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Jewish Learning
Jewish Learning Opportunities
Quicklinks:
JLIC Torah Study Opportunities
"Evolving Judaism" with Mechon Hadar
JLIC Weekly Torah Study Opportunities
Spring 2013
MONDAYS
12:15 - 1:15PM: Modern Day Q & A - Responsa of Rav Ovadia Yosef (Men)
Rabbi Mayer Friedman, JLIC-Kesharim (Founder of Shabbat Yeshiva)
Midway Court - "The Kosher Cafe"
Delve into the brilliant reponsa of former Sefardi Cheif Rabbi of Israel, Rav
Ovadia Yosef! A different, exciting piece will be discussed every single week.
Relevant to both Ashkenazim and Sefardim.
Pizza will be served!
3:10 - 3:50PM: Behind the Curtain - Bilvavi on the Jewish Holidays (Men)
Rabbi Robby Charnoff, JLIC Educator
Hillel Beit Midrash
"Come and let us contemplate further." This phrase is found consistently throughout
the masterful philosophical work of Bilvavi Mishkon Eveneh. Join us as we key in on
different central aspects of the Jewish holidays, including Purim, Pesach, Sefirah and
Shavuot as they are woven together to form a tapestry that will serve a backdrop to
our holiday experience. You've never experienced a sefer like this...
TUESDAYS
1:05 - 1:20PM: Mishnah Brurah - Practical Holiday Preparations
Rabbi Robby Charnoff, JLIC Educator
Hillel Beit Midrash
You are sitting at the Pesach seder. Everything seems to be going smoothly enough.
Your little sister just said the mah nishtanah. The seder is about to get going in full
force. Then, it happens... "Wait, do we uncover the matzahs now?" "Oh, were we
supposed to fill the cup again?" "Do I need to be here now? The food is going to burn!"
Chaos. And then, all eyes on you. What to do?!? Well, fear this scenario no longer!
With this new pre-mincha shiur on Tuesdays AND Thursdays, learn all you need to
know to get through the seder looking sharp and worry-free from the Mishnah Brurah!
Bonus: Feeling forgetful? No problem! We will also learn the laws of Sefirat HaOmer!
So when you don't know if yesterday was day 32 or 23 and you're not sure how to ask
your friend in the least complicated and awkward way, now you will know what to do...
4:45 - 5:45PM: Yehoshua Through a New and Different Lens (Women)
Rabbi Robby Charnoff, JLIC Educator
Hillel Beit Midrash
Come and study an innovative approach to the text of Sefer Yehoshua. We begin
by painting the broad stroked, themes, and philosophical implications of the chapter.
We then focus in on the words of our Sages as well as specific commentators and
examine how their nuanced perspectives illuminate these larger ideas on a local,
text-based level. Primary commentaries will be Rashi, Radak, and Malbim. If you
think you know Sefer Yehoshua - think again! Try out this dynamic shiur!
9:00 - 9:45PM: Getting Serious - Gemara/Halacha Iyun Chaburah (Men)
Rabbi Ephraim Glatt, JLIC Scholar in Residence
Hillel Beit Midrash
Chaburah will meet on: 2/5, 2/19, 3/5, 3/12, 4/9, 4/23, 5/7
JLIC proudly presents a new Gemara/Halacha Iyun Chaburah for Men! Rabbi
Ephraim Glatt will bring you right back to yeshiva with this in-depth learning
experience. Topics include: Ashkenaz vs. Sefard - Returning the Sefer Torah
to the Aron, Aseret Hadibrot - To Stand or Not to Stand, The Need for a
Unanimous Verdict in Halacha, What is the Point of Mishloach Manot, and more!
If you have been missing that feeling of really sinking your teeth into a sugya,
this is the chaburah for you!
WEDNESDAYS
3:45 - 4:30PM: Ancient Texts, New Perspectives - Rav Hirsch on the Parsha
Shoshana Charnoff, JLIC Educator
Hillel Beit Midrash
The writings of Rav Shimshon Raphael Hirsch are as relevant today as they were
when he composed them in the 1800s. Rav Hirsch is unique among Torah
commentators in that his reflections on the Torah text deal with the Jew in the
Modern World. Join us each week as we study his innovative commentary on the
Parsha in it's English translation from the original German.
