COURSES
DON'T JUST LEARN.
LEARN HOW TO LEARN
ARE YOU TIRED OF:
Relying on motivational speakers to keep you inspired?
Wishing you had the confidence to open up a sefer on your own?
Feeling ignorant of basic Torah knowledge?
ARE YOU LOOKING TO:
Actively engage in chavrusa-style learning?
Develop the confidence and the skills to learn any text of Torah on your own?
Understand the sources for the halachos you practice every day?
Three times a year, we run 6-8 week courses that are designed to:
Guide you in exploring Torah topics from the original texts.
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Empower you to develop your own independent learning skills.
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Challenge you to master an area of Jewish knowledge.
GEMARA COURSE
BAVA KAMMA
Exploring the Laws of Theft and Taxation
Is there a halachic obligation to pay U.S. taxes?
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What gives a government the right to tax its citizens?
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Is there a difference between stealing from an individual and stealing from a government?
This course will cover the relevant source material in the Gemara in Bava Kamma along with its key commentaries, followed by a survey of the practical halachic rulings of the Alter Rebbe
and modern-day Poskim.
6 Week Course | 12 Classes
July - August​
Cost: $210
Registration Deadline: July 1st
Late registration fee: $20
Early bird special: $180 (before June 18)
Use code EARLYBIRD at checkout
​20% Discount for Chai Club members and High School Chidon alumni!
ONLINE
Wednesdays, 7:45 - 9:30 PM EST​
January 15, 22, 29, February 5, 12, 19, 26
March 5, 12, 19
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Online
Tuesdays & Thursdays
8:00 - 10:00 PM EST
July 10, 15, 17, 24, 29, August 31, 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21
Instructor: Devorah Silberstein
​​Devorah Silberstein has spent four years at GPATS (Graduate Program in Advanced Talmudic Studies), studying advanced Gemara and Halacha. She is the curriculum director for our Brooklyn Beis Midrash Halacha program and our high school chidon. She is also the co-host of the daily daf of Maseches Sotah podcast we produced two years ago. Devorah is a knowledgeable and dynamic teacher who is passionate about giving women the opportunity to explore halacha in depth, from the original sources.
We’ll answer these questions and more:
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What gives a government the right to tax its citizens according to halacha?
Is there a halachic obligation to pay U.S. taxes?
How does halacha define stealing from a government—is it different from stealing from an individual?
Does the halachic status of a government (Jewish vs. secular, just vs. corrupt) affect its right to collect taxes?
Can someone be a thief in halacha even if they’re acting within the bounds of civil law?
Does avoiding taxes through legal loopholes count as theft in halacha?
This course includes:
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Two hour online classes twice a week for 6 weeks
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Virtual chavrusa learning in our live breakout rooms
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Group discussions and review with your instructor
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Class recordings available for the duration of the course
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Tools for the independent study of Gemara & Rashi
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An appreciation for the logic and methodology of Torah Sheba'al Peh
Course Requirements:
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*This course is geared towards students who already have a basic background in Gemara and are looking to advance their skills for independent Gemara study.
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Attendance and punctuality are extremely important in order for participants to get the most out of our courses. Students are expected to be on time to classes and to attend a minimum of 10 out of 12 classes. (If for any reason you are unable to attend a class, please notify us at least 24 in advance.)
*Full payment is required upon registering for the course. However, you have an option to try the first class for a value of $30. If you decide that you do not want to continue, you have until the day before the next class to let us know, and we will send you a refund, excluding the cost of the textbook. After the first class, all students who continue are committed to participating in the full course.