Online Semicha Students Test Online!

Rabbi Dovid Schochet, President of the Toronto Rabbinical Council, and a member of Vaad Rabbonei Lubavitch, this past week, tested students enrolled in “Onlinesmicha”, an innovative Rabbinical ordination program of the Lubavitch Yeshiva of Minnesota that makes use of interactive web video conferencing.

Rabbi Schochet is world renowned for his genius Torah knowledge and his great depth in Torah learning, and is one of the ordaining Rabbis for the students in the program.

The rigorous, yet flexible smicha program, has attracted students from 6 countries–representing the United States, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Panama, and Eretz Israel. The Rabbinical exams, administered after months of learning, included one track of students who were tested in the laws of basar b’chalav and a second group tested on the laws of melicha.

The exams lasted for several hours, during which the students were questioned in depth about the subjects they had learned. Rabbi Schochet also stressed the practical application of the laws, with students being expected to know halacha l’ma’aseh. Each of the students passed the test and hence, will commence learning the next track in Ta’aruvos.

Following the test, Rabbi Schochet expressed to Rabbi Wilhelm, head of the “online” Smicha program, his extreme pleasure and delight received from the depth of knowledge, expert answers, and obvious fruits of the students’ efforts. Rabbi Schochet commended the students for their commitment and dedication, many of whom break from a hard day at work from their office or home to participate in online shiurim several times per week.

Students also use time outside of regular shiurim to learn in online chavrusas and follow up with review questions and a constant dialogue and interaction through the site’s private discussion board and group forums.

Through the use of interactive web video conferencing, “onlinesmicha” offers a structured learning program in Rabbinical ordination for working professionals, retired people, and those who missed the opportunity for smicha in yeshiva.

The rigorous, yet flexible, program is run under the direction and guidance of esteemed Torah scholar and maggid shiur Rabbi Nachman Wilhelm Shlit“a.

”This program requires dedication and hard work, and I am please to congratulate the students for a job well done,” stated Rabbi Wilhelm.

Shiurim cover the laws of Basar B’Chalav, Ta’aruvos, Melicha, Shabbos, Pas Akum, Bishul Akum, Cholov Akum, and Tevilas Keilim.

For more information, or to join one of the study programs, please visit OnlineSmicha.com or send an email to admin@onlinesmicha.com.