The Montefiore/Nishmat Advanced Torah Learning for Women
A two-stage programme of intensive part-time learning for women
Stage 1
A preparatory course (Mechina) lasting for two years, divided between classes on how to learn advanced Gemara and Halacha as well as topics related to Halacha for women. This will start early in January 2023
Stage 2
A Yoetzet Halacha course lasting for about two years for those selected to continue, designed to equip graduates with the ability to advise women on questions relating to Taharat Hamishpacha.
The Mechina Course is designed by Rabbanit Atara Eis (Nishmat) and will be delivered by Rabbanit Rachele Frenkel (Nishmat) assisted by Rabbi Sam Millunchick (Montefiore), and is directed by Rabbi Asaf Mittelman (Montefiore Director of Education.) Its inception owes much to Rav Mittelman and Rabbanit Chana Henkin for their vision and perseverance.
The learning will be partly on Zoom, with two sessions a week in term time and with frequent face-to face sessions.
Montefiore– Nishmat’s ‘Mechina’ Syllabus 2023
The Montefiore–Nishmat’s ‘Mechina’ is an intensive two-year course designed to prepare women for application to Nishmat’s Yoatzot Halacha Program. It is designed to provide women with the background and skills necessary to study Talmud and Oral Law in depth; and is geared to students with a strong Tanach and Jewish Thought background who have not yet received a Talmud education.
Timetable for the First Two Terms
- Term 1: 11th January 2023 – 26th March 2023, Tuesday & Wednesday evenings, 7-10pm.
- Term 2: 2nd May – 19th July 2023 Tuesday & Wednesday evenings, 7-10pm.
Curriculum
The course will comprise Talmudic sections (סוגיות) chosen to most effectively teach the core course objectives. Students will be given an introduction to the topic and sources by the main teacher Yoetzet Halacha Racheli Sprecher Fraenkel, and will then learn in pairs (חברותא) for a period, aided by Rabbi Sam Millunchick. The independent learning will be followed by a shiur from the main teacher.
Skills Goals
- Reading skills
- Read, punctuate, translate a sugya
- Translate the words individually and as phrases
- Use dictionaries (Jastrow, Frank)
- Understand the function of each line
- Use Gemara Key Terms to identify what each line is supposed to do
- Eg understand how a rejection is a rejection
- Analysis skills
- Understanding the סברא behind a principle
- Figuring out נקודת המחלוקת and determining chakirot and נפקא מינות
- Understand הוה אמינא & מסקנה (what part of the h”a is rejected by the maskana)
- Understanding how an אוקימתא is made
- Understanding b’dieved, l’chatchila and sha’at ha’dchak
- When there’s a drasha, understand how the pasuk teaches the drasha
- Comparing & Contrasting halachic categories
- Following the flow of a Gemara- what has been proven, what must still be proven
- Making inferences from statements in Gemara & Rishonim, recognizing when an inference is without basis.
- Rishonim skills
- Use Rashi to help understand a sugya but recognize that his interpretation isn’t the only way
- Use Key Terms to recognize question and answer
- Comparing and contrasting Rishonim
- Chavruta skills
- Trial and error
- General skills
- How to use תורה אור, מסורת הש”ס, עין משפט נר מצוה
Content Goals:
- Navigate צורת הדף
- Intro to תושב”ע and what Gemara fundamentally is; timeline of Mishna,Yerushalmi, Bavli
- 6 סדרי משנה–what are they, what’s in each; how that’s the mishna and Talmud Bavli is only on 37 masechtot
- Major sefarim and who wrote them
- Exposure to common חקירה and analysis structures, like חפצא/גברא, חובת הגוף/הבית, מצוה שבגופו, scope, nature
- oDifferent types of Tanaitic sources (Mishna, Braita, Tosefta, Midrash) and relationship between Tanaim and amoraim
- Rishonim write commentaries and sifrei psak (sefard vs ashkenaz)
- Rishonim (Years, ashkenaz vs sefard, Sefarim/Peirushim)
- Rashi
- Tosfot
- Rashba
- Rif
- Rambam
- Ritva
- Ramban
- Tur/S”A/Rama
- 4 chalakim
- Nosei Keilim