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DIANELLA SHULE
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Beit Midrash of Western Australia Inc
DIANELLA SHULE
68 Woodrow Avenue, Yokine
The Beit Midrash of Western Australia is an institution dedicated to the learning and study of Orthodox Judaism.
For more information
please email: bmwa@bigfoot.com
BEIT MIDRASH OF
W.A. ADULT CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAM
TERM II
May 4- July 5, 2003
The entire community
is once again invited and encouraged to take advantage of the Beit Midrash of W.A.’s
catalogue of exciting courses for the second semester of 2003! Classes are open to
everyone! Students new to ongoing courses will find teachers more than willing to ease the
transition. We do recommend to those students interested in joining continuing courses
that upon e-mailing Meira Russ for enrolment purposes you mention in your e-mail that you
are new to that course. Ms. Russ will put you in touch with the appropriate teacher who
will discuss and assess your ability to make the transition into the ongoing course. Our
courses are varied so that they are open to individuals of all backgrounds. Please note
the key below which will help highlight which courses are introductory, advanced, and open
generally. All courses are free of charge. We look forward to seeing you from May 4th! All courses are held at the new Dianella
Shule facility, Ohel Shoshanna Papp, 68 Woodrow Avenue, Yokine (opposite Jewish Centre).
Key:
A- Advanced: has had a
good degree of exposure to Jewish texts.
B- Beginners: no
necessary prior exposure to Jewish texts and/or Hebrew language.
G- General:
for all degrees of learning experience
G- Introduction to Mishna
We will explore the
foundations of the oral law by studying a different tractate of the Mishna every week. The
student should expect to come away from the course having encountered numerous and
fundamental Halachic concepts.
Rabbi Eli Lewis
Sunday, 8:45 am-9:45
am
9 sessions: May 4,
11,18,25, June 1,8,15,22,29
B- Introduction to Talmud- Tractate Brachot- 5th
chapter
This course is
intended to provide the student with a basic understanding of the Talmud’s structure.
The chapter we will be learning deals with the laws of prayer and is relatively
uncomplicated. We will therefore devote most of our time to Talmudic methodology.
Rabbi Eli Lewis
Sunday, 5:15 pm-
6:00 pm
9 sessions: May 4,
11,18,25, June 1,8,15,22,29
NEW
TOPICS- G- Sterilization of
Animals and Other Contemporary Halachic Issues
Each week we will
explore the halachic ramifications of various contemporary issues. Topics will include the
brit milah, entering a church and civil marriage.
Rabbi Eli Lewis
Monday, 8:00 pm-
9:15 pm
9 sessions: May
5,12,19,26, June 2,9,16,23,30
B - The Day of Atonement- Introduction to
Talmud- 8th chapter of Tractate Yoma
Come and learn
Talmudic methodology through study of the 8th chapter of Tractate Yoma. This
chapter deals primarily with the day of Yom Kippur itself and confronts issues such as
fasting and atonement. Students should expect to come away having been exposed to Talmudic
logic and language. Emphasis will be placed on learning Aramaic words that are essential
to understanding any Talmudic text.
Ms. Meira Russ
Tuesday, 9:00 pm
-10:00 pm
6 sessions: May
6,13,20,27, June 3,10
G- Talmud- Tractate Makkot
This course is
perfectly shaped for the student who is looking to complete an entire tractate of the
Talmud. The student will walk away with a sense of true accomplishment. The goal of the
course is to provide a comprehensive overview of Tractate Makkot. This particular volume
of the Talmud deals with laws of courts, false witnesses and consequential penalties.
Rabbi Eli Lewis
Wednesday, 7:30 pm-
8:30 pm
9 sessions: May
7,14,21,28, June 4,11,18,25,2
G- The Shabbat Kitchen- Topics in Halacha
This highly
practical course will deal with the laws of borer (separating non-desired from desired
items), cooking, and general food preparations on Shabbat. Students should expect to come
away from the course with a detailed appreciation of these most relevant and practical
aspects of Shabbat observance.
Rabbi Eli Lewis
Wednesday, 8:30 pm-
9:30 pm
9 sessions: May
7,14,21,28, June 4,11,18,25,2
A – Can two people marry on conditional
terms?- Talmud- Tractate Kiddushin- 3rd chapter
This course provides
the opportunity to learn Talmud in great depth. We will be learning the 3rd
chapter of Kiddushin with particular emphasis on analysis of the Talmudic discussion and
of the relevant comments of medieval rabbinic authorities. This particular chapter deals
with conditions in the marriage ceremony. For example, can an individual legally say,
“Take this kiddushin on condition you provide me with money?”
