The Jewish Theological Seminary
Academics
Course Descriptions
Hebrew (Tuesday-Thursday, 8:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m.): Four levels of Hebrew are available: Introduction to Hebrew, Advanced Beginner, and Intermediate Hebrew I and II. Students will take a placement exam at the beginning of the summer to match them to the appropriate level.
Read more about the INTENSIVE HEBREW LANGUAGE PROGRAM.
Humash and Parshanut (Monday, 8:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m.): Classic cruxes in the week's parashah will be discussed through the lens of the midrash and classic medieval mefareshim (commentators). Fellows and advanced students will serve as hevruta guides for beginning students. Faculty: Walter Herzberg
Introduction to Halakhah (Tuesday-Thursday, 8:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m., Session I): Students with limited Hebrew backgrounds will study Rambam's Mishneh Torah as an introduction to the language and concepts of Jewish law, with an intense focus on improving students' Hebrew language skills.
Introduction to Midrash (Tuesday-Thursday, 8:30 a.m. -12:45 p.m., Session II): Students will study Midrash Tanhuma, a medieval collection of creative rabbinic readings of Tanakh. The course will focus on sharpening language skills and learning to recognize motifs in Midrash. Faculty: Iscah Waldman
Talmud Level 1 (Monday-Thursday, 1:30-3:15 p.m. and 4:00-6:00 p.m.): Students with limited Hebrew backgrounds will be exposed to Mishnah and Gemara, with a focus on developing familiarity with the literary structures and terminology of the talmudic sugya and understanding its logical underpinnings. Faculty: Eliezer Diamond (Session I), Rachel Rosenthal (Session II)
Talmud Level 2 (Monday-Thursday, 1:30-3:15 p.m. and 4:00-6:00 p.m.): Fellows and students with experience learning Talmud will be exposed to the richness of the commentarial tradition, with a focus on understanding the textual and substantive basis of conceptual disagreements. Faculty: William Friedman
Advanced Halakhah (Tuesday-Thursday, 8:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m.): Fellows and other advanced students will study an area or issue of Jewish law in depth, tracing it from its biblical or talmudic origins through medieval commentaries (rishonim), halakhic decisors (posekim), and responsa (teshuvot) through the present day. Attention will be paid to developing skills in reading post-talmudic literature, gaining sensitivity to changes in halakhic forms, and identifying the underlying issues at stake in the halakhic discussion. Faculty: William Friedman
Independent Learning Projects (Monday and Wednesday, 7:00-9:00 p.m.): Fellows will be expected to complete an independent research project into primary sources addressing a topic of their choice, culminating in shiurim that will be delivered to the entire group in the final week of the program. Faculty: William Friedman
Guest Lectures (Thursday, 6:00-8:00 p.m.): JTS faculty and visiting scholars will address important issues in the Jewish community, and share their expertise and insights with Nishma participants. There will be time for Q&As and informal interaction.
Sihot (Tuesday, 7:00-8:00 p.m.): Rabbinic fellows will participate in conversations on topics surrounding text study and the rabbinate, facilitated by Nishma faculty and visiting scholars.