ALFRED AND SADYE SWIRE COLLEGE OF JUDAIC STUDIES

Educational Programs

Bachelor Of Talmudic Law

The Bachelor of Talmudic Law is the basic degree that all students should initially strive to attain. It is awarded upon completion of four years of study and the successful completion of 120 credits.

The student must take at least 100 credits of requirements, or core courses, consisting of the following credits:

Talmudic Law Torah Philosophy and Psychology Education
80 Credit 10 Credit 10 Credit

In addition, the student must complete 20 elective credits from courses in the following sections:

  • Chumash (Bible)
  • Education
  • Ethics
  • Halacha (Jewish Law)
  • Talmud

All candidates for this degree will be required to complete a minimum of six terms (approx. 66 credits) at the Talmudic University of Florida. In all such cases, the last unit must be completed at this institution

PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE IS A TWO YEAR ON-CAMPUS RESIDENCY EQUIREMENT FOR ALL BACHELOR DEGREE CANDIDATES.

Outline of Sections Covered in the Bachelor of Talmudic Law Degree
Analytical Talmud (Iyun – leining)

The Rebbi will help develop the finer skills of leining as well as introduce the student to the early and later commentaries on the Talmud. The primary focus of this year is to lay the groundwork for the development of the student’s analytical skills.

In his second year of study, the student will begin to examine Talmudic texts and their commentaries in depth. The Rebbi will point out many details that the student may have missed from a strictly cursory reading.

By his third year of study, the student begins to hear original thought from the Rosh HaYeshiva on a regular basis. At the same time, he learns to apply a specific style of learning (Derech HaLimud) to the study of Talmud.

In his final year of the Bachelor program, the student is encouraged to make original contributions in the study of Talmudic text. He is expected to raise questions on points in the Talmud and resolve these questions with original presentations. In addition to gaining a heightened appreciation for the Talmudic shiurim (lectures) he attends, the student develops the ability to do primary research in the Talmudic field. The fourth-year shiur is designed to show a unique perspective to Talmudic study through original thoughts and the Derech HaLimud instilled by the Rosh HaYeshiva. Students are expected to acquire independent research skills by the end of this year.

Tractates to be taught over a typical 4-year time period are selected from the following list:
Brachos, Shabbos, Pesachim, Yoma, Succah, Betza, Yevomos, Kesubos, Nedarim, Gitten, Kiddushin, Baba Kama, Baba Metzia, Baba Basra, Makos, Chullin, Sanhedrin, Menochos, Arachin, Terumah

Tractate Overview (B’kiyus)

This section of study increases the student’s breadth of Talmud knowledge. A goal of the program is to complete the entire tractate over the course of the year. In the first year of the program, the pace is set at amud (page) a day with weekly, written examinations. There are also daily lectures. In the subsequent years of the Bachelor program (and in the Graduate program as well), the student is expected to cover one daf (folio, or two pages) per day. Weekly examinations are administered at all levels of the program.

The student may elect to complement his B’kiyus study with Daf Yomi, the the world-wide schedule of studying one daf per day.

Torah Philosophy and Psychology
Applied Jewish Philosophy and Psychology

This course discusses the motivating variables in day-to-day existence by examining the weekly Torah portion and weaves a single philosophical theme through each weekly readings. Topics include: Man’s relationship with G-d, his purpose in this world, and his relationship with Torah and Mitzvos. Classical sources are cited with original novella. The course also provides an opportunity for self-analysis and improvement.

Ethics
Jewish Ethics in Today’s Society

This course uses classical texts as a springboard for discussions on personal development and how to relate to today’s society. Since the Rebbi often selects a different text from one term to the next the student may take this course many times throughout his undergraduate studies.

Chumash
Textual Analysis

This course emphasizes the dissection of Biblical text. The course is geared to developing an analytical approach to the study of the Bible. Students are encouraged to offer questions and insights to the analysis. Questions from classical commentaries are raised and discussed.

Halacha (Jewish Law)
Practical Jewish Law

This course introduces the basic concept of Jewish Law. It focuses on the development of independent research while emphasizing clear and concise reading of Halachic text.

