Lev Yisrael
Education Program
The goal (BE”H) of the educational track is to bring a beginner into Yiddishkeit as smoothly as possible, emphasizing skills-development and basic hashkafa from the start while delaying the student’s exposure to deeper ideas until he has sufficiently developed his the basics of Torah. As the student grows in these areas over time, the plan ensures that the student will also be covering large amounts of pashtus Torah, providing him with the foundation for more advanced learning and with the confidence of having “caught up” to the average frum-from-birth. The plan hopes to move the student at a relatively advanced pace to higher levels of learning, hashkafa, and avodah without compromising the student’s need for progressing in a consistent and pressure-free manner.
Highlights (BE”H):
- After just over
one-half of a year, the student will have a comprehensive knowledge of
the Laws of Shabbos, familiarity with the entire Chumash and the 613
mitzvos, an ability to translate any Torah text, and some facility with
making a leyning on a gemara.
- After one year
and a quarter, the student will have a working knowledge of the laws of
daily living, a familiarity with every Rashi on the Chumash, and an
understanding of deep ideas in haskafa.
- After
two-and-a-half years, the student will have a more comprehensive
knowledge of the laws of daily living, a familiarity with the N’vi’im
from Yehoshua through most of Yeshayahu, a familiarity with the Mishna
from Seder Zroyim through some of Seder Nashim, an ability to attack a
daf gemara thinking into the Rishonim, and a grasp of Sefer Alei Shore
and Sefer Tanya.
- After just over four
years, the student will have completed the Shas Mishnayos, the N’vi’im
through the Trey Asar N’vi’im, and gemaras Brochos and Shabbos.
- After five years, the student will have a strong knowledge of significant portions of the Shulcham Aruch (and may possibly be eligible for s’micha), exposure to pnimius Torah and the Niglos Zohar HaKodesh, and familiarity with several sefarim, including Derech Hashem, Mesillas Yesharim, Chovos HaLevovos, Alei Shore, Tanya, Lekutei Moharan, Yosher Divrei Emes, and Siduro Shel Shabbos.
Notes:
The plan views the calendar year as being divided into
three zmanim made up of just over three months each: Iyar-Tisha B’Av,
Elul-End of Chanukah, and Teves-Pesach. For each “year,” the plan
contemplates twelve months of actual learning time; thus, a year is made
up of four zmanim (i.e., four zmanim of three months each equals twelve
months of learning time). To give the reader a feel for the progress of
a hypothetical beginner, the plan assumes a starting date of Rosh
Chodesh Iyar and tracks the student’s time according to the zmanim
described above and in “real-time” according to the calendar months.
All listings in the plan are intended to be given as shiurim (unless otherwise indicated), with the shiur rebbe doing the reading in most cases. Regarding a shiur in which a sefer is being covered, it is advisable for the actual shiur time to end fifteen minutes before the scheduled time, giving the students an opportunity to review the day’s reading on the spot.
All learning targets assume that advances will be made only during shiur time; Shabbosim and bein hazmanim will be available for review and catch-up.
The schedule contemplates, in most cases, a
five-to-ten-minute break between shiurim.
PRE-BEGINNER (2 zmanim)
Chumash Overview[1]
(1 zman)
Chumash w/Rashi (1 zman)
Sefer HaMitzvos (2 zmanim)
Hilchos Shabbos (in English)[2]
(2 zmanim)
Ulpan (2 zmanim)
Gemara skills (2 zmanim)
Basic Hashkafa[3]
(2 zmanim)
Hashkafa Sefarim (Derech Hashem, Mesillas Yesharim, Chovos HaLevovos,
Nef. HaChaim, etc.) (2
zmanim)
First Three Months – Iyar to Tisha B’Av
Calendar months in Yeshiva to date: 0-3
9:00-10:00 Hilchos Shabbos
10:00-11:00 Gemara shiur
11:00-12:00 Gemara chavrusa
12:00-1:00 Basic Hashkafa
2:45-3:45 Ulpan
3:45-5:15 Chumash Overview
5:15-6:00 Sefer HaMitzvos
6:00-6:30 Review gemara shiur with chavrusa
