Over the summer, Yeshiva University and its affiliate, the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS) announced a new six-year joint program that enables advanced students to integrate semicha studies into undergraduate education.
Dean of RIETS Rabbi Menachem Penner told The Observer that the program is a create a setup that allows a student who knows that he wants to pursue semicha immediately upon his arrive at the Yeshiva campus.
Rabbi Penner explained that before this alternative, men would usually arrive at Yeshiva College with one year of credits under his belt after spending two years learning in Israel. He would cram the rest of his required college requirements into three years. This is a challenge for all students, especially for those who want to keep up with their Torah learning at the same time.
The philosophy always was to get college done, and then the semicha–minded students would be able to learn and prepare for semicha. However, for a lot of semicha aspirants, it is challenging to maintain Torah study at the level they want while also keeping up with a full undergraduate schedule. Then later while in the semicha program, many of the men are already married or getting involved with their rabbinic careers. They cannot solely focus on their learning then, either.
This new program aims to combat that problem. In the first semester on campus, participants are only expected to take one or two undergraduate courses. In the semesters following, only three or four courses will be required. This will give students the ability to learn in afternoon seder from 4:30- 6:30 PM, an option that was not necessarily feasible for students trying to cram their credits into three years.
The more accommodating schedule also leaves time to start elective classes in the afternoon in machshava, tefillah, Tanach, and halacha. There will be a six year cycle set up which will cover one chelek of the Mishna Berurah each year. Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz will coordinate this element of the new program, even though he will still be teaching at Davis Renov Stahler Yeshiva High School (DRS) in Woodmere. This aspect of the program is an attempt to create a different environment that corresponds better to what semicha candidates will be doing professionally.
The new program is offering a full college education, but done in a way that is more spread out, manageable and allows students to maintain a consistent level of Torah study throughout. Over the course of six years participants can get a BA, semicha and a masters. They can pursue a teaching degree as well.
There are those who oppose the program, claiming it will push out the regular semicha program. Not every semicha candidate knows immediately that it is the path they want to take, and of course the standard three-year undergraduate, three-year semicha program will still be available. The program is just enabling students who know they will be on campus for six years to take advantage of its seamlessness.
As Rabbi Penner put it, “There is no reason to pretend that some fellows coming back to us don’t know they will be here for six years already. They may as well spread out both pursuits over that time frame.”
The program has been two years in the making, with Rabbi Yosef Kalinsky, the associate dean of undergraduate Torah studies at YU, primarily responsible for pushing it through. Ten fellows will participate this year with numbers expected to grow yearly.