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Parashot Classes Reviews
aish.com One thing we cannot criticize Aish HaTorah for is their variety of their Parsha site. It offers seven shuirim (lessons), with a different approach to each one.
The first five (excluding the 'Family Parsha') tend to be for a less advanced level of learning. Once you have waded through the trendy metaphors and catchy titles ranging form Harry Potter to Star Wars, you will soon discover that the one thing that this site lacks, is substance. If you are looking for a more "meaty" Torah learning experience these site will be far from satisfying. However if you wanting a more of an entree into the Parsha, then this nibble of Torah will safice. The essays assume a low level of prior knowledge and tend to be very short, expounding on one idea in a few paragraphs. Each Rabbi has a different approach:
1.Appel's Parsha Page: Rabbi Appel tends to choose one idea form the week's portion and gives a concise explanation of it. He does not use the Parsha to preach a way of life but does relate the ideas to our modern / post modern existence. 2. Shabbat Shalom Weekly: written by Rabbi Kalman Packouz, has a friendly tone and usually begins with a question and answer about the month or the Parsha.
He then lists the topics to be found in the week's portion, which are followed by a short Dvar Torah. It is a very accessible explanation, littered with touchy-feely ideas about how we should live our lives, which leaves his writing bordering on patronising.
3. Shraga's weekly: Rabbi Shraga Simmons presents a well structured Parsha Page. He, too, chooses one idea and runs with it. He draws, more frequently, on other Jewish sources and shows how the concepts are found and expounded in other texts. If one could label Rabbi Simmons, based purely on his writing, he would be the "buddy Rabbi". He plants the ideas firmly in reality by relating the issue at hand, to every day life. This empathic writing makes you feels that he has "been there" and if he was sitting in the same room as you, you would be spilling your guts to him. While this is positive on one hand, on the other, there is a faint odour of preaching that permeates his writing.
4. Brainstorming with Baars: Rabbi Stephan Baars follows the trend of the above Rabbis, as he too neglects commentary on the Parsha and instead uses it to teach morals and good qualities. He leaves us with 'questions to ponder', for introspection and soul searching. Although, slightly condescending, are quite thought provoking. The leap to the 'Advanced Level' is quite astounding in both content and language. This level assumes the audience has some Jewish learning , however it is accesible to all levels. Both Rabbi Ari Kahn ( M'oray Ha Aish) and Rabbi Noson Weisz (Mayanot) present well structured and insightful essays on the parsha. Their inclusion of other sources broadens their arguments and makes for intersesting observations of the text. www.vbm-torah.org VBM or other wise known as Virtual Beit Midrash is the Yeshivat Har Etzion website or commonly refered to as 'Gush'. This site offers 3 different parsha pages: Two parshat hashavua shiurim by Rav Yonatan Grossman and Rav Menachem Leibtag, as well as an Introduction to Parshat HaShavua by Rabbi Tvi Shimon.
All are worth reading but if you only have time for one I suggest you head only for Rav Leibtag's shiur.If you have some back round to textual learning and have access to at least the Tanach ( the five books of Moses, the prophets and the other texts included in the cannon of jewish writing) this is the epitome of on line learning. Unlike most sites you are not a passive learner as he gives you questions to prepare in advance. This intellectual exercise enables you to engage with the text from the comfort of your study. Rav Leibtag, who is a well known expert on the Tanach, offers an indepth analysis of the parsha based on various commentors, other texts (such as Talmud) as well as his own insights. However if you are in search of a life changing epiphany, this is not where you will find it.And for those who may find this text-based shiur too difficult , persevere , it is well worth the effort. www.breslov.com/world/parsha For those incense- burning esoterics among us, this is the site for you! It is littered with phrases such as "self" versus "I" and the four elements of water, fire air and earth. The reader of this site does not need to have a prior knowledge of Jewish texts which makes the shiur very accessable to all levels. The shiur is punctuated with Rebbe Nachman of Breslov's teachings which makes one wonder the ultimate purpose of the shiur: parsha or breslovian philosophy. If you are prepared to brush over the numerous type o's and sloppy syntax you will find interesting insights into the portion of the week that will lead you down the morality path. Happy (clappers) trails. www.shemayisrael.co.il/ - Registration required Like most sites , this one hones in on several lines from the parsha and uses it as a spring board to teach several ideas, from Halachah to Musar (Jewish Ethics). Although the writer refers to several commentators and Talmudic sources, the text itself is accessable to all levels. You are left with a few heart warming thoughts, however, you will not be too intellectually challenged or come away with a shift in paradigm. Like most sites , this one hones in on several lines from the parsha and uses it as a spring board to teach several ideas, from Halachah to Musar (Jewish Ethics). Although the writer refers to several commentators and Talmudic sources, the text itself is accessable to all levels. You are left with a few heart warming thoughts, however, you will not be too intellectually challenged or come away with a shift in paradigm. www.yhol.org.il Rabbi Chaim Brovender's shiur does not allow the reader to be a passive participant in the learning experience. If you are a Rashi fan or would like to become one, here is your chance. The shiur relies on your previous reading of the parsha (as stated in the introduction). Rabbi Brovender then guides you through Rashi's commentary. He also brings in other sources ranging form Rambam to the Talmud. He also refers you to further reading beyond the shiur. The layout of the essay includes blank text boxes for you to make note as you learn. Rabbi Brovender also encourages you to write to him with comments and questions on the parsha . These two unique aspects make one far more involved in the text .This parsha site is quite accessable but it requires effort from those with less learning experience- but persevere - it will be well worth the effort! Rabbi Chaim Brovender's shiur does not allow the reader to be a passive participant in the learning experience. If you are a Rashi fan or would like to become one, here is your chance. The shiur relies on your previous reading of the parsha (as stated in the introduction). Rabbi Brovender then guides you through Rashi's commentary. He also brings in other sources ranging form Rambam to the Talmud. He also refers you to further reading beyond the shiur. The layout of the essay includes blank text boxes for you to make note as you learn. Rabbi Brovender also encourages you to write to him with comments and questions on the parsha . These two unique aspects make one far more involved in the text .This parsha site is quite accessable but it requires effort from those with less learning experience- but persevere - it will be well worth the effort! www.anshe.org/ "Musar!" screams this Parsha site. If you are wanting to draw ethics from the weekly Parsha , this is your site! It begins with a concise overview of the parsha which is always helpful for a rudamantary starting point. It does not provide interesting insights and a deeper understanding based on biblical commentators. However if you wanting to infuse your life and the lives of others with the ethics that the parsha provides each week or are looking to embelish that Dvar Torah with some touchy feely morality, this is something to feast upon. "Musar!" screams this Parsha site. If you are wanting to draw ethics from the weekly Parsha , this is your site! It begins with a concise overview of the parsha which is always helpful for a rudamantary starting point. It does not provide interesting insights and a deeper understanding based on biblical commentators. However if you wanting to infuse your life and the lives of others with the ethics that the parsha provides each week or are looking to embelish that Dvar Torah with some touchy feely morality, this is something to feast upon. masorti.org My first critisism of this site was that it is not updated regularly from year to year and therefore lacked an organic growth of ideas. However after reading these eloquently written and well structured essays, my critisism waned. It is accessible to all levels of learning yet still maintains a high level of language and intellegence. Although it is not an exploration of the commentaries, it is still rich with ideas and provoking thoughts on the Torah. My first critisism of this site was that it is not updated regularly from year to year and therefore lacked an organic growth of ideas. However after reading these eloquently written and well structured essays, my critisism waned. It is accessible to all levels of learning yet still maintains a high level of language and intellegence. Although it is not an exploration of the commentaries, it is still rich with ideas and provoking thoughts on the Torah. www.jewishamerica.com/ja/features/aftertho.cfm The caption of this website, "Preserving a near-lost legacy and heritage. Sharing and caring on behalf of Torah Judaism",made me apprehensive to read any further. I expected pages filled with touchy- feely-'come back to judaism' slogans. On the contrary, this is a polished site with interesting interpretations of the Parsha. It is not, however,a very deeply cross-referenced and lengthy analysis, but it does provide thoughts to ponder on which are relevent to our lives today. However despite this, there is a subtle, covert message permeating between the lines that yells "take that leap of faith!". So go in forwarned and enjoy an alternative view if the Torah. www.ohr.org.il/thisweek.htm Parsha Q&A
As the title implies this is a question and answer shiur. The questions require of you to read the biblical text and some commentators. This implies that the reader will need some level of previous experience with studying biblical commentators. If you have not had such experience do not feel too despondant, merely scroll down and you will discover the answers to the questions.[If you are a beginner this can be a good way to start to work with commentators on your own as the answers are provided.] The answers tend to be short and lacking in detail , leaving one feeling unsatisfied, especially if one has taken time to answer the questions on one's own. This can be viewed from two perspectives:
1. the answers need to be injected with substance and meaning OR
2. the institution is encouraging the reader to do further research.
I am inclined to go woth number two as a 'further reading' list on the Parsha is provided which covers a wide range of sources. This shiur is sufficient if you want to delve into the parsha on your own or with a chevruta(a study partner) and will be sufficed with merely guiding questions. Parsha Q&A
As the title implies this is a question and answer shiur. The questions require of you to read the biblical text and some commentators. This implies that the reader will need some level of previous experience with studying biblical commentators. If you have not had such experience do not feel too despondant, merely scroll down and you will discover the answers to the questions.[If you are a beginner this can be a good way to start to work with commentators on your own as the answers are provided.] The answers tend to be short and lacking in detail , leaving one feeling unsatisfied, especially if one has taken time to answer the questions on one's own. This can be viewed from two perspectives:
1. the answers need to be injected with substance and meaning OR
2. the institution is encouraging the reader to do further research.
I am inclined to go woth number two as a 'further reading' list on the Parsha is provided which covers a wide range of sources. This shiur is sufficient if you want to delve into the parsha on your own or with a chevruta(a study partner) and will be sufficed with merely guiding questions. Torah Weekly If you have stayed in the Ohr Somayach site after the Question&Answer shiur, looking for further indepth analysis and commentary on the Parsha, don't expect to find it in this shiur. It does, however, provide a good overview of the Parsha and how one can improve one's spirituality and advance one's Jewish journey by drawing inspiration from the text. Return to Weekly Torah Portion index Also on the WUJS site:
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