(Courtesy of Lamdeinu) Lamdeinu’s early spring semester is filled with new classes, new time slots and old favorites.

The new semester begins on Monday, January 11, at 10:15 a.m. with “Parshanut HaMikra: Sefer Bereishit” taught by Dean Rachel Friedman. This popular shiur for women, which provides an in-depth look at the Torah text and its commentaries, is a Lamdeinu favorite and continues to grow and thrive. Following Parshanut, at 1:00 p.m., men and women are invited to explore the reign of David HaMelekh with Rabbi Hayyim Angel in “David Becomes King.”

On Tuesdays, from 9:15 to 11 a.m., Rabbi Gedalyah Berger will deliver a Talmud shiur for women only. The shiur will focus on Masechet Sanhedrin Perek 4, and delve into the whens and hows of judicial deliberations and verdicts, the reversal of a decision, judicial immunity and double jeopardy.

On Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., Rabbi Gedalyah Berger will consider the halachic ramifications of the pandemic in “Halachot of Coronavirus.” The class will discuss contemporary issues such as Pesach vacations and contracts that were canceled due to the pandemic, fear of infection at the mikveh, and making a bracha on the coronavirus vaccine.

On Thursdays from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., Rabbi Daniel Fridman will give his signature shiur on the Torah portion of the week in “Parashah & Haftarah Pointers.”

On Tuesdays and Wednesdays beginning January 13, Lamdeinu will feature Purim and Pesach learning with exciting new teachers and topics. On Wednesday, January 13, at 9:30 a.m., Lamdeinu welcomes Rabbi Yitzchak Etshalom for a six-part series titled “Palace Intrigue in Shushan of Old: A Peshat Perspective on Megillat Esther.” Learn in-depth about the history, background, characters and plot of Megillat Esther, both from a peshat and derash perspective.

On Wednesday, February 24, at 10:15 a.m., Channa Lockshin Bob will give a class titled “Purim: Fasting and Feasting” to prepare us for the fast and feast ahead.

On Wednesday, March 3, at 10:15 a.m., Lamdeinu will launch its pre-Pesach Wednesday series. This is a unique opportunity to gain new perspectives on Pesach by studying with a different teacher each week. On Wednesday, March 3, Rabbi Menachem Leibtag will speak about “The Greatest Passovers in Biblical History: From Yehoshua to Ezra.” On Wednesday, March 10, Rabbanit Sara Wolkenfeld will explore “The Role of Midrash in the Haggadah of Pesach.” And on Wednesday, March 17, Channa Lockshin Bob will analyze “Real Questions and Fake Questions at the Seder.”

Beginning Tuesday, March 9, at 11:15 a.m., Lamdeinu will feature Rabbi Alex Israel, who will offer a new perspective on Shir HaShirim. Rabbi Israel will teach a three-part series titled “‘Water Cannot Extinguish the Love’: Allegory, Structure and Meaning in Shir HaShirim.” The series will compare the peshat of the Megillah to its metaphorical meaning, and will unpack themes including the human yearning for God, the desire for fulfillment and concepts of nationhood and exile.

Lamdeinu classes are open to both men and women, except for Parshanut HaMikra and Talmud, which are open to women only. Women are also invited to join Lamdeinu on Thursday, January 14, for a Rosh Chodesh Shevat Tefillah, Shirah, and Torah celebration. Tefillah will begin at 9 a.m. and will be led by recording artist Esti Mellul, who also serves as Lamdeinu’s program director. At 10 a.m., Alisa Danon Kaplan will deliver a dvar Torah open to both men and women titled “Tzaddik Ke’Itamar Yifrach: Celebrating Essential Workers.”

All early spring semester classes (January 11 through March 23) will take place online via Zoom. To register, visit https://www.lamdeinu.org/register. For questions, email [email protected]. Lamdeinu looks forward to learning with you!