What do you love most about learning Torah?

Torah is the heart and soul of Judaism. It serves as our history, strength, guide book to life, and basic sustenance in this world. But, for each person there is sometime unique that an individual will love about learning Torah. For some its the way they feel uplifted after learning, for others it may be the sense of knowing oneself better. Whatever it may be, we want to hear it. What do you love most about learning Torah? Please share your comments by responding with a comment to this post. All Na'aleh students as well as non-students are welcome to share.

Classes

This semester we are featuring a wide variety of classes, both beginner and advanced:

Basic Level Classes:

JH200 Inspired Lives Rabbi Hanoch Teller
The history and the impact of the leading Torah luminaries of the past 100 years. Filled with biographical information, anecdotal insights and meaningful stories, we will probe into the vast accomplishments of these saintly scholars that have shaped the communities we live in today.

M103 The Book of Ruth Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller
An in-depth analysis of the Book of Ruth, based on the text and the commentary of Rashi, combined with the approaches of the other commentaries. Discover the challenges and greatness of Ruth, the mother of the Davidic dynasty. Rudimentary knowledge of Hebrew preferred, but not necessary for the class. Book of Ruth with Rashi’s commentary required for the class.

P101 Topics in the Parsha Mrs. Shira Smiles

Mrs. Smiles delivers lectures covering selected texts from a wide range of sources from which she brings out the unique moral lessons that can be learned from every moment in time. Each class is based either on the Torah portion of the week or on the Yamim Tovim, the Jewish holidays. Mrs. Smiles begins with basic primary sources, usually a verse from the Torah, and delves into its meaning and message through extensive selections from both the Early Commentators of the Middle Ages and the Later Commentators of the Modern Era. Mrs. Smiles adds excerpts from classical works produced by both the Chassidic and Mussar Movements, and ties together all components of the lecture to bring home a new insight into our lives as inspired Torah Jews.

Advanced Level Classes:

K202 Sefer Tehillim 2 Rabbi Avishai David

Sefer Tehillim is replete with praise, joy, tears, and entreaty to Hashem. At times one can fail to recognize the uniqueness of each perek, as the praise and pleading seemingly repeat themselves again and again. Through the use of many commentaries, Rabbi David breaks down every perek into its components and clarifies the distinctions between them. What emerges is a new understanding and appreciation of the precision and pathos contained in Sefer Tehillim

CH104 Akeidat Yitzchak Mrs. Shira Smiles

Through her unique question and answer technique for learning Tanach, Mrs. Smiles analyzes many aspects of Avraham Avinu's final test. An in depth look into this brief but powerful section of Chumash. Classical and modern Commentaries will be analyzed. The ultimate goal of every learning session is not only to fully understand the Chumash, but also internalize its lessons. Chumash Mikraot Gedolot with Ohr HaChaim and Kli Yakar required for the class.

JPH203 Sefer Netivot Olam of the Maharal 2 Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller

The Maharal of Prague is a paradigm of depth and sophistication of Torah thought that forms the foundation for many of the teachings of Chassidus, Mussar and Machshava. His Sefer Netivot Olam, on Man's obligations of conduct, is an important text for one who is focused on self-improvement and ethical behavior guided by Torah. Rebbetzin Heller focuses on the words of the Maharal and their meaning, and then applies them to our lives through concrete examples. For the Spring Semester, Rebbetzin Heller will be covering Netiv Hashalom and Netiv Hayissurim.

Meet Our Teachers

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Rebbetzin Heller..........................................Rabbi David

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Rabbi Teller..................................................Mrs. Smiles



We have some of the most World Renowned Jewish educators teaching our classes! Here is a bit about each of them:

Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller
Internationally renowned as an outstanding scholar of Jewish Studies as well as a gifted lecturer, Rebbetzin Heller has been a full-time faculty member of Neve Yerushalayim College in Jerusalem since 1980. Her areas of expertise include textual analysis of Torah, Biblical literature, and Jewish philosophy with an emphasis on the teachings of Maimonides and Maharal. She is also particularly well known for her courses devoted to the role of women in Judaism and analyses of the lives of women in the Torah, Bible.

Rebbetzin Heller is distinguished by her unique teaching style. Based on classical sources, her insights on virtually any topic within Jewish studies and Torah flow in a seemingly effortless stream. While leading her listeners along creative new lines of thoughts, she resorts to a disarmingly keen sense of humor to provide practical examples that illustrate and draw personal relevance from even the most abstract concepts.

