COURSE CATALOGUE 1 Your Pesach will never be the same after studying Shmot on a new, al- Tanach together deeper level. Conflict and Personalities in Resolution in Sefer Bereishit Bereishit This course will focus Chazal teach us that on the many fascinat- there are many differ- ing personalities in ent layers and facets to Sefer Bereishit. This is the Torah, many concealed a highly text-based class beneath the surface. In this that will focus on the struc- course, we will uncover new ture and content of the sefer, ideas and philosophy hidden in and the underlying meaning of some of the most famous stories in those elements. We will be develop- the Torah, focusing on personalities like ing our skills in learning Tanach as well Kayin and Hevel, and Yosef and his broth- as getting to know the stories on Sefer Be- ers, etc. What is the true reason behind these reishit on a more sophisticated level. brotherly spats? Was it just a personal conflict or is there more to it? An emphasis will be put on Mishneh Torah: Parshanut in an analysis of these relationships and the stories’ Sefer Devarim messages for modern times. The study of Sefer Devarim will be enriched by an intense analysis of the classical parshanut Sefer Shmot: Exile and on Sefer Devarim. Comparisons and contrasts Redemption between various mefarshim will be used to ac- In this course, students will expand their un- complish two important goals. First of all, we will derstanding of the exile in Egypt as they work use the parshanut to figure out the simple pshat through midrashim to understand how Chazal in the sefer, as seen by the various mefarshim. understood the experience in Egypt. In addi- Additionally, we will analyze the mefarshim the- s opinion on the’פירוש tion, students will learn how to learn various matically, discussing each mefarshim rarely studied such as Abarbanel and major thematic messages in each section. This the Netziv to gain new insight into a section of class will require daily Beit Midrash preparation, Chumash that many are already familiar with. and will require good textual skills. 2 3 Parashat Kedoshim philosophical and practical lessons they demon- of various meforshim on the Sefer to Haftarot strate. Why do Chazal criticize Devorah? Why did develop a keener understanding was The haftarot that we read in shul פרשת קדושים In the Sifra it is written that Shimshon marry non-Jewish women? Students of the issues and controversies -in a public forum because on Shabbat were specially se בני ישראל taught to will emerge with a new perspective on our role in this sefer. most of the Torah is intrinsically connected with lected to re-emphasize the models, better insight into their personalities and what it contains. The moral, ethical and hala- message of that week’s the abilities necessary to continue their learning chic lessons that are found in the parsha can parasha. In this course, even after their year in Israel. Women in all be practically applied in our day-to-day lives. Tanach we will investigate Through studying the simple meaning of the the weekly haftara, This is a text based verses, as well as comparing and contrasting the Echoes from Above: drawing on its mean- class with chavruta and other sources ing for ourselves and מפרשים approaches of various Insights into Parshat time where we will We will also .כלל ישראל in an intellectually challenging way, this goal can for Hashsavuah explain some of the inter- be achieved. emphasize the relationship A Jew is required not only to read the weekly esting and significant women between each week’s parsha portion but to also live by its meanings. In this in Tanach using midrashim, and its haftara and discuss the Chumash Bamidbar course, we will delve into the deeper mean- mefarshim and gemaras, as well The trials and tribulations of the Jews throughout inter-relationship between Chumash and apply them to our week as modern sources. We will revisit פרשה ings of the their 40 years in the wilderness can be applied and the Neviim. and lives. We will also use the opportunity to women such as Chana, Avigayil, Batsheva to our daily challenges in everyday life. In this develop students’ ability to put together their and Chulda, and in the process, we will build course, we will travel along with the Jewish Musar HaNeviim own divrei Torah. skills and make these women relevant to us. nation as they confront their challenges In this class, we will be discussing the moral and learn important life-lessons that Sefer Shmuel Alef messages that we can glean from various Sifrei can enhance our character and Trei Asar Tanach. We will be learning significant sections personality. An in depth analysis of the sto- from Yona, Yehoshua and Mishlei, with our em- In this challenging course, we will focus primarily ries in Shmuel Alef and how phasis on using the as a springboard for פסוקים on Hoshea, Yonah, Yoel as well as discussing the they pertain to us. For ex- improving our own Once again, we will .