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The Mechinah/Preparatory Distance Learning Program
Click here for full program description and 2-year cycle of classes.
NEW! - All Spring & Fall Beit Midrash courses are now 10 class sessions, and cost $550. (The new Summer Courses may vary in length, and will be prices proportionately.) Registration requires a credit card; however, you will not be charged until after the first class.
Also, due to increased administrative expenses, we have insituted the following incentive to alert us as soon as possible if you must withdraw from a class:
An administrative fee of $25 will be charged for anyone withdrawing their registration less than two weeks prior to the first date of class, through the first week of class.
Full fees will be charged for any registrant who does not withdraw before the second class.
Registration for Beit Midrash courses implies knowlege of and agreement with these terms. Thank you for your understanding.
ENROLL NOW! TWO NEW SUMMER CLASSES!
A Walk Through the Siddur - Part II: A Summer Immersion
- Ten 2-hour sessions, beginning June 5, 2013
- Wednesdays, from 9:00 to 11:00 pm Eastern; 6:00 - 8:00 Pacific
From the morning Shema to the evening Shema, prayer provides structure for the Jewish day. In this course, we will take a guided journey through the Siddur; its forms, structures, language and mythic metaphors, to discover how the spiritual journey of Jewish prayer is designed. We will translate with attention to the Hebrew, roots, pronunciation and layers of Presence embedded within. We will consider how mythic metaphors can enhance our davvenen. We will gain familiarity with prayer cycles, so prayer starts to feel like meeting an old friend.
If you think you would like to take the course, but don't know if you are either not advanced enough or too advanced, please contact me.
INSTRUCTOR: RABBI T'MIMAH AUDREY ICKOVITS
(310) 450-8808 (California)
RebbeT(at)KabbalahTmimah.org
Biblical Hebrew 102.5
- 90-minute sessions, on Mondays and Thursdays beginning June 3, 2013
- 8:00 to 9:30 pm Eastern; 5:00 - 6:30 Pacific
[Time possibly shifted with the agreement of the instructor and all students.]
Hebrew 102 is continuing. Call it 102.5. The material covered will be: Review of reversing vav, review of the binyanim other than pa-al, review of irregular verb forms, and throughout, issues in translation of classical Hebrew and siddur. Our texts will be from Tanach with a focus on Torah and either the book of Ruth or the book of Judges, and selected passages from the Shabbat and weekday service.
Biblical Hebrew 102 or equivalent competency is a prerequisite. If you think you’d like to take the course, but don’t know if you are either not advanced enough or too advanced, please contact me.
INSTRUCTOR: RABBI BOB FREEDMAN
609-921-1562 (New Jersey)
rbobfvt(at)verizon.net
Click here to view complete current Course Descriptions and to register for current classes.
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Click here for full program description and 2-year cycle of classes.
Capsule Descriptions of Spring Term Classes
Introduction to Jewish Renewal & Reb Zalman’s Thought
- Ten 2-hour sessions, beginning February 19, 2013
- Tuesdays, from 8:00 to 10:00 pm Eastern; 5:00 - 7:00 Pacific
Crucial to a full understanding of Jewish Renewal is knowledge of the history and development of the movement, its structures, its leaders and their thought, including the principles and development of Paradigm Shift, Integral Halachah, and Davvenology. Students will be introduced to the rabbis and teachers who embraced Reb Zalman's thought and invitation to renew Judaism with their own unique gifts. As the final assignment for this course, each student will be given a sound file of Reb Zalman teaching to hear, evaluate, and catalog.
This course fulfills a requirement for the ALEPH Cantorial Program and the ALEPH Lay Leadership Certificate Program and is essential for those connecting with Jewish Renewal for the first time, as well as for those with a history of participation in Renewal communities and events such as the ALEPH Kallah and Ruach Ha'Aretz.
INSTUCTOR: RABBI LEANA MORITT
rabbimoritt@gmail.com
A Walk Through the Siddur: An Introduction to the Liturgy
- Ten 2-hour sessions, beginning February 21, 2013
- Thursdays, from 8:00 to 10:00 pm Eastern; 5:00 - 7:00 Pacific
From the morning Shema to the evening Shema, prayer provides structure for the Jewish day. The Siddur; the Jewish prayer book, is an inspired compendium of spiritual poetry that takes us on our journey though the three daily opportunities for formal prayer: Shacharit, Minchah, and Ma'ariv – the morning, afternoon, and evening prayers, for weekdays, Shabbat and holy days. In this course, we will take a guided journey through the Siddur; its forms, structures, language and mythic metaphors, to discover how the spiritual journey of Jewish prayer is designed. Our journey embraces the Hebrew of the Siddur, and opens up that language to you.
