TORAH SHE-B'AL PEH - MORNING
- MASSECHET BERACHOT – RABBI DANIEL MANN
Gemara B'iyun. The goal of this shiur is to begin appreciating and enjoying the study of Gemara as the basic building block of our Jewish practice, understanding its intricacies, as well as the development of analytical skills.
- MASSECHET BERACHOT – RABBI MENACHEM WEINBERG
We will hone and acquire new textual and analytical skills learning the sugyot with Rishonim and Acharonim. A focus on the topics of halakhic times, keriyat shema, and kavanna in mitzvot.
- MASSECHET BERACHOT – RABBI JASON KNAPEL
The shiur will focus on becoming comfortable with the text of the Gemara, gaining textual and analytical skills. We will strike a balance between the need to cover ground, on the one hand, and picking relevant topics to cover in-depth, on the other.
TORAH SHE-B'AL PEH - AFTERNOON
- GEMARA BEKIUT, MEGILLA – RABBI NAFTALI BALANSON
The study of Gemara Massekhet Megilla, emphasizing increased fluency in reading and understanding, acquiring a wider breadth of knowledge and exposure to more varied types of Talmudic sugyot. Includes interesting aggadot about Megillat Esther. Halachic portions of the text will focus on applications in our day and age, including: laws of Purim, the kedusha of the synagogue, and the institution of Torah and Haftorah reading.
- MISHNA – SEDER MOED – RABBI ZVI SHIMON
Most of mishnayot Seder Moed will be covered, providing an overview of the content and organization of the tractates in the seder and the fundamental machlokot and halachot pertaining to the holidays as they appear in the Mishna. Will also include summaries of the major interpretations of the Mishna in the Gemara and Rishonim.
TANACH
- AGGADAH – RABBI GERSHOM PATINKIN
We will study various aggadot found in the Gemara with an emphasis on comparing the different approaches of Maharal, Maharsha and Rav Kook. Among the aggadot to be covered: Rav Yehoshua ben Levi's forced entry into Gan Eden, the death of R. Yehuda HaNasi, R. Shimon bar Yochai and the cave, and the tales of Rabba bar Bar-Chana
- ANALYSIS OF PARSHANUT – RABBI GERSHOM PATINKIN
The goal of this course is to help the student acquire the tools necessary to analyze Chumash
through the eyes of the classical meforshim such as Rashi, Ramban and Sforno. By the end of the year, the student should be able to prepare his own Dvar Torah on the parsha.
- BEREISHIT IN MODERN LITERARY ANALYSIS – RABBI ZVI SHIMON
A central aim of the course is to develop sensitivity to the sophisticated use of literary devices in Bereishit, and to show how awareness of the usage of literary devices helps reveal the central ideas in the parashot. The different approaches to exegesis, peshat and d'rash, will be highlighted.
- NACH BEKIUT – RABBI ORI FISH
In this course we will be learning all of Nevi'im Rishonim (Yehoshua, Shoftim, Shmuel and Melachim), understanding the chapters themselves and developing basic skills which can be used to analyze and understand Tanach in general. We will also try try to understand the philosophical ideas that the “Book of Book's” has to teach us.
- NIVIIM RISHONIM – RABBI ZVI SHIMON
The goal of this ambitious survey is to acquire a grasp of the central themes and structures of each book. Individual stories will be seen in relation to the macro-themes of their respective books and Tanach as a whole.
- PARASHAT HASHAVUAH – RABBI DR. DAN JACOBSON
Utilizing careful textual analysis, troubling questions in the parasha will be raised. Weaving together the commentaries of the Rishonim and Achronim, a deeper understanding of the stories and timeless lessons of the Torah will be reached.
- MEGILLOT - RABBI ZVI SHIMON
The course will cover the special readings of the year including Yonah (in preparation for Yom Kippur), Esther (for Purim), and Ruth (for Shavuot). The methodology used will be that of modern literary analysis with special attention to structure and literary devices such as chiasm, wordplay, contrast and double-meanings. All these will be explained in light of the overarching
JEWISH HISTORY
- HOLOCAUST AND ANTI-SEMITISM – RABBI YITZHAK RUBIN
Covers the beginning of Civil Liberties, Assimilation, Anti-Semitism (Religious Economic and Racial roots), the Holocaust, and the rise of Zionism.
