Stone Beit Midrash Program

Yeshiva University is an institution that strives to produce well rounded Jewish students by providing them with a dual curriculum in both Torah studies and General knowledge. In the undergraduate men’s program there are four Torah studies tracks, in order to properly serve a diverse student population. One of them is the Irving I. Stone Beit Midrash Program, referred to as “BMP”. In addition there are three others: JSS (James Striar School), IBC (Isaac Breuer College), and MYP (Mazer School of Talmudic Studies). JSS is geared towards, “those new to Hebrew language and textual study who want to attain a broad-based Jewish philosophical and text education.” IBC is geared towards students who wish to study seriously but in a classroom setting. MYP, the most rigorous of the four programs, is for those seeking the deepest exposure to traditional learning.

With funding from the Irving I. Stone Support Foundation BMP was established in 1995. It is geared towards students who are not interested “in a classical yeshiva approach”, which gives the most rigorous deep exposure in a Yeshiva setting that the Mazer School of Talmudic Studies (known as “YP”) has to offer but rather desire more flexible chavruta (study partner)/shiur (lecture) options. The goal of this program, “is to create educated and committed Jewish lay leaders” whose breadth of knowledge spans the gamut of Jewish disciplines such as: Talmud, Tanakh, Jewish Law, and Jewish thought.

The program has about 300 students divided into nine classes (shiurim) ranging in level from beginner to advanced. As part of the curriculum students are taught both Tanakh and Jewish Law twice a week. “Tanakh study revolves around central stories and themes, as expounded by the classic commentaries. By the completion of their time in BMP students will have completed the entire Neviim Rishonim (Early Prophets.)

The curriculum of Jewish Law covers the range of the basic laws students will need in their daily life, including the laws of Shabbat, Kashrut, family law, and synagogue, among others. On Sundays students are taught Jewish Thought. Besides for all of the elements of the curriculum already mentioned the most central focus of the program is on Talmud study. Students first study with a partner (chavruta) in the Beit Midrash (learning center) and subsequently hear a lecture (shiur) by an experienced Talmud scholar; the Rabbi. Students are required to purchase the Talmudic Tractate which is being studied in any given year. In addition to their morning studies requirements, BMP students can also opt into an optional learning program on Monday through Wednesday night.

Monday-Thursday

9:00-10:20 Tanakh/Jewish Law

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Wikipedia