Since its inception in 1970, Mercaz HaTorah has distinguished itself as an institution fostering scholarship and promoting creativity and research. As a postsecondary institute for Judaic and Talmudic Studies, Mercaz HaTorah provides its students with a rigorous, structured program of intellectual studies to develop skills in textual study, and a methodology for enhanced knowledge of classical source materials.

Students accepted to Mercaz HaTorah are drawn from all over the world, particularly the U.S., and are selected based on their academic merit, growth potential, and personal commitment to scholarship and Jewish ethics. Mercaz HaTorah endeavors to develop within its students a high level of understanding of and appreciation for the wisdom and philosophy embodied in traditional Jewish scholarship. It trains students in the application of critical and discriminating thought and action, and prepares them to assume positions as informed, knowledgeable and committed Rabinic and lay leaders.

PROGRAM OF STUDY

Mercaz HaTorah places the study of the Babylonian Talmud at the core of its curriculum. The vast body of subsequent post-Talmudic literature elucidates the more difficult and complex Talmudic passages and concepts. It also organizes and codifies practical and applicable laws, and derives traditional formulations and frameworks for solutions to future Halachic issues. Thus, to gain proficiency in the reading of the Talmudic text, students acquire comprehension of the issues and concepts elucidated in each folio, and develop an ability to analyze textual materials throughout the Talmudic tractates. These goals are realized through concurrent mastery of classical commentaries such as Rashi, Tosafot, Ramban, Rashba, and Ritva, in addition to Medieval codifiers including Rambam, Ran, Rosh, and Rif.

To facilitate the student’s Talmudic progress, Mercaz HaTorah has adopted the following learning pattern: each academic term highlights a Talmudic tractate (or its segments) which is uniformly studied by the entire student body. The variations in study levels depend upon the year of study the student is in and whether the course constitutes a survey or an intensive study of the tractate. In each year, study proceeds according to a set progression.

During the first year, students acquire proficiency in the Hebraic and Aramaic readings, in the structure and style of Talmudic argumentation, as well as the explication of the interpretive and legal posits of the classical texts and their commentaries.

Second year students acquire mastery of textual readings. The complexities of the Talmudic style, the articulation of the argumentative process, and the elicitation of conclusive decisions from these texts are explored in depth. Similar concentration and inferential deductions are applied to the classical commentaries. Lectures focus on the deductive process, as students are encouraged to probe and challenge pat interpretations of comparative textual contradictions.

Students who attain the third year advanced level of Talmudic research and analysis hone their analytic skills in understanding the novella of the Rishonim and the methods of cataloging their diverse Halachic approaches. Study of the Maimonidean Code of Law as a quasi-legally binding discipline is introduced by the process of gleaning the Rambam’s interpretative stances in the Talmud from premises evident in his Halachic decisions. Classic Maimonidean commentators are also examined. Similarly, the interpretive works of prominent Achronim are employed in understan­ding the legal and theoretical posits of the Rishonim. In addition, the diverse approaches of leading 19th and 20th century Talmudic analysts receive prominent attention.

Source of official student records: Registrar, Mercaz HaTorah, 17 Bet Ha’Arava, Talpiot,  Jerusalem, 93389, Israel.

Titles of evaluated learning experiences

Listed below are the titles of all evaluated learning experiences for this organization, grouped under three headings. Information on the college credit recommendation established for individual learning experiences in each of the three areas can be accessed through the links below:

Foundation Courses
Survey Courses
Intensive Study Courses

FOUNDATION COURSES
Bible 101 - Studies in the Pentateuch (B101)
Bible 201 - Advanced Studies in the Pentateuch (B201)
Bible 201 - Advanced Studies in the Pentateuch and Midrashic Literature (B201)
Bible 301 - Advanced Studies on Midrashic Literature relating to the Weekly Torah Portion (B301)
Halacha 101 - Laws of Daily Living (H101)
Halacha 201 - Aspects of Daily Living (H201)
Halacha 301 - Sabbath Laws (H301)
Philosophy-Religious Ethics 101 - Studies in Traditional Jewish Thought and Ethics (PRE101)
Philosophy-Religious Ethics 201 - Duties of the Heart: Trust in God (PRE201)
Philosophy-Religious Ethics 301 - Proverbs (PRE301)

SURVEY COURSES:
Survey Bava Batra (T17)
Survey Bava Kama II
Survey Bava Metziah I
Talmud 10 - Survey Bava Kama I (T10)
Talmud 11 - Survey Kethuboth I (T11)
Talmud 12 - Survey Kethuboth II (T12)
Talmud 13 - Survey Yevamoth I (T13)
Talmud 14 - Survey Yevamoth II (T14)
Talmud 15 - Survey Bava Kama (T15)
Talmud 16 - Survey Bava Metzia (T16)
Talmud 17 - Survey Bava Batra II (T17)
Talmud 18 - Survey Kidushin I (T18)
Talmud 19 - Survey Kidushin II (T19)
Talmud 20 - Survey Nedarim I (T20)
Talmud 21 - Survey Nedarim II (T21)
Talmud 22 - Survey Gitin (T22)
Talmud 24 - Survey Pesachim (T24)
Talmud 25 - Survey Sukah (T25)
Talmud 26 - Survey Makot (T26)
Talmud 27 - Survey Yuma (T27)
Talmud 28 - Survey Sanhedrin (T28)
Talmud 29 - Survey Bava Batra I (T29)
Talmud 30 - Survey Kidushin III (T30)
Talmud 31 - Survey Kidushin IV (T31)
Talmud 32 - Survey Yuma (T32)
Talmud 33 - Survey Bava Metziah I
Talmud 34 - Survey Bava Metziah III

INTENSIVE STUDY COURSES:
Bava Batra (T148, T248, or T348)
Bava Kama II
Talmud Bava Metziah I
Talmud 110, 210, or 310 - Kethuboth I (T110, T210, or T310)
Talmud 111, 211, or 311 - Kethuboth II (T111, T211, or T311)
Talmud 120, 220, or 320 - Yevamoth I (T120, T220, or T320)
Talmud 121, 221, or 321 - Yevamoth II (T121, T221, or T321)
Talmud 130, 230 or 330 - Gitin (T130, T230, or T330)
Talmud 135, 235, or 335 - Kidushin I (T135, T235, or T335)
Talmud 136, 236, or 336 - Kidushin II (T136, T236, or T336)
Talmud 137, 237, or 337 - Kidushin III (T137, T237, or T337)
Talmud 138, 238, or 338 - Kidushin IV (T138, T238, or T338)
Talmud 139, 239, or 339 - Bava Kama I (T139, T239, or T339)
Talmud 140, 240, or 340 - Bava Kama (T140, T240, or T340)
Talmud 144, 244, or 344 - Bava Metzia (T144, T244, or T344)
Talmud 147, 247, or 347 - Bava Batra I (T147, T247, or T347)
Talmud 148, 248, or 348 - Bava Batra II (T148, T248, or T348)
Talmud 150, 250, or 350 - Sukah (T150, T250, or T350)
Talmud 155, 255, or 355 - Pesachim (T155, T255, or T355)
Talmud 160, 260, or 360 - Makot (T160, T260, or T360)
Talmud 161, 261, or 361 - Makos (T161, T261, or T361)
Talmud 170, 270, or 370 - Nedarim I (T170, T270, or T370)
Talmud 171, 271, or 371 - Nedarim II (T171, T271, or T371)
Talmud 180, 280, or 380 - Sanhedrin (T180, T280, or T380)