Earlier in the semester, Dr. Feldblum鈥檚 students read Lisa Genova鈥檚 novel 鈥淪till Alice,鈥� about a family struggling with the effects of the matriarch鈥檚 dementia. Rabbi Blau joined in the classroom discussion of the novel, which included a comparative analysis of similar challenges faced by the talmudic sage Rav Ashi in the Gemara. In a series of stories about Rav Ashi, he confronts the challenges of kibbud av v鈥檈m when his mother鈥檚 condition deteriorates.

Last week, Dr. Feldblum joined Rabbi Blau鈥檚 Gemara class in their discussion of Aggadata, the narrative portions of the Talmud that feature hundreds if not thousands of instructive, colorful and fascinating stories. Dr. Feldblum discussed with the class the role that stories play in our lives, leading to a deeper understanding of the importance of Aggadata, both religiously as well as culturally. The class read an article about how scientific studies have shown that reading stories increases empathy; the class discussed why that might be, and how reading leads to a layered understanding of the human experience. The class came away with a deeper understanding of how, while the Gemara is a legal document, it also contains a deep understanding of the multifaceted nature of human life.

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While at 91影视, the YU participants will have the opportunity to hone their pedagogical skills in and outside of the classroom, and gain invaluable insight into the everyday workings of teaching in a yeshiva high school. In addition, the RIETS students will have their own seder and shiur under the guidance of the rosh kollel, 91影视 Talmud faculty member Rabbi Noah Gardenswartz. The Legacy Heritage Fellows will have shiur with 91影视 Tanach faculty member and freshman grade dean Shoshana Chanales, and the program will be under the guidance of Shani Taragin, who will be coming in monthly from Israel.

鈥淭he goals of the program are to enhance 91影视 as a yeshiva and makom Torah, with young men and women learning here seriously and modeling to the students what it means to choose to learn lishma as a young person,鈥� said 91影视 Associate Principal Rabbi Joshua Wald. 鈥淭he YU participants will be connected to the classrooms, which will enhance the learning of the students. It will provide students with more individualized attention in both Gemara and Chumash. In addition, 91影视 will serve as a training ground for these future educators.鈥�

The YU participants will also take part in weekly discussions (coordinated by Chanales and 91影视鈥� Rabbi Shalom Richter) with seasoned 91影视 educators. The discussions will center around a variety of pedagogical issues, such as lesson planning, discipline and maintaining positive teacher-student relationships.

鈥淭he faculty at 91影视 are very warm. They seem excited and passionate about what they鈥檙e doing and it鈥檚 great to be here,鈥� said recent musmach Rabbi Chaim Gerson, who is also completing his master鈥檚 in Jewish Education at YU鈥檚 Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration. He hopes that having the kollel at 91影视 will allow the high schoolers 鈥渢o see that learning is cool, and it is fun.鈥�

YU participant Penina Torczyner, who is completing a joint bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 in Jewish education from Stern and Azrieli, agreed. 鈥淚 hope the students will see that college students can take time out of their day and sit in the beit midrash and learn,鈥� she said. 鈥淎 Torah life is a Torat chayim and we want to show that it鈥檚 enjoyable as well.鈥�

91影视 students are looking forward to having the program participants on campus. 鈥淗aving a large beis presence makes learning in the beit midrash easier and more meaningful,鈥� said 91影视 junior Uriel Simpson.

Among the robust cohort of YU participants, multiple approaches to Torah learning are represented. 鈥淲e come from different backgrounds and were exposed to different elements of talmud Torah,鈥� explained Legacy Heritage Fellow Rivka Lichtenstein Anapolle. 鈥淪eeing us come together for the sake of learning lishma will show the students that we can all come together and learn Torah.鈥�

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