NEVE YERUSHLAYIM - The Jewish Educational Network

A number of colleges and universities in the United States offer a joint program with Michlelet Esther (Touro College and Teacher’s Institute in Skokie,IL) , whereby the student is accepted both at the home college and at Michlelet Esther. While attending Michlelet Esther, the student is considered a registered student of the home college and pays tuition to that college. In turn, the home college issues an official college transcript for credits taken at Michlelet Esther.

Many other colleges and universities accept Michlelet Esther transcripts after reviewing and evaluating the courses and credits.

Relevance and Beginnings
Learning the text of specifically chosen excerpts of the Torah, notably Genesis, and developing (through collaborative study) a deep understanding of the text itself, its classical commentaries and its practical relevance.
Course Objectives:

• To familiarize the students with the concept of finding relevance in Torah texts.
• To give them confidence in their ability to both understand and go beyond the surface when learning Torah.
• To use what they learn practically by integrating ideas and concepts into their lives.

Major Topics to be Covered:
Free choice-as the basis of morality
The voices of abstract evil
The lives of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs
Examining their choices and what the results of other choices would have been
 
Jewish Concepts
Major topics covered in the course are the approach of various schools of Jewish thought and their Biblical/Rabbinic roots. Maimonidean rationalism, Strive for Truth – Rabbi Dessler, through the reading and discussion of the teachings of Rabbi Eliyahu Dessler, the prominent 20th century religious philosopher, students become acquainted with the main principles of Jewish ethical thought. Topics from his work include giving of oneself and personal ambitions, givers and takers in marriage, faith and personal efforts, the "miracles" of nature, and free will as it relates to pleasure. The class takes the student through a rational thought process of how to know that G-d exists and the Torah is true.

Parshat Hashavua
In depth instruction of the general summary of the parsha. The student delves deeper into a few points each class and while it may mean that the student lags behind the current parsha, the student spends more time on topics that are particularly interesting to them and current issues.
 
Psalms
 Course is taught as a powerful tool of connection. After learning about the life of King David, the composer of Tehillim and how his experiences influenced the text, the student begins to learn the deeper meanings behind the words and how they can relate them to experiences in their lives.
 
Daily Jewish Law; Sabbath and Holiday Law
This course covers a broad range of topics. Each class begins with a dvar Torah with a practical message of how to be a better Jew and an all-round person. Over the course of the year, we learn the halachot of Shabbos, kashrus, tefillah, as well as specific halachot of the various holidays.

Prayer
It can sometimes be difficult to connect to tefillah-an extremely important aspect of Judaism. This class serves to help the student relate better to the prayers. Students began by learning the purpose and importance of prayer, and how our forefathers-Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov shaped tefillah. Having those foundations established, the student now journey through the Shmoneh Esrei, learning the importance and reason behind each bracha.
 
Mystical Hebrew Alphabet - Each Hebrew letter holds much more meaning than just the sound it makes. From the shape to the numerical value, the letters convey hidden messages. For the first semester these concepts are expounded for the student. The student is taught valuable lessons on how G-d operates in the world, and how the student can apply that to their lives. Throughout the second semester, the class focuses on in depth learning of Megillat Esther and the Haggadah.

The Weekly Lecture - Shabbat
This lecture delves into the mysticism of Shabbat through a Kaballistic lens. Viewing Shabbos as a time for reflection. As well as a person’s life revolves around the week, it revolves around the month and the year. A view of Shabbos as a kaleidoscope of intrigue and metaphysics expressed in mussar, self-development, Chassidus and Kabbalah. A lecture that you cannot leave until it is finished!

Questions & Answers   
Questions range from the practical to mystical.
Course Description:
The course deals with providing philosophical reasons for the Mitzvot of the Torah
Course Objective:
To give the students an opportunity to research the deeper reasons for the Torah precepts. In order to make educated choices within the Torah world and to be able to face the challenges of the secondary philosophies.

Interactive Life Skills
Curriculum

1. Foundations, Why a group? Theories behind group interaction, Relevance of learning life skills, Introduction to self development concepts in a group setting.
2. Initial stage group work, Introducing group leader, Listening and talking, Opening up to new people, Opening up to new ideas – toolbox of life skills
3. Intermediate stage group work 1, CHANGE, Making commitments, Understanding concepts of work and

Discipline, Consistency – the art of true change.

4. Intermediate stage group work 2, TRUST, what is trust? Personal experiences of trust and break down in trust, how do we develop trust within the group? How does that translate to outside world?
5. Intermediate stage group work 3, FEELINGS, Being emotionally present, Naming feelings, Responsibility for

               feelings

6. Final stage group work, Group work on individual and general issues, Making choices, Relationships, Affirming growth, Celebrating goals and achievements, Assessing group work, Class evaluation

 
Chassidic Thought  
This class focuses on the different holidays, the meaning behind them and their origin. In addition, each Hebrew month has a unique energy. The letter and sign and tribe of the month combine to create this energy.

Jewish History and Current Events
The historical period of Israel's entry into Canaan until the end of the kingdoms.  An overall survey of Jewish history from the biblical era to the modern era. The first semester is devoted to biblical history ending with the Second Commonwealth and continues through the Diaspora period. The second semester deals with the medieval period and continues through modern Jewish history, with a concentration on the Holocaust and the birth of Israel.

Ethics of the Fathers
An assimilation of the ethical, moral and theological teachings of the Mishnaic tract Avos, concentrating on the mitzvos between man and G-d, man and his fellow man & man and himself.
Major Topics to be covered:

• Source for Jewish Ethics & Morals
• Hachnasas Orchim
• Benefit of the Doubt
• Good Friends/Bad Friends
• Peace
• The Middle Road
• Anger
• This World and the World to Come

Tutorial
One on one tutorial assistance from young married women with students to help student better understand material covered in the classroom. These young women serve as role models as well as informal instructors.

The Seven Habits
Techniques for building self esteem based on the book:
“7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey”

All our classes are unique. Throughout the year, these classes have broadened the student’s knowledge. The topics are so diverse, no stone is left unturned. Most importantly, in all classes, the teachers are open to our questions and ensuring that we can gain the most from them.