Education
Developing Tutorial Skills

Students will have the opportunity to teach younger students from local elementary and high schools. The course instructor will monitor and review their progress. This course is designed to help develop the student’s ability to prepare lessons and fosters skills in communication of the subject matter.

Master of Religious Education

The rigorous requirements for admission to the Graduate Department of the Talmudic University of Florida ensure that all accepted students are of the highest caliber and enhance the entire level of study at the institution.

Students desiring a Master Degree will be required to develop their skills of independent research in addition to the attendance of at least two lectures per week. These programs can be undertaken only upon the approval and close supervision of the Rosh HaYeshiva.

Under normal circumstances, this Master program takes two years of study. A prerequisite for this degree is a Bachelor of Talmudic Law Degree (or equivalent).

The program consists of 10 core courses similar to those offered at the undergraduate level, including a heavy schedule of independent research. The graduate student is required to complete 60 credits of core courses, as well as a novella on his chosen field of study or educational project.

The basic policies relating to a degree are as follows:

  • Only graduates who have attained a high level of scholarship at a recognized Rabbinical school will be accepted as candidates for this degree.
  • No student will be admitted to the program until after a personal interview with the Rosh HaYeshiva
  • The candidate must select a concentration in an area of Talmudic Law. The faculty must approve this concentration at the time of admission to the program.
  • At the beginning of his first semester, the student must demonstrate an advanced ability to translate and analyze texts in both the Hebrew and Aramaic, and a reading knowledge of such other languages as may be necessary to his work in his chosen field of study.
  • The student must pursue his graduate work on campus at the University for two full academic years. An academic year will consist of three terms.
  • The graduate student will work at all times under the guidance of the faculty member who will be designated as his adviser.
  • The candidate must prepare a novella suitable for publication on a subject within his approved field of study. This subject must be presented to the faculty for approval at least one full term prior to graduation.
  • The candidate must defend his novella at an examination to be given in the presence of at least three members of the faculty. He may also be required to take a written comprehensive examination in his field of study.
  • It is the policy of the Talmudic University of Florida to invite a distinguished scholar, usually a visiting lecturer, to join the faculty committee in administering the comprehensive examinations as well as in the evaluation of the novella offered for the degree.

Ordination

The Yeshiva’s Semicha Program trains young scholars to analyze and decide questions of Jewish Law. Additionally, the Yeshiva strives to imbue each Rabbi-in-training with the skills necessary to deal with human and community issues, and the ability to assume the role of a community leader. The Semicha graduate will be skilled in all areas of Jewish communal life.

In today’s society, the role of the Rabbi is as varied as the Jewish community. Some Rabbis are primarily teachers, others function as leaders of Kehillos (congregations), others delve into the areas of Kashrus (dietary law). The Semicha Program provides a well-rounded curriculum while emphasizing the specific area in which the Rabbinic student is planning to devote himself.

Specialization in certain areas, such as the art of circumcision and ritual slaughter, though not a part of the general program, are offered upon request.

Semicha Requirements
  • Students must complete a four-year Talmudic Bachelor Degree and two years of post-graduate Talmudic work before acceptance into the Semicha Program. (A Masters Degree is not required for acceptance.)
  • The Talmudic University of Florida requires all students be on campus for at least two years before acceptance into this program. This may be fulfilled on the undergraduate or graduate level prior to acceptance into the Semicha Program.
  • The student must attend two lectures per week while maintaining a heavy schedule of independent study under close supervision of the Rosh HaYeshiva.
  • The student must complete the appropriate sections of the Talmud (Chullin) and Yoreh Deah in the Shulchan Aruch, after which he must submit to the Rosh HaYeshiva the appropriate oral and written series of examinations.

The student’s success in the Semicha program is not primarily dependent on the number of hours of his study, but on his ability to master these sections of the Talmud and Yoreh Deah, and to successfully complete the final examinations. The required sections Yorah Deah to be mastered are:

    • The laws of Malicha [salting meat].
    • The laws of Basar v’chalav [meat and milk].
    • The laws of Taaruvos [forbidden mixtures].

The student must also master the corresponding sections of the tractate Chullin to successfully complete his examinations.