No patience for Daf Yomi?

Tanach study program launching in Five Towns

By Michael Orbach

Issue of September 11,  2009 / 22 Elul 5769

Is seven-and-a-half-years too long to wait? The Young Israel of North Woodmere may have a Torah study program for you. Beginning next week, an innovative program titled Tanach Beshana, aims to teach the entire Tanach in just sixth months.

Tanach is a Hebrew acronym that stands for Torah, Nevi’im and Kesuvim or the Pentateuch, Prophets and Scriptures.

“It is a unique program that takes adult education more seriously than many adult-ed programs out there,” said Rabbi Yehuda Septimus of the Young Israel of North Woodmere. “It’s not just a shiur on an interesting topic, it’s a very carefully constructed curriculum on a topic that just is a basic hole in people’s knowledge of Judaism.”

The courses begin Sept. 15 with an introductory lecture given by Rabbi Menachem Leibtag, an instructor at Yeshivat Har Etzion in Israel, and the founder of the Tanach Study Center.

While the first shiur will be offered at no charge at Congregation Beth Sholom, the shiurim that follow will be given at the Young Israel of North Woodmere for a fee of $180 that will cover the entire six month program plus access to podcasts and all course material. Each 90-minute class on a Tuesday night will cover a book of Tanach, with a siyum planned by Shavuot.

The program was exported to America from the London School of Jewish Studies where it was developed. Versions of the program have been successful at Lincoln Square Synagogue and at a shul in Boca Raton, FL. Rabbi Leibtag will teach about a quarter of the material; other speakers will include Rabbi David Forman, Rebetzin Shani Taragin, and Professor Smadar Rosensweig.

“Basically we wanted something for the greater Five Towns community that would be of Torah value with people learning together and not feeling the pressure of different levels,” said Stuart Katz, president of Young Israel of North Woodmere.

The program was made possible by a generous anonymous donation to the Young Israel of North Woodmere. The name, Tanach Beshana, is something of a misnomer since the entire Tanach will be finished in six months, not one year as the name implies.

“Tanach B’Chatzi Shana” wasn’t nearly as “catchy,” Rabbi Septimus admitted.

More information is available at the Tanach Beshana website.