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. (“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