Rabbi Avishai David
An accomplished Talmid Chachom and veteran educator, Rabbi Avishai David is the Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivah Torat Shraga, in Bayit Vegan, Jerusalem. As the founding Dean of Michlelet Mevasseret Yerushalayim and popular lecturer at Michlala Jerusalem, Rabbi David has contributed in a concrete way to the advancement of Jewish women's Torah education.

Rabbi David is well-known for his high-level shiurim, which cover extensive amounts of material in a relatively short time. His shiurim are a unique blend of intellectual stimulation, emotional appeal, and upbeat interaction. His classes both satisfy and challenge the listener, as he shares the depth and beauty of Torah.

A long-time talmid of HaRav Yosef Dov Halevi Soloveitchik ztz"l, Rabbi David applies his rebbe's unique methodology to all the topics that he teaches - Talmud, Navi, Halacha, or Chumash. In explaining Gemara concepts or verses in the Torah, Rabbi David focuses on the nuances and distinctions within a given text, presenting the listener with eye-opening insights and a new perspective on the precision of every word of Torah.

Mrs. Shira Smiles
Mrs. Shira Smiles is a sought after international lecturer, popular seminary teacher, and experienced curriculum developer. Mrs. Smiles is well known for her special teaching style, which seeks to bring understanding of Torah texts through analysis of tens of relevant sources, while making the lessons learned from every verse relevant to her students' lives.

Mrs. Smiles teaches at Darchei Bina Seminary. In addition, Mrs. Smiles leads a number of women's study groups in Beit Shemesh, Yerushalayim, and Modiin. Mrs. Smiles also trains Torah teachers in special workshops all over the world.

Mrs. Smiles has been using technological sources to spread Torah for many years. She currently teaches a weekly shiur (Torah class) that is broadcast to many cities around the world via satellite hookup, has a direct teleconference shiur with students in LA, and has over 200 audio shiurim available for download on 613.org, a large audio Torah website.

Rabbi Hanoch Teller
Rabbi Hanoch Teller has lectured before audiences on five continents, in 40 American States and 24 other countries. People from all backgrounds flock to hear this award-winning author, orator, and educator speak on a wide range of subjects.

Rabbi Teller is a popular teacher in numerous Jerusalem Yeshivas and seminaries. As a teacher, Rabbi Teller draws from his thorough knowledge of Torah, Jewish history and thought, specifically the history of our rabbis and leaders, to inspire and uplift his students.

Rabbi Teller is one of the few independent guides who have been licensed by Yad Vashem, the Israel Holocaust Museum, to give tours of their new museum. Rabbi Teller has also been leading groups of Yeshiva students on tours through Eastern Europe for many years. Hanoch Teller's guided tours are unique in their ability to present the events of the Holocaust from a unique, clear and uncompromising perspective, emphasizing the experiences of the individual victims.

Welcome!

We are trying something new to get the word out about Na'aleh, the Online Torah Video School www.naaleh.com. For those of you new to the Na'aleh community, welcome! Please visit us and take advantage of the free trial we have to offer all new students. Here is a little bit about us:

Our Name
Na'aleh means "let us ascend." We chose this name because we believe Jewish learning is the key to continuous spiritual growth and elevation.

Our Mission
Na'aleh was designed by experienced Yeshiva and Seminary professionals from Israel, under international Rabbinic guidance, with the goal of providing continuing Jewish education to Jewish people of all ages and backgrounds.

What Makes Us Different
While there are other Jewish websites focused on educating Jewish people, we feel some of our features and services are unique:

1. Interact with other students in our interactive, group classes. We are the only Torah education site that facilitates group learning sessions. This means that you're watching the class with peers from all around the world. You can discuss classes and even submit your questions for teachers to answer in the next class!

2. Video, not audio, classes. We are the only Jewish education website bringing you classes in streaming video. You will be able to see your teachers, not just hear them.

3. Watch the shiur online anytime after the broadcast. Missed a class? Want to watch one again? No problem. Members have 24/7 access to our classes online at our website: www.naaleh.com.

4. Amazing Teachers from great Yeshivas and Seminaries. Check out our internationally renowned faculty: Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller, Rabbi Hanoch Teller, Mrs. Shira Smiles, and Rabbi Avishai David.

I hope this gives you a better idea of all the amazing things going on at Na'aleh.

For those of you already apart of the Na'aleh learning community, please use this blog as a place to share your thoughts on classes you are participating in at Na'aleh, or to share other Torah ideas. Really, the options are endless. Let's just make this a safe forum where can all come together to spread the light of Torah!

Happy learning,

The Na'aleh Crew