What is Beth midrash?

A beth midrash is a hall dedicated for Torah study, often translated as a "study hall." It is distinct from a synagogue , although the two are often coextensive. In Yiddish the beth midrash may be referred to as a zal, i.e. "hall". Beis midrash can also refer to a yeshiva gedola, the undergraduate-level program in Orthodox, for boys over 12th grade.

The Arabic term madrasah is derived from the same Semitic root, and refers to any type of educational institution. The root דרש means "to seek " and is then generalized to mean "expound".