As I write this – and, hopefully, as you read this – we are in the immediate wake of the Tishrei holidays. These range from Rosh Hashana, which marks the start of the new Jewish year to Simchas Torah, on which we complete the reading of the Torah and immediately begin it again. In this spirit, let us take a quick look at all the great jumping-on points currently available in the OU Torah schedule of Torah-study opportunities.
First, and most obviously, the OU’s Shnayim Mikra, which goes through the weekly parsha aliyah-by-aliyah, starts again this week with parshas Bereishis, taught by Rabbi Eric Levy.
Also, the OU’s Nach Yomi, which studies a chapter of Nach each day, is starting the book of Nehemiah, taught by Rabbi Elli Fischer. This will be followed by Divrei HaYamim (Chronicles I and II), after which we will begin the Nach Yomi cycle again in January with Joshua chapter 1 – the same as our haftarah when we finished reading the Torah on Simchas Torah!
Both Shnayim Mikra and Nach Yomi feature a smörgåsbord of maggidei shiur, including Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb, Rabbi Menachem Leibtag, Rabbi Yitzchok Etshalom, Rabbi Dr. Gidon Rothstein and many other renowned lecturers, as well as the original text in English and Hebrew and the popular Nach Yomi Companion and Shnayim Mikra Companion synopses by Rabbi Jack Abramowitz. Nach Yomi and Shnayim Mikra (as well as some other acclaimed OU Torah series) are available via daily emails straight to your inbox. (And, if Google is any indicator, this paragraph may the first time anyone has ever used the phrase “a smörgåsbord of maggidei shiur!“)
Continuing the theme of Nach, Rabbi Shalom Rosner delivers his own popular Nach shiur, focusing on a different sefer each year. This year, Rabbi Rosner will be teaching Trei Asar, the twelve “minor” prophets. (These prophets were no less great, nor were they less important, they’re only called “minor” because their books are very short.) Get started with Rabbi Rosner’s Introduction to Trei Asar!
Finally, this week Daf Yomi starts maseches Niddah, the last tractate in Shas. The OU’s Daf Yomi Initiative features daily shiurim from Rabbi Moshe Elefant and Rabbi Shalom Rosner, as well as informative supplemental series like Dr. Henry Abramson’s Jewish History in Daf Yomi. Join us as we finish Shas and celebrate with a siyum IY”H January 1 at MetLife Stadium!
Follow these and other OU Torah series on OU Torah or by using the OU Torah app for iOS and Android.