- THOUGHT TRENDS AND MOVEMENTS IN THE MODERN ERA – RABBI YITZHAK RUBIN
This course introduces the Emancipation; the Chassidic movement; New Religious Streams – Reform, Conservative and Modern Orthodox; the Mussar Movement; and Religious Zionist thought.
The David Project curriculum teaches students the effective tools to make Israel's case on their college campuses and in their respective communities. Our specially designed course will offer a systematic approach to understanding the Arab-Israeli conflict. Rather than train people to simply refute lies and distortions, this approach focuses on reframing the conflict along its physical, historical, and moral dimensions. The full year course will emphasize the values and logic that help make Israel’s case and offer easy-to-use tools and techniques for that end.
ideas and messages behind each of these classic biblical masterpieces.
HASHKAFA AND MUSSAR
- CHASSIDUT – RABBI MENACHEM WEINBERG
We will delve into chasidic thought and define its major themes by surveying works from various rebbes’ torah, stories and nigunim, and see how they affect our lifestyle.
- CLASSIC JEWISH PHILOSOPHERS – RABBI ORI FISH
This course will familiarize us with many of the classic, well-known, influential Jewish thinkers. The sources will include the writings of rabbis who lived centuries ago, as well as later philosophers. Discussion of the central ideas and different approaches will help us develop our Jewish identity in our time.
- PHILOSOPHY OF RAV AVRAHAM YITZCHAK KOOK – RABBI ORI FISH
The course will stress the importance of Zionism and National Rebirth, as well as other philosophical topics, as seen through the eyes of the first Chief Rabbi of Israel.
- PHILOSOPHY OF RAV ZVI YEHUDA KOOK – RABBI ORI FISH
Readings from the son of Rav Kook, the father of the settlement movement, and the Rosh Yeshiva of Mercaz HaRav, on: Am Yisrael, Medinat Yisrael, the importance of settling all areas of Eretz Yisrael and modern day politics.
- SHA'AREI TESHUVA: RABBENU YONAH'S MASTERPIECE ON REPENTENCE – RABBI HANAN BENAYAHU
This class will investigate the religious outlook and philosophy of Rabbeinu Yonah as seen in his Sha'arei Teshuva, examining how it interfaces with the Rambam's Hilchot Teshuva.
- THE KUZARI – RABBI DR. DAN JACOBSON
Students will study Rav Yehuda HaLevi's seminal work, its dialogue and debate, carefully analyzing issues with relevance for their lives: How do we connect with G-d? How do we know G-d really gave us the Torah? What is the uniqueness of the Jewish People? Why is Israel a special land?
- SELECT MUSSAR WORKS – RABBI MENACHEM WEINBERG
We will discuss the history, method and goals of the musar movement, its streams and modern application by learning and analyzing essays and selection from the classic works.
- TAAMEI MITZVOTH – RABBI NAFTALI BALANSON
This course will explore the various reasons given by Chazal for some of the mitzvot we perform on a regular basis: the meaning of what we do, and what is accomplished by the specific commandment. Sources will range from the Torah itself, to the Rambam and the Sefer Ha-chinuch, to Chassidic explanations, all designed to bring a deeper understanding and appreciation to a meaningful performance of the mitzvot. The focus will be on Orach Chaim – berachot, tzitzit, tefillin, keriyat shema – and fundamental elements of the Jewish lifecycle, such as berit mila.
- THE THOUGHT OF RAV YOSEF DOV HA-LEVI SOLOVEITCHIK – RABBI DR. DAN JACOBSON
Reading the Rav's major works and a number of shorter essays will open up the worldview and philosophy of one of the leading Orthodox rabbis and thinkers of the 20th Century. At once a member of a leading rabbinic family, a doctor of philosophy and a gadol hador, Rav Soloveithchik's writings address and give meaning to life as a modern Orthodox Jew interacting with secular society and Religious Zionism.
