Starting Daf Yomi? The Complete Guide to Choosing Your Gemara
Everything you need to pick the right Gemara for the daily cycle — by edition, size and language.
Joining the Daf Yomi cycle — a page of Gemara every day until you’ve finished all of Shas — is one of the most rewarding commitments in Jewish life. The right Gemara makes it sustainable.
Step 1: Pick your edition
- ArtScroll Schottenstein — full phrase-by-phrase elucidation; ideal if you want every step explained. Most English shiurim use it.
- Koren Steinsaltz — cleaner modern page; great for building independent reading skill.
- Oz Vehadar — for learning in the original Hebrew. (See Schottenstein vs. Koren.)
Step 2: Pick your size
Daf Yomi is a daily, on-the-go commitment, so size matters most here. Daf Yomi size (~7″×10″) is the sweet spot; Travel/Compact is lightest; Full-Size is best if you learn in one place. (See Schottenstein sizes.)
Step 3: Full set or volume-by-volume?
Buy a complete set up front, or buy each masechta as the cycle reaches it — browse by masechta. Many publishers offer a standing order that ships each new volume automatically, often discounted with free shipping.
Step 4: Set yourself up to finish
Get a Daf Yomi calendar, match your set to your maggid shiur’s edition, and consider a second carry volume for the current masechta. A finished Shas is also a meaningful siyum or bar mitzvah gift.
Frequently asked
Which Gemara is best for Daf Yomi? For most English learners, the ArtScroll Schottenstein in Daf Yomi size; for Hebrew, Oz Vehadar.
Should I buy the whole set or one masechta at a time? Either works — a complete set is convenient and giftable; volume-by-volume is lighter on the wallet and keeps the current masechta in hand.