Rabbi Eli Lewis
Thursday, 8:00 pm-
9:00 pm
8 sessions: May
8,15,22,29, June 12,19,26,July 3
A- Studies in Modern Responsa
This is a textual
course in which we will be analysing various responsa of later rabbinic authorities such
as Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef and Rabbi Yechiel Yaakov Weinberg. Students
can expect to learn sub-topics of halachic issues such as some of the complexities in the
contemporary observance of the laws of circumcision, Chanukah and keeping kosher.
Rabbi Eli Lewis
Thursday, 9:00 pm-
10:00 pm
8 sessions: May
8,15,22,29, June 12,19,26,July 3
G- Studies in Jewish Civil Law
If a thief is
injured while robbing your house are you liable for the injury? Questions such as this one
are posed every week during our course in Jewish civil law. This exciting course is run as
a comparison study between civil tort law and its Jewish counterpart. As the course has
run in the past, students are asked to contribute their opinions in determining the legal
decision. Following this discussion we then analyse the relevant Jewish legal concepts and
determine how Jewish law would respond to the issue at hand. The student can anticipate a good deal of exciting
discussions and legal debate. Discussion includes input from local legal practitioners.
Rabbi Eli Lewis
Shabbat day, 4:15
pm- 5:15 pm
9 sessions: May
10,17,24,31, June 7,14,21,28, July 5
PHILOSOPHY AND GENERAL JEWISH THOUGHT
NEW-
G- What is the Jewish soul?- Studies in Tanya
What is the Jewish
soul? What makes it tick? What makes us do the things we do and desire the things that we
desire? How can we win "the battle of the souls?" These and many other questions
are discussed in the Book of Tanya. Written over 200 years ago by the Alter Rebbe, the
first Lubavitcher Rebbe, the Tanya lays out in detail and depth the ins and outs of the
Jew's relationship with God and with his/her own soul.
Dr. Chaim
Judelman
Sunday,
5:15pm-6:00pm
9 sessions: May 4,
11,18,25, June 1,8,15,22,29
NEW
TOPICS- G- Can science and
religion coexist?: This and other topics in Jewish philosophy
We will explore a
variety of topics in Jewish philosophy. Topics will include: science and religion, the
problem posed by the coexistence of free will and an all-knowing God and the nature of
miracles. Students can expect to come away from the course with an appreciation of some of
the major issues in contemporary Jewish thought.
Ms. Meira Russ
Sunday, 8:00pm-
9:00pm
6 sessions: May
4,11,18,25, June 1,8
NEW-
G- Women’s Spirituality
in Hassidic Thought
This shiur, for both
men and women of all levels of learning, is a study of the contemporary work Zchut Nashim Tsidkaniyot (The Merit of Righteous Women)
by the Admor of Biala-Lugano, Rabbi Ben-Zion Rabinowitz. Using the lens of the seminal
ideas expressed across the spectrum of Hassidic and mystical philosophy, it examines the
Talmudic dictum that a woman’s “promise” in the World to Come is greater
than a man’s, and that a woman is endowed with an extra level of binah (understanding).
The text will be translated and discussed in English and promises to expose the
participant to a breathtaking panorama of Hassidic concepts and a unique perspective on
female superiority.
Rabbi Moshe
Yehuda Bernstein
Monday, 9:00
pm-10:00pm
9 sessions: May
5,12,19,26, June 2,9,16,23,30
NEW-
G- Exploring Hassidic Texts
Learn Hassidic
discourses from actual texts known in Hebrew as Maamarim.
These texts are essays which explore topics such as the inner meaning of the weekly Torah
portion and Jewish holidays, as well as Kabbalistic concepts including the nature of the
soul, the unity of God, creation, etc.
Dr. Chaim
Judelman
Tuesday,
9:00pm-10:00pm
9 sessions: May
6,13,20,27, June 3,10,17,24, July 1
BIBLE
NEW
TOPICS- G- Understanding
Rashi- The Super-commentary of the Maharal of Prague
Rashi is a medieval
Biblical commentator whose extensive exegesis on the Bible is considered among the most
prominent. His writing is in fact so prominent and essential to understanding the text
that it has prompted several later Biblical authorities to comment on Rashi’s
commentary. The Maharal of Prague was one such authority. We will be studying the
Maharal’s writings from the weekly Torah portion in the hopes of both familiarizing
ourselves with the Maharal’s own commentary and improving our skills in learning
Rashi. This term we will also study Maharal’s commentary on Ethics of the Fathers.
