Nearly 500 students graduate from Chabad high schools each year with the hopes of continuing their undergraduate studies the following year in a Chabad seminary.
Today, most Chabad seminaries offer a one-year program, with only about 100 places for students to pursue a second year of studies. While many young women will discontinue their undergraduate studies and take up temporary shlichus (outreach) positions, while others will pursue degrees in teaching, therapies, arts or other sciences the options for them to further their Judaic Studies remain limited.
With the central role young Chabad women play in their homes, and in many instances as leaders in their communities, a strong foundation in education, theology and practical halacha is essential. CyberSem is ideal for such students who will continue pursuing their Bachelor’s degrees. CyberSem’s goal is to provide an online format that resolves the geographic and space problem by offering online seminary courses in a variety of Torah subjects and communications courses.
According to Mrs. Chavi Goldberg, EdD, president and founder of CyberSem, LLC, CyberSem plans to address the needs of a variety of learning styles by utilizing multiple teaching techniques through collaborative and other higher thinking methods in addition to traditional lecture-based instruction. The e-Learning study format includes discussions, chats, synchronous as well as non-synchronous activities and assignments and will provide students with knowledge and comfort with technology that will prepare them to engage in the 21st century job market, if they so desire.
Mrs. Goldberg has been an educator for three decades and is responsible for educational oversight and operations, including curriculum development, program development, faculty and student recruitment, academic excellence and financial oversight. By eliminating the high overhead costs of a traditional brick and mortar institution, CyberSem is able to provide a cost effective solution to women who don’t have affordable learning opportunities available.
In addition to courses in Chumash and Communication Skills, CyberSem is offering one free course in Chassidus based on the maamar Vayishlach Yehoshua: historical background of when the maamar was said, review of the relevant commentaries of the chumash and novi texts, and an in-depth study of the maamar itself.
Enrollment is currently open at http://www.CyberSem.com
Before this project was initiated in any way, I consulted with Rabbi Leshes in Monsey, who encouraged me to continue and make such a program available. If you want more info, please log onto http://www.cybersem.com and send me a personal email and I will be pleased to answer any extra questions.
Each course is being designed to avail our children interactive courses in a wide variety of subjects on a rigorous and challenging level that hopefully will be stimulating to keep our children as life long learners of תורה and חסידות.
I look forward to hearing from you via email.
Who is this Mrs. Goldberg? Which Rabbonim/Mashpiim are providing oversight to this cybersem to ensure that it teaches in a halachically and hashkafically correct manner? This is a fascinating concept, but please provide more info!
You should get rabbi Goldfarb to teach. Hes so interesting.