Free Online Noncredit Courses in Orthodox Jewish Thought

(Note: I've received these since about 1994, and highly recommend them, even though I haven't given most of the lectures the attention they deserve. -- TH)

The Israel Koschitzky Virtual Beit Midrash
http://www.vbm-torah.org

Registration:

The new year - our eighth - of the VBM will begin next
week, so now is the time to complete your registration
for any of the new courses you wish to take this year.

The curriculum is posted on our website: <A HREF="http://www.vbm-torah.org" TARGET=_blank>http://www.vbm-
torah.org</A>
The automatic subscription form is at <A HREF="http://www.vbm-torah.org/howto.htm" TARGET=_blank>http://www.vbm-
torah.org/howto.htm</A>

It is important NOT to subscribe to everything you see or
even everything that interests you. On the course
description on the website, we have indicated
approximately how much time each course requires per
week. You should think of these courses as real courses,
not future reading material. We all know how quickly the
email inbox gets filled with unread, or at best quickly
scanned, material. The VBM is not a publisher, it is a
"beit midrash." You should figure out how much time you
have for serious Torah study each week, set aside the
requisite time slot in your weekly schedule, and then
register for the courses that you know you will be able
to participate in regularly. In fact, the VBM motto is
"Keva ittim la-Torah" - set aside regular time for Torah
study.

A short guide to the courses:

A. Tanakh

We have two shiurim on the weekly parsha. The first -
YHE-PARSHA - is advanced and aimed for students who
have been exposed to extensive parsha commentary in the
past. Aside from what sometimes might seem as
relatively esoteric topics, this shiur also assumes a
working knowledge of Hebrew, as some of the points are
based on analysis of the grammar or syntax of the
Hebrew original.

A second shiur - YHE-INTPARSHA - is designated as
"Introduction to Parshat HaShavua." The level of this
shiur is definitely not elementary. However, the
subject manner is chosen so as not to assume previous
acquaintance with commentary on the parsha, and any use
of Hebrew is explained.

We are also offering this year, for the first time, a
class in the Book of Joshua (YHE-YEHOSHUA). Another
class, offered for the last three years and which will
now start from the beginning for those who have never
taken it, is in the Book of Psalms (YHE-TEHILLIM). [If
you are already registered for Tehillim, you will
continue to receive the new shiurim as they are
written.]

B. Talmud

YHE-KIDDUSHIN - The Talmud shiur is advanced, intended
for students who are learning the texts on their own.
The emailed shiur subjects the prepared material to
advanced analysis, and is directly based on the
parallel lectures given in Yeshivat Har Etzion. We are
this year learning Masekhet Kiddushin. These shiurim
were previously sent out seven years ago. The second
semester will consist of totally new shiurim, on the
second chapter.

Another shiur in this category is YHE-METHO (Talmudic
Methodology), which discusses a single talmudic topic
each week. Although the topics are at times quite
advanced, this shiur can, albeit with effort, be
appreciated by students who could not benefit from the
regular Talmud shiur. The topics are explained at
length and each shiur is self-contained, making this
course more accessible, and we have therefore marked
the level as "intermediate."

C. Halakha

Another alternative to the Talmud shiurim is the weekly
shiur in a halakhic topic - YHE-HALAKHA. Each week, a
different topic in practical Jewish law is examined and
analyzed, with the aim of explicating its basis and
approaching practical conclusions.

A systematic course in the laws of kashrut - YHE-
KASHRUT - will be offered this year as well. This
course will be mailed biweekly, and will cover the
entire range of culinary regulations.

We will repeat YHE-MB, which is a study companion to
the Mishna Berura. It assumes that the student will
learn four pages of Mishna Berura weekly, and adds
background, elaborations and modern responsa to enable
comprehensive study of the material.

D. Jewish Philosophy

We have two new courses here:
a. Introduction to the Thought of Rav Nachman of
Breslov YHE-RNACHMAN
b. Reading Midrash (YHE-MIDRASH) - this is not strictly
a course in philosophy, but will examine how to
understand the ideas expressed by the sages in the
midrashic literature that accompanies Scripture. The
course will be limited to the midrashim on the lives of
the patriarchs.

Our class on Meaning in Mitzvot, YHE-KITZUR, will
continue this year. Following the order of the popular
digest Kitzur Shulchan Arukh, this class aims to
explain the inner meaning of the practices of daily
Jewish observance.

Four courses are repeats from previous years:
a. YHE-DEVELOP - a series of lectures by Rav Aharon
Lichtenstein on developing a Torah personality.
b. YHE-UNDHALAKHA - a series which examines the
concepts behind halakhic Judaism. This series is aimed,
among others, at an introductory audience.
c. YHE-JEWPHI - Using the classic medieval work "The
Kuzari" as background, Prof. Rosenberg discusses basic
issues of modern Judaism.
d. YHE-SICHOT is a synopsis of the weekly Shabbat talk
in the yeshiva of one of the rashei yeshiva, Rav
Lichtenstein or Rav Amital. (This year will largely be a
repeat of the sichot we mailed in 5758.)

Finally, YHE-HOLIDAY contains articles relating to the
laws, philosophy and Torah readings of the various
Jewish holidays, and is mailed before each one.

REGISTER NOW SO YOU WON'T MISS ANY SHIURIM

MAIL THIS LETTER TO YOUR FRIENDS AND ACQUAINTANCES SO
THEY CAN JOIN AS WELL.