Mr. Peter Katz
Sunday, 5:15 pm-
6:00 pm
9 sessions: May 4,
11,18,25, June 1,8,15,22,29
B- Introduction to Biblical Hebrew
This course is ideal
for the student who is able to read Hebrew text and is eager to develop his/her
understanding of Biblical language. We will pay close attention to the general rules of
Biblical grammar and understanding the root-based structure of Hebrew language. The
student can expect to complete the course with an enhanced ability to independently tackle
Biblical texts.
Ms. Stephanie
Levy
Monday, 8:00 pm-
9:00 pm
9 sessions: May
5,12,19,26, June 2,9,16,23,30
NEW-
G- Jewish Community
Politics- Ferribles and Machlokes: Their Origins in the Torah
Last term, this
course looked in depth at the infamous event of the Golden Calf - its meaning and
significance in the traditional rabbinic and kabbalistic commentaries. Towards the end of
this term we will reach the Torah readings of two of the great disputes in Jewish communal
life - the incident of the spies and the rebellion of Korach. This course will examine the
narratives of these events and study them through the perspectives of the traditional
commentaries - Rashi, Nachmanides, Ohr HaChayim and Rabbeinu Bachyei as well as more
recent insights from contemporary Rabbinic figures. Again, in this course some familiarity
with classical Hebrew text and Rashi script is helpful but not essential (some emphasis is
placed on the development of these skills in the course.
Rabbi Marcus
Solomon
Tuesday, 8:00 pm-
9:00pm
9 sessions: May
6,13,20,27, June 3,10,17,24, July 1
NEW-
G- The Rise of the Jewish
Monarchy- Studies in the Prophets- WOMEN ONLY Explore the history and identity of the Jewish
people through an in-depth analysis of the beginning of the Book of Samuel. These
particular chapters deal with the leadership of Samuel the prophet, the fall of judges as
national leaders and the rise of King Saul, the first Jewish monarch. It is a text-based
study and will include explanations and analysis by Talmudic, Medieval and modern
commentators.
Mrs. Shoshana
Judelman
Wednesday, 7:30 pm-
8:30 pm
9 sessions: May
7,14,21,28, June 4,11,18,25, July 2
JEWISH HISTORY
NEW-
G- Modern European Jewish
History- Part II
Explore the origins
and history of the Jewish community in Western Europe. Using primary source documents and
historical analysis, we will investigate how Jews lived in Medieval Europe, with a special
focus on historic events and their impact on the Jewish communities of England, France and
Germany.
Mrs. Shoshana
Judelman
Monday, 7:30 pm-
8:30 pm
9 sessions: May
5,12,19,26, June 2,9,16,23,30
HEBREW
LANGUAGE
B- Hebrew Reading and Comprehension
Learn basic Hebrew
reading skills through study of the Hebrew alphabet and vowel sounds.
Mrs. Maggie
Raymond
Tuesday, 7:30 pm
-8:30 pm
9 sessions: May
6,13,20,27, June 3,10,17,24, July 1
INFORMAL
STUDY SESSIONS
In addition to our
formal courses we are pleased to offer further informal study options.
-
Studies in the Mishnah Berurah, a commentary on
the halachic code of the Shulchan Aruch, Rabbi Eli Lewis, weekdays at 6:00 AM, Sundays at
7:45 AM.
-
Ask the Rabbi, an informal question and answer
session, Rabbi Eli Lewis, Mondays at 9:15 PM (immediately following his course on
contemporary Halachic issues).
-
Weekly Torah portion, study of the weekly Torah
reading with an emphasis on its primary commentaries, Rabbi Eli Lewis, Shabbat morning at
8:15 AM.
-
Men’s Beit Midrash, Partner Learning
Program, Sundays at 5:00 PM.
-
Women’s Beit Midrash, Partner Learning
Program, Tuesdays at 9:00 AM.
We are also pleased
to arrange private study options with members of our staff. If you are interested in
learning in the classic chevruta, or “partner” style, please read the section of
this catalogue that tells you how to enrol in our courses and either fax or e-mail your
wish to arrange private study sessions. Someone from our staff will contact you shortly
after.
ENROLMENT
We ask that anyone
who is interested in partaking of the courses offered here please enrol so that we can
accommodate all students comfortably.
Please e-mail Meira
Russ with the list of courses in which you are enrolling at:
Meiraruss@aol.com
STAFF BIOGRAPHIES
RABBI MOSHE YEHUDA BERNSTEIN studied in the Zans
Talmudic Academy in Tsfat, Israel from 1981-1990, concurrently attaining rabbinic
certification from the Eyun Ha-Talmud Academy of Monsey, New York. Rabbi Bernstein was
Director of Jewish Studies in Yeshiva Ladies College in Sydney for three years before
arriving at Carmel School in 1996. He is a member of the Beliefs and Values Syllabus
Committee and has also taught and lectured in the wider Australian community. Rabbi
Bernstein's particular areas of focus are Jewish philosophy, Kabbalah and Chassidut. He is
currently retired and will be returning to Tsfat at the end of this year.
