Rabbinical Program Equips Clergy With Practical Law Knowledge
Translated & summarized from Kikar HaShabbat by baba
A new rabbinical training program called "Lema'an Yilmedu" is offering practical instruction in Jewish monetary and marital law, Choshen Mishpat and Even Ha'ezer. Designed for active rabbis, the three-and-a-half-year course aims to equip them with the knowledge to handle complex community questions. Classes are available in-person and online, with the goal of providing rabbis with the ability to offer accurate halachic guidance and prevent communal disputes.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- A new rabbinical program, "Lema'an Yilmedu," focuses on practical Jewish monetary and marital law.
- The program targets active community rabbis needing expertise in Choshen Mishpat and Even Ha'ezer.
- Instructors emphasize that these laws are crucial for resolving interpersonal disputes and preventing injustice.
- The three-and-a-half-year course covers a wide range of topics and is accessible globally online.
- Graduates will gain practical skills to provide accurate halachic guidance to their communities.
A new "Lema'an Yilmedu" (So They May Learn) program is offering practical rabbinical law training, focusing on the often-neglected sections of Choshen Mishpat (Laws of Monetary Damages) and Even Ha'ezer (Laws of Marriage and Divorce). Rabbi Yehoshua Lifshitz, a program instructor, stated that the course is designed for community rabbis, synagogue rabbis, neighborhood rabbis, and settlement rabbis, both in Israel and abroad, who are frequently asked questions about finances, neighbors, partnerships, lineage, betrothals, and divorces. The program also caters to advanced students of Jewish law seeking to complete their studies.
The "Lema'an Yilmedu" institute specifically targets actively serving rabbis, enabling them to receive professional development without leaving their communities or positions. Rabbi Avraham Drori explained that while many rabbis are proficient in laws concerning Shabbat and Kashrut, the sections on Choshen Mishpat and Even Ha'ezer are often overlooked. He noted that questions regarding cancellation fees for a driver, or the obligations of someone finding lost money, are common but often beyond the expertise of many rabbis.
Rabbi Shmaya Hecht emphasized the importance of these laws, stating that Yom Kippur atones for sins between a person and God, but not for interpersonal transgressions, which are primarily covered in Choshen Mishpat. He warned that a rabbi lacking knowledge in these areas could inadvertently cause significant injustice, citing a historical instance where Jerusalem was destroyed due to its courts strictly adhering to the letter of the law without considering mitigating circumstances.
The program, which spans approximately three and a half years, covers extensive topics within Choshen Mishpat and Even Ha'ezer, including laws of judges, testimony, loans, guarantees, sales, neighbors, partners, fertility, marriage, divorce, and levirate marriage. The curriculum is presented through structured workbooks, tracing the development of each topic from the Talmud to contemporary commentaries. The classes are offered in-person in Bnei Brak and are also accessible globally via live online streaming, with options for real-time participation or independent study with instructor support.
Upon completion, participants receive a certificate of rabbinical court expertise from "Lema'an Yilmedu." However, the program's primary goal is to equip rabbis with the practical ability to provide accurate halachic guidance in complex real-life situations, such as advising on disputes between neighbors or financial disagreements, thereby preventing community divisions and ensuring just rulings.