedback have you received?
Only positive! For example: “I love this book”. “Your book is changing my learning every day”.
The only negative comment I received was, “Why am I only hearing about this now? How come nobody taught me these ideas earlier in school”.
What’s next for you and the book?
Presently I am working to develop a website called gemarabyadcha.com on which I will בס”ד be training
Rabbeim of elementary schools how to present the Gemara’s Seven parts and Key Terms as I explained above.
It is my hope and prayer that the Rabbeim will see how the Gemara becomes much clearer to the talmidim.
What do you hope the reader will gain from the book?
The goal is for one to achieve clarity of the Gemara text which includes the Gemara’s structure, terms, format. They will get to know a lot of other grammar tips and rules of the Hebrew/Aramaic words. Many people finish a learning session feeling confused, without truly understanding it only because they haven’t latched on to the total and broader direction and goal of the Gemara.
The best clientele for this book will be the ones who are mature enough to study through the material and apply it immediately to what they will be learning that day.
This book is also very suited for the Rabbeim, not only of elementary schools but even highschools. It will help the Rabbeim themselves gain a broader perspective on how to present the Gemara’s Seven Step structure with accuracy. The book supplies the trails along the marathon of words and lines. The students who may feel lost on a Gemara page and those who struggle with clarity will find this approach a tremendous help when this method is incorporated in the curriculum. With an organized method and rules, the very same Gemara that is being taught will take on new dimensions.
Remember this: “A lot of information without organization leads to frustration”
What are some common misconceptions about learning Gemara?
a. Gemara is not meant to be read as other books. Gemara requires concentration and proper thinking with an open mind and siyata dishmaya.
b. Do not expect to understand the Gemara immediately, it needs to be learned and developed.
c. Gemara is not Aramaic rather a blend of Hebrew and Aramaic created by the Chazal to suit their needs for the transmittal of Torah concepts.
d. We are not meant to take sides as who is right and who is wrong rather we study arguing opinions. Both sides can be right although the Halacha is only like one.
e. Success in developing Gemara skills and remembering depends solely on review.
f. Gemara is not a Halacha sefer rather it is the development and source for Halacha.
g. Gemara is for every Jew to learn, even if it doesn’t go easy. With persistence and consistency you will see success BS”D.
What was it like to work with Adir Press?
I had a very positive experience working with Moishe Kormornick. He was on top of his game making sure my book would truly look beautiful and have the right format to present the material perfectly. I have received endless compliments about the attractive layout and contents to the eye.
His editors did a great job and made the book easy to read.
Moishe is a true Yiras Shamayim and an easy and honest person to deal with. I Highly recommend him.
