Online Halacha Kollel Launches Two Year Shabbos Program
Study and knowledge of Halacha has always been the foundation of a Yid’s Kvius Itim. As important as all areas of Torah study are, an emphasis has always been placed on first mastering the practical application of Halacha, to ensure that all the Mitzvos of the Torah are being properly adhered to. However, many working men struggle to find a framework which can satisfy both a need for deep learning and mastery, along with the practical takeaways and application that are the purpose of learning practical Halacha.
The flagship Halacha track of the Merkos Torah network of online learning programs was founded 2 years ago at the initiative of Rabbi Betzalel Bassman, Menahel Poel of Merkos Torah to address this need. Kollel Aliba De’Hilchasa was created with a vision of providing a robust curriculum for the study of practical Halacha. The program provides both depth and manageability, requiring between 2-3 hours weekly of text based study.
In contrast to other online Halacha programs, Kollel Aliba De’Hilchasa seeks not merely to spoon feed information but to empower its students in their independent learning. This is a Halacha program where the primary learning happens during the week, not the shiur day.
“I’m learning topics that I had only engaged in the past superficially,” says Rabbi Ben Diamond of Beersheva, Israel, who works with the US Army Corps of Engineers, “but now I’m learning them again properly.”
The meticulously crafted curriculum is built around the Shulchan Aruch Ha’Rav. It traces the Halacha from the Gemara and Rishonim, highlights the Alter Rebbe’s unique contributions and is supplemented with Teshuvos from modern poskim on contemporary issues.
“We learn the topics from their original source in the Torah through the Mishnah, into the Gemora, and finally to the poskim and into today’s modern applications,” says Rabbi Avraham Yosef Baez, Support Staff and Advisor for Chabad at the Fashion Institute of Technology. “The shiurim are interesting and the material is well put together.”
A live shiur is delivered weekly by the Rosh Kollel, Rabbi Yakov Goldstein, a world-renowned Rov, Posek and author of over 80 Seforim on practical Halacha. His shiurim are famous for their lucidity, thoroughness, and emphasis on practical questions in scenarios, allowing the weeks learning to be internalized and implemented in daily life.
“This kollel has opened the depth of Halacha to me in a way I never experienced,” says Gamliel Beyderman, a data scientist from Brooklyn, “making Halacha not just something to study but something to live.”
The curriculum and source booklets were compiled under the direction of Rabbi Goldstein by Menahel Rabbi Zelig Katzman and Curriculum Director Rabbi Menachem Wagner. Along with the text of the Alter Rebbe’s Shulchan Aruch, the important sources in Gemara, Rishonim and earlier Poskim were included to provide background. Later Teshuvos were added to shed light on modern questions, and a unique emphasis was placed on providing sources for Chabad minhagim, especially when they differ from mainstream psak.
Kollel Aliba De’Hilchasa is committed to ensuring the long-term success of all who join. Along with source booklets and consistent check-ins from the Menahel to ensure things are going well, the Kollel offers a Chavrusa placement program, pairing members who are in need of a chavrusa. All of the resources are available to members throughout, including the Kovetz pdf and access to any past shiurim recordings
On Sunday, 5 Kislev (November 15th) the Kollel members will begin a two year journey to mastering Hilchos Shabbos. Although one need not make a long term commitment in order to join, those who adhere to the program will be able to cover the entire scope of the practical Halachos of Shabbos, from Erev Shabbos to Havdalah, from Borer to Hotza’ah, from Bishul to Muktzeh.
The laws of Shabbos are numerous, nuanced and complex. “Proper Shmiras Shabbos requires comprehensive knowledge” says Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, Director of Merkos 302. “Kollel Aliba De’Hilchasa’s Shabbos track finally makes mastering it accessible to the busy, working man. This program helps facilitate the fulfilment of the Rebbe’s desire for the head of each household to be proficient in Halacha”
The recommended time commitment to devote to this Kollel in order to truly master the material is 2-3 hours a week, with an additional hour for the live Shiur on Thursdays. Those unable to attend live will be able to listen later on the website portal or via linking the Kollel feed to their preferred podcast platform.
Sign up to elevate your Kvius Itim L’Torah and to enhance your Shmiras Shabbos at https://kollelad.com.