DR. CHAIM JUDELMAN has a Bachelors degree in both
Medicine and Surgery from the University of Western Australia. He learned and taught
advanced Judaic Studies at Kfar Chabad in Tel Aviv, Israel in 1996 and 1998. Dr. Judelman
currently works at Sir Charles Gairdner hospital in Subiaco.
MRS. SHOSHANA JUDELMAN has a Masters degree in
Medieval Jewish Studies from the Department of Religion at Columbia University, New York,
New York. She completed her undergraduate studies with a Bachelor of Arts in history from
Union College in Schenectady, New York. Mrs. Judelman is also a graduate of Machon Alte
Women’s Institute, Safed, Israel and Beit Chana Women’s Institute, St. Paul,
Minnesota. She has been a teacher of Jewish and social studies at Solomon Schechter Day
School in New Jersey, USA and at Carmel School.
MR. PETER KATZ completed a law degree at the
University of Witwatersrand, South Africa. He has a Masters degree in tax law from the
University of Western Australia, and is a lawyer with a national firm. Mr. Katz has spent
some time learning in Israel at Yeshivat Darchei Noam, Jerusalem, Israel and has both
learned and taught at Ohr Sameach in South Africa and Kollel Beit HaTalmud in Melbourne.
MS. STEPHANIE LEVY is a graduate of McGill
University in Montreal, Canada where she received a Bachelor’s degree in education.
She has also completed a second degree in language and literature at Dawson College, also
in Montreal. Mrs. Levy has taught a wide array of subjects at Hebrew Academy primary
school, Montreal. It was there that she further served as supervisor of the Vanguard
Program, a program aimed at reintegrating learning disabled students into the mainstream
classroom. Ms. Levy currently works at Carmel School.
RABBI ELI LEWIS is a graduate of Yeshiva of Beit
El where he studied and received rabbinic ordination from the Chief Rabbinate of Israel.
He is also a graduate of the Lipchitz Institution of Teaching in Jerusalem. He has served
as director of the Joseph Miller Torah Youth Center in Kharkov, Ukraine and has also
taught in Shalavim High School in Ukraine and at Bnei Tzvi, a Yeshiva High School in Beit
El, Israel. He has run various seminars for
Jewish youth in Israel. He is currently head of Jewish Education at Beit Midrash of W.A.
and teaches at Carmel School.
MRS. MAGGIE RAYMOND is a graduate of the Al Fredo
Uruchurtu School for Teachers in Tampico, Mexico. She studied Hebrew upon emigrating to
Israel in 1975 where she also received a certificate of completion from Seminar
Hakibbutzim, a two-year program which trains teachers from overseas to teach in Israel.
Mrs. Raymond has also worked as a full-time teacher at the King David school at Victory
Park, Johannesburg where she taught Hebrew language and general Jewish studies. Mrs.
Raymond received a Bachelor of Arts in education and Jewish studies from the University of
South Africa. She has most recently taught Judaic studies at Carmel Primary School..
MS. MEIRA RUSS is a graduate of Yeshiva University
Stern College for Women where she received a Bachelor of Arts in history, an Associate of
Arts in Judaic Studies and minored in philosophy. She is a Max Stern Scholar for Academic
Excellence and a graduate of the S. Daniel Abraham Honours Program. She has taught at
Magen David Yeshiva in Brooklyn, New York and has worked as Educational Coordinator for
the National Jewish Council for the Disabled, New York, New York. She is currently
teaching at Carmel School, and is a group leader for Bnei Akiva, Perth. Ms. Russ plans to
study law beginning in September of 2003.
RABBI MARCUS SOLOMON is rabbi of Beit Midrash of
W.A. He received rabbinic ordination from Central Tomchei Tmimim Yeshivah Academy in
Brooklyn, New York, and is also a graduate of the Rabbinical College of Australia and New
Zealand, Melbourne, Victoria. Rabbi Solomon received a law degree from the University of
Western Australia and has also completed education courses at Murdoch University. He was a
teacher of Jewish Studies at Carmel High School from 1985 to 1990 and further served as
director of Carmel’s Jewish Studies Department from 1988 to 1990. Rabbi Solomon has
served as vice president of Carmel School since 1997. He is also managing partner at
Gadens Lawyers.
