Limudei Kodesh
Limudei Kodesh
Menahel / Dean and Director of Limudei Kodesh: Rabbi Ari Jacobson
Phone: 845-357-1515 Ext. 501
Email: RabbiJacobson@ashar.org
Lashon: Hebrew Language
The key to success in Limudei Kodesh is mastery of the Hebrew language. At ASHAR, immersion in Lashon Hakodesh begins in our Early Childhood Program, and continues through graduation.
Chumash
The greater part of first grade is spent on studying shorashim, prefixes and suffixes of words commonly found in Chumash. Children spend much time on this in conjunction with other Lashon programs. K’tiva (writing) is also extensively practiced.
At the beginning of second grade the students receive their Chumashim. They complete Sefer Bereishit by the end of fourth grade, much of Shemot in fifth grade, and Bamidbar in sixth grade. Rashi is introduced in third grade, and the skills of decoding and understanding Rashi are honed through the eighth grade.
Our seventh grade Chumash curriculum focuses on Parshiyot Re’eh, Shoftim, Ki Teze, and Ki Tavo. Although only four Parshiyot are taught, they contain a bit more than 175 of the 613 (Taryag) Mitzvot. We teach these Parshiyot b’iyun (in depth) and we use the topics covered in them as a springboard to learning and understanding over 250 Mitzvot of the Torah. Using many sources from Gemara, Midrashim, and Meforshim, our students truly learn the geography of Chamisha Chumshei Torah during this year. A similar approach is used in eighth grade for Sefer Vayikra, after an intense review of many parshiyot in preparation for the Board of Jewish Education High School Entrance Exam (BJE’s) administered in mid-November.
As an extension to the Chumash curriculum, the students in the upper grades enjoy a variety of unique experiences including hands-on kashering of chicken and hilchot cheilev (Re’eh). When the opportunity presents itself, we take our students to a farm where they experience the halachot of differentiation of kosher vs. non-kosher animals, dinei b’chor and dinei shechita, to name a few. The boys also have a safrut workshop where they learn hilchot tefillin, how to organize the parshiot therein, and how to sew the batim. There are also trips for different grades, including the Torah Museum of Boro Park, and the Children’s Museum, located on Eastern Parkway.
Navi
Students begin studying Navi in fourth grade, beginning with Sefer Yehoshua, and followed by the books of of Shoftim, Shmuel, and Melachim respectively. By the end of eighth grade, an ASHAR student has completed Nevi'im Rishonim, and has acquired a knowledge base and skill sets that will serve as the foundation for future Tanach study at an advanced level. Through Navi, teachers strive to convey the dynamic nature of our rich history, and its' relevance to us- nevuah she'hutzracha l'dorot.
Talmud and Torah She'baal Peh
All of Jewish life revolves around Halacha, whose primary basis is Torah She'baal Peh, our Oral Tradition, as redacted in the Talmud: Mishna and Gemara.
Halacha and Yediot Klaliyot
ASHAR's Halacha curriculum includes grade appropriate study of dinim as they relate to the Jewish calender and daily living. Laws are studied as separate units, but also often integrated into other subjects, such as Chumash and TSBP. Our goal is to convey an appreciation not only of the Halachic process, but the feasibility of living a full life uncompromisingly loyal to Torat Chaim. Whenever possible, primary classic texts- such as Kitzur Shulchan Aruch or Chaye Adam- are utilized. Teachers supplement texts with additional background information and provide complementary materials as needed. Before the Yamim Tovim, students study from specially prepared texts, based on the highly acclaimed workbooks of Rabbi Nachum Muschel. A lively school-wide chidon highlights the children's Yom Tov preparations.
Yediot Klaliyot Curriculum: Grade 2, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8.
Jewish History Elements of Jewish History, including the Holocaust, are taught as part of our upper grades' general history curriculum.
Tue, March 19 2024
9 Adar II 5784
This week's Torah portion is Parshat Vayikra
Shabbat, Mar 23 |
Candle Lighting
Friday, Mar 22, 6:53pm |
Havdalah
Motzei Shabbat, Mar 23, 8:02pm |
Upcoming Events
There are no upcoming events at this time.