Our classes are not lectures. Torah, halacha, hashkafa and more all comes to life in our innovative student-centered classrooms that empower you to forever see you how Torah wisdom connects the disjointed elements of a complex world. The following is merely a partial list of our curriculum and is meant to provide you with an idea of the wide range of topics which our students enjoy.
We pride ourselves in being a community-based seminary, our faculty are always here. We live in the neighborhood and are always available to learn with you in school or in our homes.
Mussar in Action
A person who doesn’t learn Mussar is someone that can easily find themselves missing in action at a spiritual level. This class is taught by our founder and Dean, Rabbi Label Sharfman who shares with us deep insights from the most famous Mussar Masters. We are able to able the inspiring thoughts and writings from Rav Moshe Chaim Luzzato to Rav Yisrael Salanter into our daily lives and always find ourselves being able to move in a positive direction thanks to the guidance and sagely advice found within Mussar.
Living Jewish
This class provides you with a clear and broad exploration through the life-cycle events found within Judaism. From birth through death, the Jewish view of family life and values, Shabbos and more specific religious practices are all discussed and explained in a highly informative and exciting presentation. Students walk away enriched as you are able to find deeper meaning in Jewish traditions and connect and live Jewish in the modern era.
Parsha Wisdom
Think. Live. Breathe. Those words encapsulate what it means to sit in this class and think, live and breathe the Parsha in on a weekly basis. This course will forever change your view of the weekly Torah portion. Parshiot come to life as you travel thorough an exciting interactive overview of the Torah reading for the week. In addition to analyzing the approaches of traditional commentaries such as Rashi, Ramban and Malbim, the Parshiot come alive as both teacher and student explore a dazzling array of sources ranging from great Chassidic Masters to contemporary rabbinic commentators.
Contemporary Halacha
You don’t just learn Halacha in this class. You literally learn the case from the ground up, reading a contemporary case, studying the passukim, commentators and reading what various Ashkenaz and Sephardic Poskim decide in controversial scenarios that involve the business world, plastic surgery, medical ethics and much more.
13 Marvelous Middos
The great codifier of Torah law and Jewish philosophy, Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon (“Maimonides” also known as “The Rambam”), compiled what he refers to as the Shloshah Asar Ikkarim, the “Thirteen Fundamental Principles” of the Jewish faith, as derived from the Torah. This class explores these principles from both a textual and hashkafic perspective and allows you to learn and become someone who evokes true Emunah at your very core.
Michtav M’Eliyahu Insights
Glean the amazing words of the late Rabbi Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler, author of Michtav M’Eliyahu. In this class, you get to learn the best teachings from Rav Dessler and can become empowered by learning concepts in Judaism such as faith and trust, free will, lovingkindness, the power of the yetzer, repentance and more.
Beit Midrash
Our energetic Beit Midrash is adorned with the finest Hebrew and English books and seforim available in the Jewish world. We are constantly adding more and more books that will speak to your mind and soul. Want to study Sephardic Halacha? You can! Looking for a great Chassidic book or for more insights into living in the Land of Israel? We have the sefer for you.
Our sefarim are yours to enjoy and may be read and studied in the Beit Midrash or borrowed from to use to prepare assignments. In addition to the Beit Midrash being used regularly as part of the daily schedule, students constantly use our Beit Midrash to study, bond, have chavrusa-style learning and learn one-on-one with our faculty any topic or book that they’d like to learn in a fresstyle Beit Midrash setting. All in all, the Beit Midrash at Bnot Torah is one of the sources of its energy—where you will constantly find people learning or even arranging their own chavruta with a fellow student!
Tehillim Today
We all know that reciting Tehillim has unbelievable powers and that for thousands of years Jews have been saying chapter after chapter of this sefer with tears of joy and meaning. This class speaks to you and makes reciting Tehillim an incredibly moving and meaningful experience that will help you better appreciate the words of Dovid HaMelech in our times. You will study the commentaries of Rashi to the Radak and forever connect to the beautiful and precious gift given to us by King David.