- TORAT HATZIONUT – RABBI DR. MICHAEL REICHEL
The class will focus on the Judaic-textual sources that support the founding of the State of Israel and an analysis of the philosophical challenges that have arisen in response to a modern Jewish State. Major focuses will be the relevance of living in Israel today and explaining and challenging religious anti-Zionistic approaches (Neturei Karta).
- YESODEI EMUNAH – RABBI JASON KNAPEL
Using the Rambam's "Thirteen Principles of Faith" as a starting point, the course will deal with basic Jewish beliefs and the faith issues that a person in the modern world must confront. Including readings from traditional sources, contemporary articles and, most importantly, discussion. Students will learn the "what" and "how" of approaching issues of Jewish thought.
- TEFILLA – RABBI MENACHEM WEINBERG
We will learn about the structure and themes inherent in the tefillot, and study the meaning of various tefillot, while focusing on ways to deepen our prayer experience.
HALACHA
- CONTEMPORARY TOPICS IN HALACHAH – RABBI DANIEL MANN
By raising a real-life question and discussing the possible issues, then studying sources from the Gemara to modern-day poskim until a clear picture of the solution emerges, students will gain an understanding of the dynamics of halacha and strategies for its appropriate implementation.
- DAILY HALACHOT – RABBI DANIEL MANN, RABBI JASON KNAPEL, RABBI MENACHEM WEINBERG
Gaining an appreciation of the development of halacha and its application to daily life in the modern world, while developing a competence and confidence in approaching basic halachic texts. A focus on the laws of tefilla and berachot (including Birkat Hamazon), with additional topics of bein adam l'chaveiro interspersed throughout the year.
- HILCHOT SHABBAT – RABBI DR. MICHAEL REICHEL
A course on the practical halacha of Shabbat, covering home and dorm life. Topics will include traditional Shabbat rituals, chagim, and philosophical approaches to these days.
- HILCHOT YOM TOV – RABBI JASON KNAPEL
Through our analysis of the details of the halachot, students will achieve an understanding of the philosophy behind the moadim – what they are all about. With an in-depth focus on the more important elements of the holidays.
- ISSUES IN HALACHA – RABBI GERSHOM PATINKIN
The course will trace the halachik process, starting with the Gemara through the Rishonim to the Shulchan Aruch and other Poskim. Among the topics to be covered : Posing as a gentile, definition of death, maternal identity and kol-isha.
- SEPHARDIC HALAKHA – RABBI HANAN BENAYAHU
The class will study halachot that deal with the cycle of the Jewish calendar year and other subjects that are central to Jewish daily life. Main texts will be the Tur with Beit Yosef and the Shulchan Aruch, in an attempt to gain a deeper understanding of the process of halachic decision-making by studying the content of these texts.
- SHEILOT V'TESHUVOT: REVEALING THE MYSTERIES OF OUR HALAKHIC PAST – RABBI HANAN BENAYAHU
The class will attempt to unravel some of the mysteries found in responsa from the Sephardic Diaspora and Italy. Numerous texts will be analyzed, looking at how different issues troubled different communities in different eras. In doing so, it will enable us to understand the approaches of the various poskim, as well as lend us a deeper understanding of the historical, geographical, and cultural frameworks within which the petitioners and responders were living. In addition, the class will have the rare opportunity to study some responsa in original manuscript form.
ULPAN
- ULPAN – Rabbi Yishai Breslauer
Knowledge of Hebrew is an essential tool that facilitates progress in לימודי קודש , and will allow our graduates to be more comfortable as lifelong textual learners. We require our students to take an intensive year-long ulpan according to their level of fluency. The ulpan will focus on improving spoken Modern Hebrew vocabulary and allow our students to be more comfortable in using Hebrew in their daily environment in Israel.
- HEBREW BEIT MIDRASH PROGRAM
For those students who excelled high on the ulpan exam, this program presents an opportunity to pair up with a Hebrew speaking chevruta.
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