מידות Sefer Shoftim visions of Chagai, Malachi,and Zechariah. We will ample, we will discuss show how every perek in Tanach has a lesson learn each of the prophets against the backdrop This class will stress the reason why Shaul for every generation. both parshanut and was chosen to be the of his time period, as well as make comparisons thematic analysis of first King of Bnei Yis- to other Sefarim. For example, we will compare in Sefer Hoshea with that The Five Megillot אהבה Sefer Shoftim. We rael, and what we can the theme of The .מגילת אסתר This course will begin with חגי, זכריה, will be examining the take from that in terms theme in Shir Hashirim. As we study and meaning of the text will be illuminated by עזרא with the help of the books of ומלאכי different personalities in of the leaders we choose and מדרשים we will take a closer look at the return to studying the perspective of various ,נחמיה the sefer shoftim (e.g. Devo- for ourselves. The class will in a thematic style. The goal of מפרשים rah, Yael, Shimshon), focusing utilize textual analysis of the pe- Zion from the Babylonian exile and the rebuild- classical in an in-depth מגילות the course is to learn the .בית שני on each one’s singularity and the sukim themselves, as well as review ing of 4 5 manner, and to find the relevance of that learn- Nach Yomi ing to us on a personal and collective level. We are the People of the Book and yet many of מגילת is known as “ ”, a work that tra - us have not yet read through our Book. Learning כתבוני לדורות אסתר scends time and thus is continuously relevant a perek a day of Nach, you will be able to ac- complish the great feat of completing and know- The Wisdom and Mussar of ing a much broader section of our holy Tanach. Shlomo HaMelech Hashem offered Shlomo anything he want- ed and Shlomo chose wisdom. Though the study of Kohelet and Mishlei, the Jewish analysis of their commentaries and midrashim and how these teachings apply to our lives, Philosophy we will be able to gain great insight into our Fundamentals perspectives and of Jewish charachter and Philosophy how we approach Surprsingly, many our avodat Hashem, people who are Ortho- midot and value system. dox from birth have never studied and discussed many Ezra/Nechemia of the basic issues in Jewish We will learn this fascinating sefer Philosophy. How do we know there which discusses the return to Eretz Yis- is a G-d? How do we know that our rael after the first galut to Bavel. We will religion is the correct one? Is our Mesorah learn the sefer in depth, discussing the major legitimate? Why do bad things happen to themes of the sefer such as the conflict be- good people? How do good and evil coexist? If tween politics and religion, and the place of re- G-d knows everything beforehand, how do we ligious idealism in the real world. Of course, we still have the ability to make our own choices? will also apply these concepts to our own times, These issues will be discussed and analyzed in as we too live in a generation that is returning to conjunction with sources from Chazal and the Eretz Yisrael Rishonim. 6 7 The Thirteen Principles of the tion of a special kind. How do we coordinate the seem to be many d’Rabanan’s that are Black and White human and divine perspective as we interact far-fetched - why do they do this Rambam In this course, we will discuss in a multitude of scenarios in everyday life? How and what gives the Rabbis the This is a text and discussion based course based the differences between the do we value time, society, and the meaning of right to impose new hala- Topics will include Dati-Leumi and Chareidi .י“ג עיקרים של הרמב“ם on the our positive and negative impact upon others chot upon us? These and belief in G-d, G-d’s character traits, doubting through our words and actions. What are my re- other subjects will be worldviews. Are secular one’s faith and the interplay between free will sponsibilities as I live in this world? What do studies good or bad? and Divine interaction with man. We will also studied with the aid others owe me and what do I owe others? This Why do charedi com- compare and contrast the Rambam’s opinions of source material.