Students Receive Smicha Online

By COLlive reporter

Students enrolled in the “Online Smicha” program were tested this past week by two rabbis from their offices in Canada and Israel.

The testers were Rabbi Dovid Schochet, President of the Toronto Rabbinical Council and a member of Va’ad Rabbonei Lubavitch, and Rabbi Mendel Gluckowsky, Rabbi of Kehilat Chabad Rechovot.

Rabbi Gluckowsky tested students from the Accelerated track on Hilchos Shabbos. In addition to a lengthy 7-part final written exam, Rabbi Gluckowsky tested the students orally in small groups, spending about an hour and a half with each group online from his office in Israel.

Using the same teleconferencing platform as the Shluchim Online School, students from Online Smicha logged into the test simultaneously from locations around the world.

“Baruch Hashem we are in a generation today where there is so much limud haTorah, especially now that we are able to use modern technology for it,” he said.

“It gives me chizuk to see that you are taking time off from your busy work lives to get into the real details. I commend you all and am pleased with your dedication and level of involvement.”

Rabbi Schochet, world renowned for his genius Torah knowledge and his great depth in Torah learning, also tested the program’s Standard Track in Hilchos Basar B’Chalav and the Accelerated Track in Hilchos Melicha.

In addition to reviewing extensive written tests, during the oral exams Rabbi Schochet asked brilliant yet practical questions that stressed numerous useful applications of the laws.

Following the testing, Rabbi Schochet expressed his overwhelming satisfaction and delight received from the depth of knowledge, expert answers, and obvious fruits of the students’ efforts.

Online Smicha is an innovative rabbinical ordination program that makes use of interactive web video conferencing.

To date, the rigorous, yet flexible smicha program, run under the direction and guidance of esteemed Torah scholar and Dean of the program, Rabbi Nachman Wilhelm, has attracted students from 6 countries and several continents.

Through the use of interactive web video conferencing, Online Smicha offers a structured learning program for working professionals, retired people, and those who missed the opportunity for “smicha” in yeshiva.

The rigorous, yet flexible program offers a Standard track and an Accelerated track both covering the laws of Basar B’Chalav (Meat with Dairy), Ta’aruvos (Mixtures), Melicha (Salting), Shabbos, and more. In addition, Online Smicha plans to offer a new “Pulpit Rabbi” Track covering the laws of Aveilos (Mourning) and Kiddushin (Marriage Nuptials) right after Pesach.

“The Online Smicha program requires dedication and hard work, and I am pleased to congratulate the talmidim for a job well done,” stated Rabbi Wilhelm.

Participants of the Online Smicha program are able to login to the online shiurim from the comfort of their own home, office, or even while away on business.

Time outside of regular shiurim is dedicated to studying in chavrusas (both online and offline), following up with review questions, tests, and quizzes, and participating in an ongoing interactive dialogue through the site’s private discussion board and group forums,

In addition to written tests and online oral exams, students are also required to participate in at least one in-person oral exam with one of the program’s masmichim.

Seven dedicated students from the Accelerated track will be completing the first cycle of the program, G-d willing, as of Rosh Chodesh Nissan.
Online Smicha is currently accepting applications for both the Accelerated and Standard Tracks set to begin immediately following Pesach.

For more info, onlinesmicha.com