6:30-7:30 Hashkafa Sefarim
Next Three Months – Elul to End of Chanukah
Calendar months in Yeshiva to date: 4-8
9:00-10:00 Hilchos Shabbos
10:00-11:00 Gemara shiur
11:00-12:00 Gemara chavrusa
12:00-1:00 Basic Hashkafa
2:45-3:45 Ulpan
3:45-5:15 Chumash w/Rashi
5:15-6:00 Sefer HaMitzvos
6:00-6:30 Review gemara shiur with chavrusa
6:30-7:30 Hashkafa Sefarim
BEGINNER (2 zmanim)
Chumash w/Rashi (cont’d) (2 zmanim)
Kitzur Shulchan Aruch w/Divrei M.B. (principal halachas) (2 zmanim)
Ulpan – Translate Chumash (2 zmanim)
Gemara skills (cont’d) (2 zmanim)
Additional Hashkafa (i.e., the shiurim based on Rav Goldvicht’s drashos) (2 zmanim)
Hashkafa Sefarim (cont’d) (2 zmanim)
Six Months – Teves to Tisha B’Av
Calendar months in Yeshiva to date: 9-15
9:00-10:00 Kitzur Shulchan Aruch
10:00-12:00 Gemara chavrusa
12:00-1:00 Gemara shiur
2:30-3:45 Additional Hashkafa
3:45-5:15 Chumash w/Rashi
5:15-6:00 Ulpan – Translate Chumash
6:00-6:30 Review gemara shiur with chavrusa
6:30-7:30 Hashkafa Sefarim
INTERMEDIATE (4 zmanim)
Nach[4] (4 zmanim)
Mishnayos[5] (4 zmanim)
Mishna Brurah[6] (4 zmanim)
Gemara (Tosefos and other Rishonim) (4 zmanim)
Hashkafa – Introduction to Chasidus[7] (2 zmanim)
Sefer Alei Shore – excerpts (2 zmanim)
Sefer Tanya (incl. Iggeres HaTshuvah and Sha’ar HaYichud v’HaEmunah) (2 zmanim)
Likutei Moharan (2 zmanim)
Six Months (2 zmanim) – Elul to Pesach
Calendar months in Yeshiva to date: 16-23
9:00-10:00 Gemara shiur
10:00-10:45 Introduction to Chasidus
10:45-1:00 Gemara chavrusa
2:45-3:45 Mishna Brurah
3:45-4:45 Sefer Alei Shore
4:45-5:45 Nach—Yehoshua, Shoftim, Shmuel A, Shmuel B, begin Melachim A
5:45-6:30 Review gemara shiur
6:30-7:30 Mishnayos – Z’royim A through Mo’adim A (Shabbos)
Six Months (2 zmanim) – Iyar to End of Chanukah
Calendar months in Yeshiva to date: 24-30
9:00-10:00 Gemara shiur
10:00-12:15 Gemara chavrusa
12:15-1:00 Likutei Moharan
2:45-3:45 Mishna Brurah
3:45-4:45 Sefer Tanya
4:45-5:45 Nach – Melachim A (cont’d), Melachim B, Yeshayahu (1-45)
5:45-6:30 Review gemara shiur
6:30-7:30 Mishnayos – Mo’adim A (Eruvin) through Nashim A ( Nazir)
ADVANCED (4 zmanim)
Shulchan Aruch – Basic Yoreh Deah (2 zmanim)
Shulchan Aruch, chelek B (2 zmanim)
Nach (cont’d) (4 zmanim)
Mishnayos (cont’d) (4 zmanim)
Gemara (Rishonim and Acharonim) (4 zmanim)
Gemara Bekius (amud-daf/day) (4 zmanim)
Advanced Chasidus – e.g., Derech Mitzvosecha, Torah Ohr/Likutei Torah, etc. (4 zmanim)
Likutei Moharan (cont’d) (4 zmanim)
Six Months (2 zmanim) – Teves to Tisha B’Av
Calendar months in Yeshiva to date: 31-38
9:00-11:15 Gemara chavrusa
11:15-12:15 Gemara shiur
12:15-1:00 Likutei Moharan
2:30-3:30 Advanced Chasidus
3:30-4:00 Shulchan Aruch – Basic Yoreh Deah
4:00-6:00 Gemara Bekius – Brachos, Shabbos (1— mid-2)
6:00-6:45 Nach – Yeshayahu (cont’d), Yermiyahu
6:45-7:30 Mishnayos – Nashim A (Sotah) through N’zikim B (Avodah Zarah)
Six Months (2 zmanim) – Elul to Pesach
Calendar months in Yeshiva to date: 39-46
9:00-11:15 Gemara chavrusa
11:15-12:15 Gemara shiur
12:15-1:00 Likutei Moharan
2:30-3:30 Advanced Chasidus
3:30-4:15 Shulchan Aruch – Yoreh Deah, chelek B
4:15-6:00 Gemara Bekius – Shabbos (mid-2 –15)
6:00-6:45 Nach – Yechezkel, Trey Asar N’vi’im
6:45-7:30 Mishnayos – N’zikim B (Avos) through Tahoros A (Keilim, 15)
POST-ADVANCED (4 zmanim)
Shulchan Aruch, chelek A (optional s’micha, BE”H) (4 zmanim)
Nach (cont’d) (1 zman)
Mishnayos (cont’d) (1 zman)
Gemara – Advanced b’iyun; chaburas (4 zmanim)
Gemara – Derech in b’iyun (2 zmanim)
Gemara Bekius (amud-daf/day) (cont’d) (4 zmanim)
Introduction to Penimius
Zohar HaKodesh, Niglos (3 zmanim)
Likutei Moharan (cont’d) (2 zmanim)
Chasidic Sefarim (e.g., S. Sh. Shabbos, B. Yissaschar, Moreh V’Shamesh) (3 zmanim)
Three Months (1 zman) – Iyar to Tisha B’Av
Calendar months in Yeshiva to date: 47-50
9:00-11:15 Gemara chavrusa
11:15-12:15 Gemara shiur or chabura
12:15-1:00 Likutei Moharan
2:30-3:30 Shulchan Aruch – Yoreh Deah, chelek A
3:30-5:30 Gemara Bekius – Shabbos (16-end)
5:30-6:30 Nach – Trey Asar N’vi’im (cont’d)[8]
6:30-7:30 Mishnayos – Tahoros A (Keilim, 16) through Tahoros B (end)
