Program Vision
At the cutting edge of Jewish learning today, Yashrut’s Mishnah and Maimonides Program (M&M) develops students’ hard skills in reading and comprehension, bringing them into the great rabbinic conversation that spans the centuries. The unique combination of Mishnah, the foundational work of oral law, and Maimonides’ Code of Law, a crown jewel of the Jewish bookshelf, introduce students to the language, themes and concepts that are the basis of Rabbinic thought. Through M&M, students – many who have not previously learned texts in their original language- gain access to the world of traditional Jewish study.
M&M Learning Experience
M&M utilizes innovative pedagogy that has students, over the course of a week, engaging with the texts independently, with fellow students and through individualized feedback from Yashrut faculty. Focusing on the text’s language, flow and concepts, the learning experiences culminate each week in an interactive class built around critical thinking and debate. The pace of the learning is brisk with students learning a number of Tractates of Mishnah and chapters of Maimonides’ Code each year. With small class sizes that are essential for successful remote learning and individualized attention, students deepen understanding and build relationships with classical sources.
Program Expectations
The M&M experience is flexible and is designed to fit into students’ busy schedules. Recognizing that M&M is a rigorous endeavor, students are required to commit to a full year in the program. In addition to Talmud Torah (Torah study), M&M fosters a sense of community and camaraderie in learning. Over the course of the year, there are online and in-person gatherings, as well as shiur klali with students from other Yashrut programs. Participation in M&M provides students an entry point to Yashrut’s pipeline of learning experiences including Classic Talmud Program and the Semikhah Initiative.