This course fulfills a requirement for the ALEPH Lay Leadership Certificate Program and the Rabbinic Pastor Ordination Program.
INSTUCTOR: RABBI T'MIMAH AUDREY ICKOVITS
RebbeT@KabbalahTmimah.org
Biblical Hebrew 102
- Ten 90-minute sessions, beginning February 4, 2013
- Mondays, from 8:00 to 9:30 pm Eastern; 5:00 - 6:30 Pacific
[Time possibly shifted with the agreement of the instructor and all students.]
This course continues the study of grammar and vocabulary begun in 101. You’ll review declension of nouns, and study recognition and translation of the seven binyanim, weak (irregular) verbs, and biblical Hebrew idioms. Texts will be from Tanakh with an emphasis on Genesis, parashiot hashavua, and siddur. The goal of the course is to give you a solid grounding in translation and interpretation of classical Hebrew texts.
If you think you would like to take the course, but don't know if you are either not advanced enough or too advanced, please call me.
INSTRUCTOR: RABBI BOB FREEDMAN
609-921-1562 (New Jersey)
Recent Beit Midrash Mechinah Classes Offered
A Walk Through the Siddur: An Introduction to the Liturgy
- Ten 2-hour sessions • Spring 2013
From the morning Shema to the evening Shema, prayer provides structure for the Jewish day. The Siddur; the Jewish prayer book, is an inspired compendium of spiritual poetry that takes us on our journey though the three daily opportunities for formal prayer: Shacharit, Minchah, and Ma'ariv – the morning, afternoon, and evening prayers, for weekdays, Shabbat and holy days. In this course, we will take a guided journey through the Siddur; its forms, structures, language and mythic metaphors, to discover how the spiritual journey of Jewish prayer is designed. Our journey embraces the Hebrew of the Siddur, and opens up that language to you. This course fulfills a requirement for the ALEPH Lay Leadership Certificate Program and the Rabbinic Pastor Ordination Program.
INSTRUCTOR: RABBI T'MIMAH AUDREY ICKOVITS
Introduction to Jewish Renewal & Reb Zalman’s Thought
- Ten 2-hour sessions • SPRING 2013
Crucial to a full understanding of Jewish Renewal is knowledge of the history and development of the movement, its structures, its leaders and their thought, including the principles and development of Paradigm Shift, Integral Halachah, and Davvenology. Students will be introduced to the rabbis and teachers who embraced Reb Zalman's thought and invitation to renew Judaism with their own unique gifts. As the final assignment for this course, each student will be given a sound file of Reb Zalman teaching to hear, evaluate, and catalog. This course fulfills a requirement for the ALEPH Cantorial Program and the ALEPH Lay Leadership Certificate Program and is essential for those connecting with Jewish Renewal for the first time, as well as for those with a history of participation in Renewal communities and events such as the ALEPH Kallah and Ruach Ha'Aretz.
INSTRUCTOR: RABBI LEANA MORITT
Biblical Hebrew 102
- Ten 90-minute sessions • SPRING 2013
Biblical Hebrew 102 will next be offered in Srping 2014.
INSTRUCTOR: RABBI BOB FREEDMAN
Biblical Hebrew 101
- Ten 90-minute sessions • FALL 2013
Biblical Hebrew 101 will next be offered in Fall 2013.
INSTRUCTOR:RABBI BOB FREEDMAN
The Many Faces of Torah: Back to the Sources
An Introduction to Jewish Thought
- Ten two-hour sessions • FALL 2012
From the bedrock of the Bible, the Jewish Tradition has evolved over millenia. Of its many powerful spiritual practices, the study of Torah, in the broadest sense, has always been primary. This course will introduce the many faces of Torah by sampling classic texts from Mishnah, Gemara, Midrash, medieval commentaries and philosophy and particularly Kabbalah and Chassidism. It will seek to widen the path of our life journeys by drawing on the vast resources of these spiritual treasures waiting to be engaged.
This class fulfills one of the course requirements for ALEPH’s Lay Leadership Certificate Program, and serves as a mechinah (preparatory) class for the ALEPH Ordination Program.