Three Months (1 zman) – Elul to End of Chanukah
Calendar months in Yeshiva to date: 51-54
9:00-11:15 Gemara chavrusa
11:15-12:15 Gemara shiur or chabura
12:15-1:00 Likutei Moharan
2:30-3:30 Shulchan Aruch – Yoreh Deah, chelek A
3:30-6:00 Gemara Bekius – Pesachim (1-3)
6:00-6:30 Chasidic Sefarim
6:30-7:00 Introduction to Penimius
7:00-7:30 Zohar HaKodesh, Niglos
Six Months (2 zmanim) – Teves to Tisha B’Av
Calendar months in Yeshiva to date: 55-62
9:00-11:00 Gemara chavrusa
11:00-12:00 Gemara – Derech b’iyun
12:00-1:00 Gemara shiur or chabura
2:30-3:30 Shulchan Aruch – Yoreh Deah, chelek A
3:30-6:15 Gemara Bekius – Pesachim (4-end), Rosh Hashanah (1-3)
6:15-7:00 Chasidic Sefarim
7:00-7:30 Zohar HaKodesh, Niglos
POST-YESHIVA
Shas Bavli
Midrashim
Shas Yerushalmi
Tanna D’vei Eliyahu
Pirkei D’Rebbi Eliezar
Mishneh Torah
Training – Individual Counseling
[1] The goal of this class is to read through in English and discuss the entire Chumash, covering roughly a parsha per day. Before each class, the students will be given an outline of the parsha to be covered, along with a few discussion questions highlighting some of the main ideas from the parsha. Simanim may also be developed. It is hoped that the students will read the parsha on their own time in preparation for the class period; nevertheless, it is expected that a portion of the class time will be allocated to reading from the text.
[2] To be based on a learning syllabus to be compiled in English using an existing syllabus (a sheilah must be asked regarding the extent to which the existing syllabus may be used) and supplementing from Rav Ribiat's sefer, The 39 Melachos of Shabbos. Of course, the Yeshiva’s posek would have to review the contents as well.
[3] The material will be more basic than the shiurim that are based on Rav Goldvicht’s (zt”l) and (ybc”l) Rav Wolbe’s drashos. These classes should cover the basic idea of Hashem, the paradox of infinite and finite, and our purpose in life. Many of Rav Tauber’s, shlit”a, books cover the appropriate material, as do Rav Berkowitz’s shiurim. Parts of Strive for Truth may also be used. In addition, there will be time allotted during the zman to cover the Oral Law (with excerpts from Hakdamas HaRambam l’Peirush HaMishnayos) and the Siddur. It is also possible to design many of the classes as open-forum discussions centered around a provocative issue (e.g., “Jews and non-Jews are different” or “A ten-day ocean cruise is a waste of time”) in which the students will be able to express themselves as they begin to adjust to frum hashkafa.
[4] To be given over in a shiur covering some of the pshatim of the main meforshim and providing insights that incorporate Yeshiva hashkafa and the derech of chasidus. There should also be simanim to enable the students to memorize the overall contents of each chapter.
[5] To be given as a shiur, using the peirush Kehati with a pace of roughly ten pages per day (this keeps the pace constant; working by chapter is too difficult because of the various chapter lengths). It is possible that the first couple of weeks will be dedicated to learning an overview of the Shas Mishnayos to be written based on the sefer Mishna Sidurah. In general, the shiur will help the talmidim keep a pace, smooth over difficult subjects, and highlight the logical flow from mishna to mishna and chapter to chapter.
[6] To be done in chavrusa setting using Rav Chaimowitz’s sheets.
[7] This class will provide an overview of the derech of chasidus and of the tools used in serving Hashem. It will also include a brief history of the movement and its founders, plus a reading of excerpts from the principal sefarim of the derech of chasidus (i.e., much like Aryeh Kaplan’s book, Chasidic Masters). The second half (i.e., the second zman) of the class would involve going through the sefer Yosher Divrei Emes.
[8] We should complete (BE”H) the Trey Asar N’vi’im before the end of the zman; thus, if necessary, some of this time will be used to complete Mishnayos, BE”H.