4:15 - 5:00PM: Brighten Your Life - Netivot Shalom on the Parsha (Women)
Rabbi Robby Charnoff, JLIC Educator
Jefferson Hall, Jewish Studies Library (3rd Floor)
Explore the parsha in a whole new light! Netivot Shalom is a modern classic in
Chassidic thought, bringing down beautiful, enlivening ideas on the weekly Torah
portion while always tying them back to practical service of G-d. Whether you are
looking for deep insights into the Torah, religious growth, or something amazing to
say at the Shabbat table, this is the chaburah for you!
THURSDAYS
12:00 - 1:00PM: Razzle and Dazzle 'Em: - D'var Torah and Drasha Workshop
Rabbi Robby Charnoff, JLIC Educator
Hillel Beit Midrash
Have you ever given the drasha at the QC weekly Shabbat minayn? Well, why
not? The time for excuses is over! Sit down with *ahem* master drasha-giver
Rabbi Charnoff and tighten up your drasha from a "nice idea" to a jaw-
dropping, pulse-pounding, life-altering masterpiece! Well, at the very least,
meet one-on-one with Rabbi Charnoff to practice, discuss, and fine-tune
your Shabbat drasha or Shabbat table d'var Torah. The more you take
advantage of this opportunity, the more you will gain the skills, tools, and
confidence to speak at any minyan or Shabbos table. E-Mail Rabbi Charnoff at
JLICRabbi@qchillel.org by Wednesday night to reserve a slot. Preference given
to the students speaking at the QC Shabbat minyan, but all students are
encouraged to utilize this empowering service as often as they like.
1:05 - 1:20PM: Mishnah Brurah - Practical Holiday Preparations
Rabbi Robby Charnoff, JLIC Educator
Hillel Beit Midrash
Don't miss this Tuesday AND Thursday pre-mincha shiur! See Tuesday's description
for full details. (I mean really, what were you going to do with those 15 minutes before
mincha that was so much more important anyway?!?)
4:45 - 5:45PM: Derech Hashem Shiur - Philosophical Constructs of Reality I
Rabbi Robby Charnoff, JLIC Educator
Kiely Hall 317
If you want the bottom line and learn what Judaism is really all about, this is the
shiur for you! Derech Hashem, the classic work of Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzato, is
considered by many to be the most comprehensive, expansive, and methodical work
on the totality of Jewish thought. Through the text, we will cover many exciting
topics, including: What we can and cannot know about God, the purpose of Creation,
Man's role in the world, the nature of Good and Evil, and the spiritual super-structure
of reality. This shiur will be an in depth, careful, textual analysis and discussion.
Text will be provided in both the original Hebrew and in English translation.
SHABBAT / SATURDAYS
11:25 - 11:55AM: A Classy Classic Class - Ramban on the Parsha
Shoshana Charnoff, JLIC Educator
Patio Room (next to the Kosher Cafe)
Explore the intricate, philosophical, and insightful text of the Ramban on the weekly
Torah portion! Every week we will examine verses, discuss their meaning and
implications for our relationship with Judaism, and see the Ramban's perspective as
it emerges from the text. Bring a great d'var Torah to your Shabbat table and a
powerful lesson to your life!
"Evolving Judaism" with Mechon Hadar 
Evolving Judaism is a twice per month learning experience for students interested in progressive Judaism! No Jewish learning experience is necessary.
Dates: Thursday, January 31 7:45-9:00pm @The Summit meet us downstairs and we'll walk you to the room!
Thursday, February 24 7:45-9:00pm @The Summit meet us downstaits and we'll walk you to the room!
Thursday, February 28 7:45-9:00pm @The Summit meet us downstaits and we'll walk you to the room!
Thursday, March 14 7:45-9:00pm @The Summit meet us downstaits and we'll walk you to the room!