INSTRUCTOR: RABBI MARK ELBER
Make it Real, Not Rote: The Jewish Liturgical Year
Jewish Traditions of Sacred Time
- Ten to-hour sessions • FALL 2012
Jewish festivals are about life experiences and longing, about joy, sorrow, courage, and fear. They connect with our life cycles, with our social and political realities, even with our cycles of prayer. In this course, we will explore what Tanakh and liturgy, history and rabbinic tradition have to say about our holidays. We will search for the essence of each festival. We will work on ways to inspire our communities and congregations to do the same.
This class fulfills one of the course requirements for ALEPH’s Rabbinic Pastor, Cantorial and Lay Leadership Certificate Programs, and serves as a mechinah (preparatory) class for the Rabbinic Program.
INSTRUCTOR: RABBI SHULAMIT THIEDE, PHD
Yes, We Can! No, We Can't! -- Food and the Body in Jewish Practice
- Eight 2-hour sessions • SPRING 2012
In this course, we will survey the Jewish traditional practices pertaining to food and the body. The course will be organized according to eight different dichotomies intrinsic to the system of applied Halakha (Jewish Law and Custom). As we explore such categories as the permitted and the forbidden; the pure and the impure (tahor/tamei); liability and exemption; we will simultaneously frame and examine specific practices pertaining to kashrut, sex, mikveh, tallit and tefillin. This course is part of the Jewish Traditions series in the ALEPH Mechinah Program.
INSTRUCTOR:RABBI VIVIE MAYER
Mishnah as Malchut: Reading the Rabbis
- Eight 2-hour sessions • SPRING 2012
Mishnah is the textual embodiment of Malchut, and helps us bring God’s sovereignty into every detail of our lives. This class will use readings in the Mishnah to introduce students to the language and style of rabbinic literature. We will look at selections concerning prayer, responsibility, and other facets of human life, seeking to understand how the Mishnah brings the abstract principles of the Torah into everyday life, and thinking about how we can bring its teachings into our own lives. This class will also introduce students to the different types of early rabbinic literature and their relationships, to help students understand how early rabbis thought, and why they thought the way they did.
INSTRUCTOR: RABBI DAVID B. SIFF
Torah b’Ivrit: Introduction to Parshanut
- Eight 2-hour sessions • FALL 2011
Studying Torah is an act of love. This love helps us find meaning in the details of the text as well as maintain an awareness of wholeness of the text. The course will focus on methods of interpretation, using the lens of the Four Worlds and PaRDeS, a fourfold method of textual interpretation that opens the text, adds the spiritual dimension and provides a holistic approach to text learning.
This course is part of the Jewish Traditions series in the ALEPH Mechinah Program. Biblical Hebrew 102 or the equivalent is a pre-requisite.
INSTRUCTOR: RABBI ORI HAR-DiGENNARO
Introduction to Jewish Renewal & Reb Zalman’s Thought
- Eight 2-hour sessions • FALL 2011
Crucial to a full understanding of Jewish Renewal is knowledge of the history and development of the movement, its structures, its leaders and their thought, including the principles and development of Paradigm Shift, Integral Halachah, and Davvenology. Students will be introduced to the rabbis and teachers who embraced Reb Zalman's thought and invitation to renew Judaism with their own unique gifts. As the final assignment for this course, each student will be given a sound file of Reb Zalman teaching to hear, evaluate, and catalog.
This course is essential for those connecting with Jewish Renewal for the first time, as well as for those with a history of participation in Renewal communities and events such as the ALEPH Kallah and Ruach HaAretz.
INSTRUCTOR: RABBI LEANA MORITT
A Walk Through the Siddur: An Introduction to the Liturgy
- Six two-hour classes • SPRING 2011
Entry into the ALEPH Rabbinic Program and completion of the Rabbinic Pastor and Cantorial programs require a basic understanding of our liturgy and its central concepts and terms. In this course, we will explore basic terms such as matbe'a ha-t'fillah, chiyyuv, sh'ma u-virchote'ha, and heiche k'dushah. We will look at what makes a shacharit service whole and how weekday, Shabbat, and holiday services are similar to and different from each other.
This course is part of the Jewish Traditions series in the ALEPH Mechinah Program.
INSTRUCTOR: RABBI DANIEL SIEGEL
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