What to Expect

This Bet Midrash gathers for two hours weekly. We will spend approximately half our time learning in chevruta (in pairs) and half in shiur (as a larger learning community). While you are, of course, welcome to deepen your learning outside the Bet Midrash, there is no expectation of additional study between sessions.

Whether you’re new to learning Talmud or are a seasoned yeshiva-goer, we’ll do our best to support you at every step of the way to make sure you’re challenged at just the right level for you. Don’t know what any of these words mean or what we’re talking about? That’s perfect. You’re in the right place.

If you’re new to learning with SVARA, please plan to attend the following:

New SVARA-nik Orientation: This conversation will introduce you to SVARA and Rabbi Benay Lappe’s CRASH Talk as a framework for the Talmud study we engage in at SVARA. Join us Thursday, June 9th @ 8:00–10:00 PM ET | 7:00–9:00 PM CT | 5:00–7:00 PM PT. Zoom Link (Meeting ID: 833 7550 7327)

How to Learn Talmud SVARA-Style: This introduction will be held 45 minutes before the first shiur of this bet midrash to explore how we learn Talmud in the SVARA method. Join us Tuesday, June 14 @ 7:15 PM ET | 6:15 PM CT | 4:15 PM PT at the same Zoom Link as shiur (Meeting ID: 860 7843 1673)

Here’s how our learning will flow in each session:

CHEVRUTA (PREP): When we gather on zoom, we will send you and your chevruta to a break-out room to prepare the session’s material for approximately one hour. Remember: you and your chevruta are just making best guesses! There’s no need to come to shiur with an understanding of the text! That’s what shiur is for.
SHIUR: When we return from chevruta, we’ll spend our second hour unpacking the text, building our collective understanding of what each of the words mean, and what they mean together.
CHEVRUTA (CHAZARA on previous material + PREP new material): The following week in chevruta, you’ll start with chazara (review) where you’ll go back into the text to work on your understanding of it, and begin to internalize it to the point of memorization. You’ll then prep the new material!
And the cycle goes on and on!

Questions? Comments? Confusions? Hit up Fairy Hours here to connect with a Fairy or Faculty member to help you and your chevruta get unstuck.