As part of an advanced Rabbinical studies course in Even HaEzer and Choshen Mishpat, a half dozen Rabbis from around the world studying in Online Smicha’s STAIRS program, recently spent nearly 5 hours on a group SKYPE call answering and discussing questions posed by HaRav HaGaon Dovid Schochet, President of the Toronto Rabbinical Council and Senior member of Vaad Rabbonei Lubavitch.
STAIRS, which serves as an acronym for Smicha Training and Advanced Institute for Rabbinical Studies, was created by Online Smicha’s dynamic founder, Dean, and Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Nachman Wilhelm. Wilhelm recently administered the lengthy Kiddushin -Nisu’in exam via SKYPE together with the program’s senior Rav and guide, Rabbi Schochet.
According to STAIRS participant, Rabbi Yitzchak Mendel Wagner, the Rav of the Jewish community in Krefeld, Germany, “Going deep into halacha doesn’t stop by smicha, it starts after smicha. As an unexperienced Rabbi new in the field of Rabbonus, you have to have a Rav that you are connected to, to ask every shailoh, “every question”, but at the same time you have to sit and learn all those halachot yourself to become an expert.”
“The Pulpit Rabbi Course that Rabbi Wilhelm created under the guidance of Rav Schochet from Toronto is the perfect opportunity for Rabbis, especially people like me who are far away from the nearest kollel, to learn and to deepen those halachos in the fields that we have to know most.”
“It won’t take a lot of time until somebody approaches you to ask you to officiate at a wedding, or nebach, you will have to conduct a funeral…[in such a case] you have to know the laws of aveilos (mourning), you will need to know how to perform a tahara,” explains Wagner.
A graduate of the Touro Law Center and practicing attorney for the past 18 years, Rabbi Ahron Fishbein received his smicha last year from Rav Schochet after passing several online tests and a final in-person oral farher (exam) with the Rav. After completing his smicha, Fishbein continued his learning with Online Smicha in both the Hilchos Yom Tov and Hilchos Kiddushin-Nisu’in tracks. Fishbein has been actively learning with the program now for over three years, and most recently participated in the lengthy Kiddushin-Nisu’in exam.
Fishbein highly recommends the program to young rabbis, or anyone who wants to have a good understanding on how to be “misader kiddushin” or who are simply interesting in expanding their knowledge of halacha.
According to Fishbein, the program is even recommended… “for parents, who want to have a good handle on these halachos as they prepare for the chasunas (weddings) of their children.”
“In addition, obviously we don’t ever want to know about it…but it is the challenge and interest of learning for rabbonim to also have a good handle on Hilchos Smachos,” stated Fishbein.
Speaking about his participation in the Kiddushin-Nisuin program, Wagner says, “It was an amazing and intense time. At the end of the first part we had a 5 hour farher (oral exam) with Rav Schochet and I think this became an experience of lifetime for me. I am looking forward to part two, the laws of aveilos.”
Continuing with a broad smile, Wagner says, “Rabbi Wilhelm is blessed to be able to bring Shulchan Aruch to life, and I feel blessed that I can be part if this program.”
A new Series 1, STAIRS Kiddushin-Nisu’in track is set to begin again after Tishrei, G-d willing. Online classes are provided once a week for 90 minutes. The Series 1 track covers the laws needed to perform wedding ceremonies (Yichusin, Kesubah, Kiddushin, Chupah, and Sheva Berachot) and the Series 2 program covers the laws of aveilos (mourning), performing a levaya r’l, and yarhtzeits. Standard and accelerated tracks in isur v’heter are also set to start right after Tishrei.
The programs are brought to you by Online Smicha, in partnership with the Shluchim Office and Shluchim Online school.
For more information or to apply to one of the programs starting after Tishrei, please contact [email protected]
Rabbi Schochet is not just a national treasure, he is an INTERNATIONAL treasure, respected and called upon by Lubavitchers and others worldwide for his vast knowledge. Aside from his tremendous intellect, he also has an incredibly warm and sensitive heart, helping whoever comes to him. Ad meah ve’esrim and beyond!
Knowing him personally I can tell he is one of the most experienced Rabbonim in America today and at the age of 82 ad meah veesrim he continues to be the mora dasra and av beis din of the Toronto community, even the non lubavitchers have great respect Rabbi Schochet greatly, according to Rabbi Chadikov Z”l he was the only whom he could recall that the Rebbe publicly called a Gaon while he was still a Bachur. Now being a Rov for close to 55 years (when he was a bachur he was sent by the rebbe to be rov,… Read more »
Rabbi Schochet is a Lubavitcher national treasure. Boruch Hashem for Rabbi Schochet. ad meiah ve’esrim
I have a better question: Is it possible for a woman to be tested? I bet I could pass a couple tests… 😛
Keep up the good work and much hatzlocha.
Mishoel Dovid.
to post # 2 yr right
but you say hamvdel between chaim and le`movess
Rabbi Fishbein is an extremely well respected lawyer in US Federal Courts and balances Secular Law while conducting his life in a very Chassidish manner!
Rabbi Shochat looks very much like Rabbi Hanokah!
Is it possible for a woman to participate, but maybe only watch and no interact for Tznius (no picture)?