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My community has a local email list where people post items that they want or items for sale, etc.

This morning, I saw a post requesting an Oz Vehadar Chosson Shas.

I must be an early-aged "A.K." What is a "chosson shas"? What makes a sha"s set specifically appropriate or specialized for a groom that any other sha"s couldn't otherwise do? How popular is this type of sha"s? What does this cost, typically?

(Excuse the barrage of questions, but, perhaps, I need to prepare myself quickly for when my kids get married!)

Note: In some quick research, I see that there is a "Vilna" Chosson Sha"s also. So, in answering, please address the general concept of what a "chosson sha"s" may be doing differently - not specifically any version / publisher. If, additionally, you want to include info about one version vs. another, that's fine.

From this site it's leather-bound and has the chassan's name on it. Is that the only difference?

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Generally speaking, a Chosson Shas is a set of larger Gemarahs - a couple of inches taller and wider than the typical full-sized Gemarah you would find in your shul. The type is thus bigger and easier to read (on the down side they're also significantly heavier). The price will vary according to the bells and whistles of the particular set (such as the ones you mentioned), but the price range will generally be somewhere in the $700 - $1000 range.

I have heard an explanation given that this shas is supposed to be a gift to the groom that he will be able to use for the rest of his life. So he's given a set with extra large type that he will still be able to read easily even when eventually his eyesight worsens with old age (though how he'll be able to lift it at that age I can't tell you).

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  • Thanks for that explanation. I'm not sure I completely "get it", but, perhaps within a few years, I'll be pressured into, literally, "getting" it. It makes me wonder, though, what's wrong with the ones in the Bet Midrash, esp. for the many chattanim who spend most of the day learning in them, anyway.
    – DanF
    Jun 29, 2017 at 18:04
  • @DanF - It's like a leather siddur. Why would you purchase one when siddurim almost always become torn up? Gemoras need to be something you won't be afraid to open because it might "get torn."
    – ezra
    Jun 30, 2017 at 2:29
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    @DanF - When I get married, I will be happy with any Shas set. :-P
    – ezra
    Jun 30, 2017 at 17:05
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    @DanF - Actually, a very good idea, LOL. There's no way I want to make my future kallah/in-laws pay for an expensive Shas set. I think I'd rather get a nice tallis godol...
    – ezra
    Jun 30, 2017 at 21:55
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    @Ze'evFelsen Offhand thinking - Sha"s is meant to be used, as stated, before. If you prize your own Sha"s, I think you prize it enough to bring it to your Bet Medrash. If nothing else, you have one place to write all your notes, esp. if you're doing that in a chevruta or attending a shiur. Easier than transferring notes. Analogous - my parents covered their furniture in plastic b/c they always wanted it to look nice for everyone else. My in-laws intentionally didn't cover the furniture because they wanted everyone to know they're welcome to use it!
    – DanF
    Jul 2, 2017 at 2:25
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A Chasson Shas is usually just an even larger edition of the regular large Shas. So there will be a pocket sized Shas, a small 8-9 inch Shas. The large standard 11-12 inches. And then the super sized 14-15 inch Chasson Shas.

There are also available fancy leather embossed covers available as well.

The Oz Vehadar site here has some samples.

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    A full Tur still adds to the decor and is more useful than an extra Shas you'll never touch.
    – Double AA ♦
    Jun 29, 2017 at 16:38
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    @DanF Making this a focal point of the house is meant to influence the behavior of the family. That sounds strange to you? Some people have big screens. Some people have big Shas.
    – user6591
    Jun 29, 2017 at 18:09
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    At the very least it allows the in-laws to walk in and think their son-in-law is a Talmid Chakham because he has such a big Gemara section. The bigger your books the more you know, right?
    – Double AA ♦
    Jun 29, 2017 at 18:10
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    @user6591 you want a source for this idea that a used Shas is beautiful? I once heard someone quote Shir Hashirim 1:5 to that effect שְׁחוֹרָ֤ה אֲנִי֙ וְֽנָאוָ֔ה׃ - "dark [as a well used book] and beautiful"
    – mbloch
    Jun 29, 2017 at 19:39
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    @mbloch That is very nice. I was also thinking about the Chassam Sofer who reassured someone that the browning of his esrog due to use was not a chesaron in hidur but rather that was the hiddur.
    – user6591
    Jun 29, 2017 at 19:46

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