With Rabbi Avi Weiss

Daf Yomi with Rabbi Dov Linzer, Rosh HaYeshiva and Dean of YCT Rabbinical School.

The weekly Parsha class is part of a four year cycle with each year devoted to exposing students different approaches, nmethodologies and commentaries in the world of parshanut ha-Mikra-Biblical Exegesis. This year we will be focusing our weekly class on literary approaches to the study of Torah. The shiur takes place every Thursday afternoon for 45 minutes and is given in Hebrew. There will be occassional guest lecturers during the course of the year.

This class explores the challenges that modernity and post-modernism present to Orthodox Judaism and the ways these challenges have been and can be addressed.  Topics include: historical responses to modernity, the nature of rabbinic authority, the role of values and public policy in halakha, faith and reason, feminism, and spirituality.  We feature selected lectures from this year-long course taught by Rabbi Dov Linzer, Rosh HaYeshiva and Dean of YCT.

The Orah Hayyim shiur is a halakh ashiur based upon sources that the stduents have prepared in advance and focuses on areas of Shulhan Arukh-Orah Hayyim that are particularly relevant to a shul rabbi or a rabbi running a minyan on a regular basis. The basic texts we will use include Tur-0Shulchan Arukh and Mishneh Berurah and Arukh ha-shulhan. Use of to contemporary responsa literature and essays is often employed in the course of the class. During the year we cover basic of daily halakha beginning with Birkot hashahar through the laws of Keriat hatorah. Aftyer Pesah, the learning shifts to Hilkhot Mezuah.

The study of original sources during seder time will prepare the students for each class. After brief review of the sources and clarification of any difficulties the students may have encountered in preparing, the shiur will concentrate on halacha l'maase, practical application of the material. At times actual sh'eylot will be presented to the class for discussion and decision based on the sources.

The intellectual history of the Achronim, taught by Rabbi Ysoscher Katz. 

These Yoreh Deah shiurim are the twice weekly shiurim that R. Linzer delivers to the smicha students during their Yoreh Deah year.  The shiurim cover the area of Kashrut, both theoretically and practically,  The first set of shiurim covers Yoreh Deah, simanim 98-110, and addresses the fundamentals of bittul (nullification), dvarim chashuvim (important objects) and other exceptions to bittul, ta'am (taste), ta'am lifgam (bad taste),  kelim (the use of vessels), and conditions for the transfer of taste.  The second set covers Yoreh Deah, simanim 87-97, and addresses the basics of meat and milk, rabbinic safeguards (e.g., the waiting period), nat bar nat (derivatives of permitted taste), davar charif (sharp objects), transfer through steam and smell, and a host of practical applications, such as sinks, dishwashers, ovens, and microwaves.  The final set of shiurim address a range of practical issues in kashrut including: tvilat kelim, kashering in general and kashering for Pesach, food products and medicines on Pesach, pat, gevina, and bishul nakhri (bread, cheese, and other food products cooked by non-Jews), and finally issues regarding hashgacha of restaurants and the production of food.  All topics are covered through a study of the sugyot in the Gemara, the rishonim, Shulkhan Arukh and its commentators, and traditional and contemporary responsa.

Each week Rabbi Nathaniel Helfgot will explore the parsha through the medieval commentaries including, but not limited to, Rashi, Ramban and Ibn Ezra. This class is a part of a larger cycle whose theme will change annually to include literary and modern ways to look at the parasha.

This weekly course explores Minchat Chinuch's perspective on the analytical aspects of various mitzvot. While the primary focus of the class is the Sefer Minchat Chinuch written by Yosef Ben Moshe Babad (1800-1874), opinions of other Achronim are also studied.

Rabbi Weiss's Prayer Class - Introduction

By Rabbi Dov Linzer

By Rabbi Avi Weiss

By Rabbi Avi Weiss

By Rabbi Avi Weiss

By Rabbi Avi Weiss

By Rabbi Avi Weiss