One Yeshiva Adopts iPads

Yeshivah Gedolah of Melbourne, Australia is internationally renowned among mainstream Lubavitch Yeshivos for streaming Shiurim according to learning ability, and not according to age.

This model has proven to be incredibly successful, with four levels currently provided separately for Nigleh and Chassidus.

Learning Gemoro requires fluency in a number of different areas, such as reading each Aramaic word with the correct Nekudos, translating the Gemoro’s words precisely and understanding the nuanced meanings of its cryptic phrases, punctuating the Gemoro correctly, grasping the intent and the flow of the Sugya, and exploring its deeper layers of interpretation. Focusing on all of these tasks at once is a challenge.

Recently, the Yeshiva embarked on a new initiative to encourage and assist its Bochurim to further develop each of these skills, through the integration of iPads into the existing learning routine observed in Tomchei-Temimim Yeshivos. The iPads were configured within an internal network in a manner that obviates security and content-access concerns, while incorporating Google Apps for Education and other solutions.

The iPads, which belong to the Yeshivah, are kept by the Hanholo and made available to the Bochurim of Shiur Beis, for note-taking. The notes are automatically copied in real-time to a central server location, where they are accessed by the Maggid Shiur for assessment and correction. The notes are also automatically shared with any parent who opts in.

The Bochurim are also given the iPads for one hour during the afternoon revision of Shiur. During that time, the Bochurim make a daily audio recording of the Gemoro they learned, for assessment by the Maggid Shiur. These audio files are also automatically copied to the server, where they are accessible to the parents. The iPads are also used by the Bochurim to prepare Heoros for the YG Kovetz Heoros.

Technology integration into the learning environment is a relatively novel idea within the Lubavitch Yeshivah-Gedolah system. The opportunity to employ it has produced tangibly good results, and enhanced parent involvement. The iPads augment quality individual interaction between Maggid Shiur and the Bochurim, at a level which was previously inconceivable. The Bochurim are very enthusiastic about the merger of millennia-old Gemoro study with the power of modern mobile technology.

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Another recent special highlight was a series of innovative and inspiring Skype video-conferences, led by international Shluchim. They addressed the students about the significance of Tishrei, and shared some personal reflections dating back from the times when they celebrated these special days with the Rebbe. They also shared some of their experiences as Shluchim of the Rebbe at their respective locations around the globe.

Special thanks to Rabbi Yosef Kantor (Bangkok, Thailand) who addressed the students about Rosh-Hashana, Rabbi Shmuel Lew (London, England) who spoke about Yom-Kippur, Rabbi Michoel Danow (Leeds, England) who focussed on Sukkos, and Rabbi Shaul Wilhelm (Oslo, Norway) who spoke about Simchas Torah.