Israeli Journalist Aryeh Ehrlich Reveals How to Combine Practical Life with Torah Study
As the Jewish month of Elul begins, Aryeh Ehrlich, a veteran journalist and editor of the Haredi magazine "Mishpacha," shares his personal journey of integrating intensive Torah study with a demanding professional life. Ehrlich highlights the challenge many Haredim face when transitioning from full-time yeshiva study to the practical world, where the pressure to maintain regular Torah learning often diminishes. He points to a distorted cultural message in Israel that suggests one is worthless if not studying full-time in a kollel, leading many to abandon consistent study.
Ehrlich found a solution through the "Lema'an Yilmadu" program, which adapts Torah learning to modern realities by offering online classes via Zoom. This format allows participants to study from home without losing time to travel, with recorded lessons and scheduled make-up sessions to accommodate busy lives. The program sets clear goals and issues certification upon completion, motivating professionals to maintain commitment and progress.
The aim of "Lema'an Yilmadu" is not necessarily to train rabbis but to enable every Jew to master halachic knowledge deeply. Ehrlich himself completed a course on laws of kosher meat and is currently studying complex Sabbath laws, maintaining a weekly study partnership with Rabbi Eli Lando, a prominent kashrut authority in the U.S. He also enrolled in a course on marriage contracts to better understand this important ritual.
Founded about a decade ago by Rabbi Yisrael Maal, "Lema'an Yilmadu" offers a wide range of courses, including laws of kashrut, Sabbath, family purity, rabbinical court procedures, marriage contracts, and Torah scroll writing. The curriculum is thorough and accessible, starting from Talmudic sources and progressing to practical halacha, supported by presentations, summaries, and personal rabbinic guidance. The program also assists in finding study partners to ensure success.
With Elul underway, Ehrlich urges those interested not to delay registration, warning that joining mid-cycle is less effective. He encourages taking the first step despite doubts, promising that integrating structured Torah study into daily life can bring spiritual fulfillment and practical halachic knowledge. "Don't remain with the emptiness and longing for yeshiva days," he says. "Take the step that will transform your routine and bring clear halachic light into your practical world."
