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