We will explore themes and characters in the Parshiyot of Sefer Beresheit using both Midrashim and classical commentaries.

We will explore parshiyot in Sefer Shemot, which contain some of Jewish History’s most formative moments and most extraordinary characters. Our close reading of the text, alongside classical and modern commentaries, will deepen our understanding of these events and personalities.

Find out how Zionism developed in works of religious and non-religious thinkers from the Sabbatean heresy, through Hasidism, Pinsker and Herzl to the clash of Labor and Revisionist Zionists. We’ll read some of the texts our children encounter in high school, and others the Israeli establishment would never dream of teaching, and ask how far their authors went towards living their vision

The Talmud is the Jewish reservoir which guides our lives ritually, legally, and spiritually. We will study selected sugiyot which are a must, when it comes to the sources of our tradition. Examples include: What’s the source for our daily Tefillot?; What’s the ideal balance of work and Torah study in our lives? Be “in the know,” be exposed to central sugiyot & the roles they play, and become an active participant in the discourse of our heritage.

Explore the books of Joshua and Judges, focusing on the tribes and their lands. What personalities did the sons of Yaakov possess? How did these develop into the tribes of Israel? Do their territories suit their respective characters? Appreciate the relationship between prophetic historiography and geography, as we learn of the land’s conquest and settlement in Joshua. Examine the significance of the tribal nachalot as we study personalities in Judges. Archaeology, geology and topography will help us appreciate the textual, Midrashic and exegetical interpretations anew as we bring Tanakh and the Land to life.

In this class, we will immerse in the world of prayer. Through study of the relevant laws in the Shulhan Arukh and Chapters Five and Six of the Talmudic Tractate Berakhot, we will discover how the Sages defined prayer, and why they instituted obligatory prayer. We will explore the various components of our daily prayer service–the blessings recited upon arising in the morning, the Kriat Shema and its blessings, and the “Standing Prayer,” or Shemona Esrei–examining their sources, meanings, and the details of the laws pertaining to them.

Transformative Teachings of the Beit Ya’akov, Rabbi Ya’akov Leiner

The Hassidic masters understood that the biblical personalities also live within us, so that when we study the Torah, we also come to know ourselves.  The Mitzvot are laws, but their true essence provides a channel to experience God and expand the sacred space of your  soul.

Rabbi Ya’akov Leiner interprets the stories in Bereishit as a path toward self-reflection and ‘tikkun’.

When we internalize these teachings our lives become a continuation of our sacred narratives. With joint effort our learning will transform our lives in some small way.

Life in the Bible revolves around the family–the household and extended family–and the developing human society. We will explore a range of relationships, including interactions between husbands and wives and the challenges to their relationships. We will look at questions such as how they deal with conflict in the family, and whether they accept painful realities or struggle to change them. We will consider sibling relationships in the Bible, asking questions about the place of individuality, and the way in which the firstborn will chart his own course in the face of his parents’ expectations. We will also study reciprocal relationships in the family.

Explore different areas of learning and with these mini-series

Simultaneous to the communal reading of Sefer Bereshit, we will examine key stories and selections and learn about thier typological and theological significance. In what way do these stories create social and communal precedents for the Jewish people? What theological principles are uncovered through the stories of the Avot and Imahot and how do they contribute to forming the theological foundation of the Jewish people?

Throughout Jewish history, movements have arisen to challenge mainstream Judaism (i.e. Christianity/ Karaites/ Sabbatians/ Frankists/ Reform movement 1750/ Habad Messianism). How has Judaism changed, and when has it refused to change, in response to these movements? When has Judaism been reactionary, and when has it been inclusive? What have been the criteria for determining what is kept inside, as opposed to outside?

The siddur is a rich source for Jewish Thought. In this mini-course, with the siddur and laws of tefilla as our source book, we will deepen how we understand and relate to God.

Hassidut translated medieval Kabbalah into an internal experience of God through dvekut. Join us every Friday morning as we explore the early masters who fashioned what is arguably the most successful spiritual movement in Jewish History. Together we will study the works of the Ba’al Shem Tov and his disciples. Featuring guest lecturers, Rabbi Zvi Leshem and Dr. Yakov Azriel.

I have reachedBat Mitzvah –how will I meet the challenges of this new stage in my life? As a young girl reaches the age of Bat Mitzvah, she naturally begins to question and explore her evolving relationship with the mitzvot. What does the fulfillment of mitzvot mean to her? How do the commandments help build her inner self? In this course, we will address questions like these through the study of fundamental Jewish principles, such as the relationship between the individual and God, and the relationship betweenthe individual and community. We will study specific mitzvot relating to the relationships between children and parents; mitzvot pertaining to family members; and mitzvot between friends. The course will involve text study, using sources from Tanakh, Mishnah, Midrash and Hasidut. Sessions will include: • Guided, in-depth mother&daughterchavruta study • One-on-one discussionsapplying our learning to our personal daily lives. • Group discussions • Creative activity through music, writing, art and movement. Price for the series: NIS 590 per mother and daughter pair Location: TiferetAvot shul, NetzachYerushalayim St., Efrat Limited space Pre-registration necessary. To register, see online form or email office@wbm.org.il, or call 050-9938125

The mother-daughter relationship is an essential part of preparing teenage girls for keeping the mitzvoth and their formative world. We will focus on seven important mitzvoth and learn how they bring us closer to Hashem, to parents, friends and the community at large. Each class consists of three parts –introduction of the topic and raising pertinent questions; source-based mother&daughter chevrutalearning and discussion; creative group discussion and activity (writing, drama, etc.). Topics include: · קידוש החודש: Sanctity of time in religious life, and role of rabbis in determining Halacha. · ונשמרתם מאוד לנפשותיכם: Care of our bodies, the value of maintaining good health, Halachic attitude to piercing, tattoos, etc.. · Our religious responsibilities toward others – respect for our parents, love others as welove ourselves, Kiddush Hashem and Chillul Hashem A good level of Hebrew is required as well as an interest in textual study. Price for the series: NIS 590 per mother-daughter pair. Location: TiferetAvot shul, NetzachYerushalayim St., Efrat Limited space Pre-registration necessary. To register, see online form or email office@wbm.org.il, or call 050-9938125