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Courses
HEBREW 100 Mechina one year course
This is a one year preparatory class designed for those students without previous exposure or very little understanding of the Hebrew language. We will learn the Hebrew alphabet, how to write, read and decode both vowels and constants. We will begin to build a vocabulary using an introductory conversational Hebrew text and an introductory to Hebrew Prayer text.
Jewish Studies 100 Mechina one year course
This is a one year preparatory course surveying Jewish History and will also focus on the Tanach and the introduction of our various siddurim. This course will be an overview of the 5 books of Moses (Torah), the Prophets and Psalms. This course will be taught with both the Hebrew and English texts, however; those with limited Hebrew will be able to take this course as we will use English translation throughout the course. Hebrew will be introduced to show how the English translation is not necessarily the right translation. Students will be introduced to the structure of the siddur for every day, Shabbat and other prayer modules.
BEGINNING FOUNDATION COURSES
HEBREW 101-500
These classes are for beginning to advanced Hebrew courses. Students will be placed by taking a Hebrew Test prior to registration of any Hebrew course other than Hebrew 100.
Introduction to Biblical Hebrew
This course is required before studying any Mishna or Talmud class. This course will teach the nuances of biblical Hebrew. A proficiency level of Hebrew 200 is required for this course.
Biblical Hebrew
This course explores biblical Hebrew needed to understand Torah , Talmud and other advanced Jewish texts. Students will explore Aramaic, Rashi and Hebrew scripts. Students must have a previous knowledge of Hebrew and must have taken introduction to bible and introduction to Mishna or have passed a competency exam in order to take this class.
Introduction to the Mishna
This course will examine the 6 books of the mishna and their contents. Students will learn how and where to search for text. We will focus of several of the more well known dafs and begin to get an understanding of how the Oral Torah came about. Students must have a proficiency level of Hebrew 200 to take this course. This course is a perquisite for Introduction to Talmud.
Introduction to Talmud
This is a two semester course which will be taught in a Havruta Style of learning. Introduction to Mishna, and Hebrew 200 is a perquisite to this course. Introduction to Biblical Hebrew is also required but can be taken simultaneously with this course.
ONGOING COURSES
Talmud (Intermediate - Adavanced)
These courses are required courses for rabbinic ordination and will explore various Talmud texts and are each a building course to allow future Rabbis to have an understanding of translating Talmud and applying it in their studies.
Rabbinic Texts and Documents
Courses in Mishna, Talmud, Pirke Avot (Ethics of our Fathers) Midrash, Midrash Ruth, Parshanut, Sh'mittah (the Sabbatical year), Scrolls (Mezuzah, Tefilin, Ketubah).
Homeletics
These courses assist and train students the writing process in creating D'var Torah, Eulogies, Sermons, blogs and all other writing that is done in the life of a Rabbi and/or Jewish educator.
Theology and Philosophy
These courses involve philosophy, spirituality and our belief in God. Courses in the Holocaust, Bioethics, Ethics, Personal Financial ethics, medieval and contemporary philosophy, Kavannah, meditation, personal theology and those of other religions, pluralism, Chassidic philosophy, mysticism (the Zohar).
History
These courses teach various periods of the history and the influence of the Jewish people today with their relationship of our ancestors in the historical periods of the writing of our bible, psalms, writings, prophets, the Mishna and Talmud and other rabbinic texts. Courses in Israel, antiquity, the ancient near east, medieval, modern and contemporary history are required.
Halakhah
These courses involve, codes, responsa, and the basic Concepts of Hilkhot Shabbat, the holiness of time rather than space in regard to Shabbat and the chagim.
Liturgy
Courses in Shabbat, every day prayer, festivals, yamim Noraim (High Holidays), the Haggadah, Megillot, Gender language in our Siddurim.
Professional Rabbinic's
These courses are required and will be taught over 5 years. You will learn the language of Jews. How to perform ritual ceremonies, ritual skills, tefillah, cantillation of Haftarah and Torah trope, homiletics, Life Cycle, conversions, denominations, critical issues, Zionism, how to be a dynamic leader in the community, how to be an effective educator, pastoral counseling, etc.