The 6 Constant Mitzvot
We all know that there are 613 commandments. However, the six constant mitzvot that the Sefer HaChinuch lists are more than commandments. Rather, these six mitzvot are a way to always connect with Hashem wherever we find ourselves. This course teaches you how to connect with ancient Jewish wisdom and apply it into your daily life and always connect with Hashem.
Who Are We?
This class is custom-tailored for those who have learned Jewish History but want to dig deeper and explore who we are and how it connects to our past, present and future. You will not only learn how our history allows us to better understand who we are but will also become someone who fully comprehends where we stand today as contemporary Jews.
iTefillah
You’ll never want to put down your Siddur!This course allows you to systematically actualize and tap into the rich treasury of prayers that our Sages have composed so they resonate with your mind, body and soul. After completing this course you will realize that the words of Tefilla are more than words but an expression of one’s truest desires. The siddur will be something that you forever connect with as a career woman or mother as you will walk away understanding basic brachot to complex paragraphs in Shemonei Esrei. You will become a master of prayer from the halachic to hashkafic perspective and will develop an everlasting relationship with the Almighty.
Bein Adam L’Chaveiro
This course speaks to you at both an academic and inspirational level as you learn about the Torah’s wisdom regarding interpersonal relationships. These laws are relevant to nearly every facet of daily life and comprise more than half of the commandments that apply today including: business ethics, relationships, and family life, and range from honesty to Tzedaka, from Lashon Harah to copyright laws. Although many of the concepts are familiar, the practical applications of these laws are rarely studied and remain unclear.
Torah Topics
The hours spent delving into Chumash are the central focus as you develop your textual skills. You will walk away with a clearer and deeper appreciation as to the Torah’s message.
Practical Hilchot Shabbat
This course presents a concise guide to help understand, remember, and apply the detailed laws of Shabbat. While practical applications are discussed and stressed, an additional emphasis is placed on the study of contemporary issues and the development of modern responsa from classical sources. What’s more, you will learn about the intricate differences between Shabbat and Festival observance.
Chassidus Revealed
This class introduces you to the best teaching from the great Chasidic Masters such as the Baal Shem Tov, Rav Tzadok HaKohen, Rav Tzvi Elimelech of Dinov, Rav Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev and many more. This is an interactive and incredibly deep shiur that will leave you inspired for life.
Jewessence
This class is built for the Jewish woman and gets to the real essence of what it means to be a contemporary Jewish woman in our world. You will gain meaning and appreciation for being a Bnot Torah and a descendant of Chava and our Imahot. Anyone searching for the greater appreciation of the role of the Jewish woman will find that this course will present and discuss almost all of the questions that you may have, as well as many others that you have never even thought of before.
V.I.P. Judaism
We all know that as Jews we are VIPs in Hashem’s eyes. However, to come to appreciate this fac, we need to look beyond the surface and search for the very interesting perspective in our world. As such, this class exploring the inner insights into our Jewish Holidays as well as answers lifelong questions such as, “What does Judaism say about aliens?” You will also explore the power of music in Jewish thought, reveal the truth about melachim, dreams and ghosts, finally understand the concept of gilgulim, investigate the validity of the trendy red string, and discover the real meaning behind finding your bashert!
Daily WAZE
We all know that you can use the Waze App to help us travel with ease. After taking this course you’ll be able to easily navigate many halachic situations that occur on a daily basis. This class is designed to give you an organized, clear picture of our laws that are significant to daily observance such as Kashrut, Brachot and much more. Students will tour the various sources ranging from verses in the Torah to the opinion of the Shulchan Aruch, learning basic principles and an orderly system of facts, ultimately attaining a real appreciation for the laws of our heritage. In short, we will not only show you the “how” of the various Jewish laws, but also the “why.”
Jewish Mindfulness
Mindfulness has entered the “mainstream” and is used in boardrooms to the chambers of the United States Congress. Did you know that Judaism teaches us about mindfulness and the power of acceptance? This class teaches you great techniques that will provide you with tools and strategies that will forever empower you in your personal and professional life.