The goal of the Torah curriculum at YCT is to create knowledgeable, broadminded and critical-thinking Torah scholars (talmidei chakhamim), halakhic decisors and spiritual leaders. The span of this curriculum, in depth, breadth and methodology goes far beyond that of classic Orthodox rabbinical schools and yeshivot. We bring a multi-and inter-disciplinary approach to our Torah learning, complementing classical approaches with relevant academic methodologies.  Talmud and Halakha form the core of the curriculum, and are supplemented with classes in Tanakh and Jewish Thought. 

TALMUD The Talmud - along with its commentaries - is the foundation of halakha and has been the primary intellectual religious pursuit of Jewish for two millennia. The goal of the Talmud curriculum is to produce Torah scholars (talmedei chakhamim) who carry a sense of joy in and love of this pursuit, who are both fluent in Talmud and its medieval commentators (rishonim) and who can look at these texts critically and from a variety of vantage points. 

Talmud is studied throughout all four years, and - most intensively and as an independent discipline - during the first two years. The core Talmud classes focus on conceptual issues (lomdus), and integrate methodologies that address historical and source-critical concerns such as strata, composition and textual variants. 

HALAKHA Our Halakha curriculum aims to create knowledgeable, empathic halakhic decisors (poskim), who are skilled in the science and art of halakhic decision-making and who use mature judgment in rendering halakhic rulings. Students are given practical training with a veteran posek in responding to real-world halakhic questions. They learn how to identify the necessary follow-up questions, dissect a case into its relevant legal components, research new fields and - most importantly - use sound judgment in the art of weighing and applying various rulings. 

Our students devote three years to the study of laws on Shabbat, Yoreah Deah (Kashrut), Niddah (Family Purity), and Aveilut (Mourning). These topics are taught by seasoned poskim in a comprehensive manner, analyzing the sources from the Talmud through its commentators, Shulchan Arukh, and classical and modern responsa. Students further study the laws of Orah Hayim - prayer, synagogue and holidays - and the laws relating the lifecycle events - brit milah, bar and bat mitzvah, wedding ceremonies, and conversion, as well as classes in contemporary halakhic topics and medical and business ethics. 

TANAKH We believe that the study of Tanakh and Jewish Thought is an integral component of talmud Torah and critical to nuturing the spiritual and moral character of our students and preparing them as future leaders of communities. 

Tanakh study exposes students to the classical and modern commentaries and their distinctive approaches, as well as to the literary-theological message of the texts and the use of modern scholarship, as appropriate. Students will emerge with the skills to study and teach Tanakh, a nuanced understanding of Tanakh, and an appreciation of its messages, meanings, and spiritual-religious ethos.

JEWISH THOUGHT The goal of our Jewish Thought curriculum is to develop rabbis whose world view is nurtured by traditional Jewish texts and who are critical thinkers with intellectual integrity. Our rabbis will be able to openly engage the challenges that the modern and postmodern world presents to a life of faith and religious commitment. Students are offered a wide range of classes, including ones on Maimonides, Mysticism, Hassidut, Rav Soloveitchik, and Post-Modern Jewish Thought. Required classes of note include, "Foundations of Jewish Thought," "Death and Suffering and the Challenges of Theodicy," "The Rise and Development of Jewish Denominations," and "The Challenges of Modern Orthodoxy."