1996-1997 Rothberg Yearbook

THE BEIT MIDRASH PROGRAM
Students from all over the world come to Hebrew University’s One Year Program for
many different reasons, but one thing all students have in common is the search for
answers about Judaism. Whether here for the year or only for the semester, from a dayschool
background or from hardly no Jewish background whatsoever, Jerusalem
summons the religious questions from within us. The Beit Midrash Program at Hecht
Synagogue tries and helps students answer some of these questions. However, the Beit
Midrash Program is more than just an organization with answers; it provides an amiable
atmosphere for one-on-one tutoring - “chavruta,” with a knowledgeable tutor. Each
chavruta is different because the student chooses the topic that he/she wants to study. The
studies range from “Who is G-d,” and “Why different sects of Jews dress differently,” to
the study of the mysticism of the Zohar and intense philosophical debates within the oral
tradition - Gemara.
I personally had an excellent tutor who became a very good friend. We began the year
with the study of the High Holidays for a couple of weeks and then turned our attention to
the laws of Shabbat. With the help of a text, we researched how the laws - halachot, of
Shabbat were derived from the oral tradition and those from the Torah. My chavruta,
Moshe Lambert, would always try to help me find the answers to my questions,
regardless of how simple or off the tangent they were. He would also call me at home to
talk and would always encourage me to call him if I had any pressing questions that
couldn’t wait to our weekly Monday night meetings. The Beit Midrash Program may not
have provided me with all the answers, but it has helped me develop the basic tools with
which to find my own answers and^grow from them.
Joel T annenbaum