read more

Yeshivot tend to emphasize the halakhic sections of Talmud more than the non  legal portions of Talmud.  This shiur will focus on this unduly neglected aggadic material a rich treasure trove of ethical and spiritual insight.  We shall utilize traditional commentaries to find profound readings of the stories ethical maxims and psychological advice found in Chazal.  

Rosh Hashana and Yom Kipppur hold the key to the next year. What are we striving for? What are we praying for? How do the prayers our sages compose express those ideas? In the shiur we strive to understand the structure of the prayer
In other words, we are doing reverse engineering. Instead of explaining the davening, we are doing what davening was like before the siddur was composed. We are read more

This shiur is open to serious students with a solid foundation in gemara learning and a high level of commitment and motivation in their studies. Students will be expected to prepare materiel for shiurim in advance and to attend classes regularly. The regular gemara shiur will take place three days a week. In addition, twice a week, Rabbi Brovender will meet with a pre-selected group of three read more

This shiur is open to students with little background in gemara learning but who have a high level of commitment and motivation in their studies. Students will be expected to prepare materiel for shiurim in advance and to attend classes regularly. The regular gemara shiur will take placethree days a week. In addition, twice a week, Rabbi Meyers will meet with a pre-selected group of three read more

It is well known that there are three different aspects to Teshuva: between man and God (bein adam l'Makom), between man and man (bein adam l'chaveiro), and between man and self (bein adam l'atzmo). In some senses, it is "easier" to do teshuva for sins between man and God, for these sins, we are told, are atoned for at Yom Kippur. Sins committed between man and man, however, read more

description

Students will learn the Gemara through analysis of various Rishonim (medieval commentaries) and their relationship to the Gemara and the role they play in learning the text. Conceptual issues of the Gemara will be examined including a basic introduction to the role the Achronim (latter commentaries) play in the Halachic system. Questions such as, Who are the Achronim, what do they do, and who do read more

Students will learn the Gemara through analysis of various Rishonim (medieval commentaries) and their relationship to the Gemara and the role they play in learning the text. Conceptual issues of the Gemara will be examined including a basic introduction to the role the Achronim (latter commentaries) play in the Halachic system.  Questions such as, Who are the Achronim, what do they do, and who do they comment on? will be read more

A basic-level gemara shiur that aims primarily to improve the student's ability to logically parse a gemara sugya. For the first months of the zman, the emphasis is almost exclusively on reading the gemara text, and using parallel gemara sources for understanding specific concepts. Rashi's commentary is used only sparingly, for informational purposes. Later on in the zman, the shiur will begin to focus more on understanding Rashi's approach as read more

This class is for students who are already skilled in analyzing a page of Gemara with Rishonim. In-depth conceptual development will be the focus. read more

This shiur is for advanced, capable learners with a broad, in-depth knowledge of Torah She-Baal Peh. read more

Along with the Golem, the Maharal of Prague was a seminal influence on Modern Chasidut, and the philosophy of Rav Kook. His novel approach to Jewish learning and his understanding of the nature of Torah, are as compelling as they are provocative. In this class we will be using his text Gevurat Hashem (The Book of Power). read more

description read more

This course is intended for beginning students and those with little experience learning Jewish texts. The object of this course is to begin building an infrastructure of both grammar and textual skills for independent study. In this course you will learn more about how to uncover the roots of Hebrew words, learn vowel patterns, word constructions, vocabulary, and grammar fundamentals. The course of study brings the learning of Hebrew read more

Maimonides is considered one of the greatest Jewish philosophers in Jewish History. His work, "The Laws of Repentance", summarizes all the laws pertaining to repentance, or Teshuva. The month before Rosh Hashana, Elul, is a period of reflection of the past year and repentance for our actions. Rabbi Chaim Brovender, the Rosh Yeshiva of WebYeshiva, will be examining Maimonides thought on repentance, and discussing 'Does Teshuva always work?"

For many, both Midrash and Aggada are a black box when they try to figure out what their ultimate purpose is.  Are Midrashim arbitrary expansions of Biblical narrative  What are these aggadot supposed to teach us Why is a story more viscerally compelling than a systematic moral code  There is method to Midrash and Aggada, and this course will seek to uncover it. 

Mishlei teaches us the steps for perfecting ourselves and rising spiritually. Come and join us on this journey.

This class will study Maimonides' major philosophical work, The Guide for the Perplexed.  It is considered to be the most influential book of medieval Jewish philosophy.

While much attention is paid to Rambam's views of repentance, his Laws deal with many other central topics of Jewish faith, in his eyes relevant to full repentance. By analyzing his perspective of sins that are more serious or significant than others, his ideas about free will and pre-determination, and his view of the reward we are promised for mitzvot, we hope to come to a read more

This class will study the Parshat HaShavua (weekly Torah portion) using  Chassidic meforshim (commentators) as well as others to  convey an interesting and deep understanding of our times through the study of the weekly Torah parsha.

Pirkei Avot ("The Ethics of Our Fathers") is one of the best known and most cited of Jewish texts. This beloved tractate of the Mishna composed of ethical maxims of the Rabbis is familiar for such  maxims as "If I am only for myself, who am I?" (1:14) and "Say little and do much" (1:15). Rabbi Brovender will examine and teach a different chapter of Pirkei Avot each week, following read more

In this class we will learn the entire first book of Shmuel. We will begin each new chapter with a quick, independent reading of the text; this process will help us familiarize ourselves with the chapters general contents. We will then analyze more deeply, using only selected excerpts, specific pesukim of that chapter and cross-referenced sections throughout the rest of Tanakh, the chapters specific themes and ideas, while also appreciating read more

This course is intended for intermediate students and those who already have some grasp of textual learning and Rashi skills. The object of this course is to advance students' skills in both grammar and textual learning for independent study. In this course you will learn more about how to uncover the roots of Hebrew words, learn vowel patterns, word constructions, vocabulary, and grammar fundamentals. The course of study brings the read more

Written by Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, often referred to as the Baal HaTanya, the Tanya is the fundamental work of Chabad philosophy. Rabbi Brovender will be exploring the third section of Tanya, Iggeret Hateshuva, which offers a Chassidic perspective on Teshuva.

This class will study the last two Makot (Plagues) - that of Choshech (Darkness) and Bechorot (Killing of the Firstborn) - with the commentaries of Rashi, Ibn - Ezra, Ramban and further Rishonim (medieval commentaries).   We will examine the aspects of Teshuva contained within these two plagues, and how it can applied to our avoda around Elul and the Yamim Noraim. Skills in exegesis (critical interpretation of different read more

read more

Exploring the intersection between the halachos of Shabbos and the art of food preparation. Included will be discussions of cooking before Shabbos with an eye towards reheating and service on Shabbos, and the aspects of food prep that take place on Shabbos itself. Don’t be surprised if there are a few cooking tips and recipes thrown in as well.

read more