Ordained online: learning for smicha, the high tech way

By Malka Eisenberg

Issue of April 3, 2009 / 9 Nissan 5769

Local professionals in dentistry, medicine, accounting and business have received smicha (rabbinic ordination) over the last few years through an intensive online learning program.

The smicha, said Dr. Andrew Sicklick, was “the carrot at the end,” but the actual goal was to find a “serious, high-level, structured learning program that enabled me to maintain my own schedule regarding hours.”

The Yeshivas Pirchei Shoshanim Shulchan Aruch Learning Program (www.shemayisrael.com/smicha) was established eight years ago, according to its founder, Rabbi Fischel Todd of Lakewood, NJ, and staffed by various rabbonim. One of them is Rabbi Daniel Channen, who received smicha from the Rabbinate of Jerusalem and is the author of “Talis Ends,” an illustrated rhymed book of selections from Baba Metzia.

Though all those interviewed for the article discovered the program via the internet, they all previously maintained an interest in Torah learning and found the program to be much more than an “internet” yeshiva.

“I can always get in contact with my rabbonim,” said Yossi Danzger, of Woodmere, who began the program in 2002 and got smicha in issur v’heter (laws of prohibitions and allowances) in 2004. “They are very interested in having the talmidim (students) succeed.”

He noted that a number of graduates are now chaplains in the U.S. military and the rabbonim encourage involvement in kiruv (Jewish outreach).

Danzger also pointed out that the English language shiurim (lectures) are a valuable resource for people who may not have the time or ability for other programs. The program is available in English and Hebrew and some with translations in French, Spanish and Russian.

“They set it up so people have the opportunity to learn halacha (Jewish law), learn the shulchan aruch as it should be learned,” he explained. “We go through all the sources from the time of the gemara (Talmud) to current poskim. It’s very informative in understanding how we arrive at halacha, not just what is the halacha; it’s very much more analytical than that.”

Anyone can join the first level of the program, but an applicant to level two, the smicha program, must be a “Torah observant Jewish male” and have a “written recommendation from a recognized Orthodox rabbi.” The students must also follow the written Torah and rabbinic teachings and maintain “personal and moral integrity.”

Students begin in one of two smicha tracks, issur v’heter or Shabbat, receiving written sources and written and audio shiurim via e-mail, said Sicklick. Students are in constant contact with the rabbonim and magidei shiurim (lecturers) by e-mail and telephone.

“It’s more individualized than I had in yeshiva,” Sicklick said. “It’s one on one via e-mail or phone.”

The students must maintain a certain pace to keep up with the material, delivered twice weekly, taking periodic written exams — open books and open notes — at their own discretion. Once a student has passed all the tests, he can sit for the final exam in Israel, where the program is based. Sicklick said that he spent a week and a half on each test.

“I jumped all over it,” said Jack Katz, an accountant who lives in Woodmere. He joined the program when it started and developed a personal connection with Rabbi Todd. “It was a way to enhance learning, not replace the learning in the Bais Midrash. I had to have all the prior tests done before the smicha test in Yerushalayim. You have to stay with it a certain degree; otherwise you will not be able to take the final exam.”

Students came from all over the world, including England, Australia, Israel and across the United States. Rabbi Todd, the executive director of the program, responded via e-mail that there are currently have thousands of students enrolled and hundreds have received smicha so far.

Although the goal of the program is the learning itself, Sicklick described the awarding of the smicha as “amazing, incredible” and “very special.” The final weekend was a shabbaton with people from all over the world who learned from mincha on Friday afternoon throughout Shabbat. The exam was on Sunday and lasted over 12 hours. Monday morning began with vasikin davening (prayers at dawn) in Meiron, with much of the morning spent in the cemetery in Safed, where the author of the shulchan aruch, Rabbi Yosef Caro, is buried. The certificates of smicha were awarded in Rabbi Yosef Caro’s shul there.

“It’s a very, very rewarding experience,” stressed Danzger, “especially since I am nowhere near finished and will do it for years to come. Anyone who avails themselves of the opportunity will feel the same way.”