Thursday, April 11 7:45-9:00pm @The Summit meet us downstaits and we'll walk you to the room!
Thursday, April 18 7:45-9:00pm @The Summit meet us downstaits and we'll walk you to the room!
Thursday, May 2 7:45-9:00pm @The Summit meet us downstaits and we'll walk you to the room!
Ateret at Queens College Hillel is designed to give women on college campuses the opportunity to continue serious Torah study! Classes are taught on an advanced level and focus on areas generally not covered in Yeshiva High Schools or Israeli Seminaries. Emphasis is placed upon accumulation of Jewish knowledge. Textual skills are used extensively in the learning process. There is a cost for each class.
Please contact Mrs. Yaffa Moskowitz at ymoskowitz@kesharim.org for more information.
Mesillat Yesharim II
Mondays, 12:15 - 1:15PM
Powdermaker Hall, Room 110
Mrs. Yaffa Moskowitz, JLIC-Ateret
Join us as we learn through this most famous and classic sefer mussar. Written by
Rav Moshe Chaim Luzzato, one of the greatest Kabbalistic thinkers in Jewish
tradition, Mesilat Yesharim expounds on the nine character traits necessary for
success in one's avodat Hashem. Besides going through the whole text, we will
also suggest exercises (as delineated by the sefer BeMisillos Naale) to help make
those lofty ideals more practical. Please bring the sefer to class. Please feel free
to come this semester even if you missed last semester.
Sefer Kohelet
Tuesdays, 11:00AM - 12:00PM
HIllel, Beit Midrash (S.U. 206)
Mrs. Elisheva Liss, JLIC-Ateret
This class, in contrast to the Kohelet class offered in the past, will be a bekiyus
(comprehensive) style limud of the sefer. The goal is to learn one perek each week,
focusing on a central theme, or cluster of pesukim, from which to glean relevant
life messages. Kohelet is Shlomo Hamelech's letter to us about timeless
perspectives on the world and life itself. Deep, poetic, powerful, and applicable, it is,
in its way, a mussar sefer within Tanach. Please bring the sefer (with basic
mefarshim) to class.
Vaad L'Simchas HaChaim
Tuesdays, 12:15 - 1:15PM
Kiely Hall, Room 326
Mrs. Elisheva Liss, JLIC-Ateret
A religious college student faces daily challenges in both the practical and
philosophical dimensions of her life. Like the rest of society, we all struggle to feel
grounded, peaceful, and whole in a world that is overconnected, fragmented, and
overstimulating. Drawing on experience and training in both Torah and Marriage
and Family Therapy, Mrs. Liss has developed a novel approach based on a clinically
proven method to increase happiness, spirituality, and inner peace. There will be small
assignments between meetings to maximize effectiveness. The goal of this
interactive vaad is to help participants get in touch with their inner strengths, in order
to cope better with big and little stressors, decision making, relationships, and
anxiety, while generating more daily joy.
Not Just Bible Stories II
Wednesdays, 12:15 - 1:15PM
Powdermaker Hall, Room 110
Rabbi Mordechai Kraft, JLIC-Ateret
This course will re-examine the stories we all learned as children. Together we will
discover that by asking simple questions, focusing on unusual or repeating words,
or words and phrases lifted from other stories, the text will reveal a whole new level
of depth, meaning and relevance to our own lives.
The Six Constant Mitzvot
Thursdays, 12:15 - 1:15PM
Kiely Hall, Room 326
Mrs. Yaffa Moskowitz, JLIC-Ateret
Did you know that there are six mitzvot that we are all obligated to do every minute
of every day? Using contemporary and classic sources, we will explore the
components of these mitzvot and discuss how to make them tangible and practical
in our everyday lives.
Searching for a class on a topic that you don’t see above? Learning opportunities don’t fit your schedule? Please contact your JLIC Educators with any and all questions, comments and requests! We are here for you!
Rabbi Robby Charnoff: JLICRabbi@QCHillel.org
Shoshana Charnoff: SCharnoff@QCHillel.org
