About 1 and a half years ago, an exciting new website was launched for learning Gemara, which has been growing in popularity with students and teachers ever since.
Gemara Academy is a website that has both curricula for teachers to use in the classroom and videos for students to watch. It is both a method and tool for learning and teaching.
The Gemara Academy website videos have had over 8,000 plays since its launch. It is also being used in 7 schools, including Darchai Menachem, Hamesivta, Chabad Cheder of Monsey, Cheder at the Ohel, Cheder of Lakewood, Hillel High Milwaukee and Cheder Menachem Mendel of Seattle.
For actual use in classrooms, Gemara Academy has completed the curricula work on the following Gemaras:
1) פרק אלו מציאות
2) פרק המפקיד
3) פרק הכונס
4) פרק החובל
5) פרק כיצד העדים
They are currently working on פרק השוכר את האומנים , which will also be available in videos on the website.
What is the Gemara Academy Method?
The Gemara Academy Method combines a focus on the understanding of the bigger picture and flow of the Gemara as well as a focus on understanding and being able to learn the Gemara text.
One of the most common difficulties is the vast expansiveness of the Gemara that makes it so hard to stay focused and see the structure of the Gemara. Another challenge is the feeling of not knowing what approach and method the Gemara will use in the current Sugya.
To deal with this, Rabbi Hoffinger created a system of teaching using PowerPoint presentations that use flowcharts that show exactly which tools the Gemara uses in each Sugya and the larger map of the Gemara.
Because Gemara is a study of the Mishna, it therefore uses the same tools over and over again; since in the process of analyzing a teaching the same tools are always used. As a result after a very short time the student begins to become more familiar with these tools that the Gemara uses as he sees them used over and over again within the visual context of the flowchart.
One of the important goals of Gemara Academy is that the student come to appreciate the text, and not that the text be replaced with a visual based class. As a result each flowchart is exactly parallel and mirrors the Gemara that it’s teaching. In addition each PowerPoint presentation of the Gemara also has the Gemara text with the Tzuras Hadaf so that the student can become familiar and comfortable with the text.
Gemara Academy seeks to accomplish a number of things:
1) Show the map of the Gemara so that the student can see the bigger picture and not become lost in the details
2) To become familiar with the style and tools that the Gemara uses
3) To see through the flowchart how the ideas in the Gemara are developed
4) To exactly mirror the text so the student comes to appreciate and become comfortable with the text
All of this will help students become more independent in their learning. As they master the style and tools the Gemara uses, they will feel more empowered and able to approach a new piece of Gemara and learn it on their own.
What is the Gemara Academy Tool?
Gemara Academy is designed to be a tool for teaching Gemara in a classroom setting.
The Gemara Academy Curriculum is a PowerPoint based tool that can be used in classrooms for teaching Gemara. This will bring the Gemara to life and color for the students.
It is also designed to be a tool for learning Gemara. The video classes are a personal study partner for a student to learn at their own pace. The video classes can be paused, rewound, or played over again. It can be used to prepare for the next day’s class or for review of the previous day’s class.
The Gemara Academy has just launched a beautiful and new website at http://gemaraacademy.com/.
Keep it up! This is a fantastic tool.
This is incredible! Thank you so much for making this available to the public. Can’t even begin to imagine the amount of work and energy goes into this project. The Zchus of Harbatzas Torah to make it accessible even to Bochrim who have difficulty following standard protocal is beyond measure!
There is no fee for students to watch the video.
It is possible for a tutor to get access to the PowerPoint based tool to use with a single student.
You can inquire about it on our website
what a nice comprehensive program! wonderful that students have access to this helpful informative website.
Great program+great teacher. Gemara academy is Clear , concise, and to the point.
The “contact us” is working now. We can also be reached at [email protected]
The new website is beautiful. Much more organized and user friendly.
Can a tutor purchase curriculum program for a single student?
How do I contact R Hoffinger re using this program in my classroom? The link on the website doesn’t seem to be working.
I’m impressed with how many gemara curricula are already available. This is a Huge amount of work. Yasher koach!
this is amazing, very well presented and a great idea.
This is an amazing program! I watched these videos on vimeo. Rabbi Hoffinger has done an amazing job at streamlining the gemarrah. I wish I grew up with this type of learning style in my classroom
great job keep it up
This is an incredible peulah.
May this program go Machayil El Choyil!!!
Tizkeh LMitzvos!
Good job, i really appreciate this work. When i will have to dust of the gemara to study with my children, this will be really handy.
Is there a cost for students to watch videos?
We need more of this! Keep up the amazing work.
wow!! your program is wonderful!
The videos are interesting to watch-even for women!
Thank you and much Hatzlacha in all your work!
Now my kids might have a chance
Now my kids might have a chance
I am so happy to see that this project is gaining speed, and being implemented. as a teacher of Older Bachurim, I believe that a multimedia l;earning experience brings the study methods up to date. to paraphrase the Rebbe (regarding the song “Nyet Nikavo”) the words are the same, and the song is the same, the tone is different. I commend the schools who took the bold step of moving forward and offering a working model for their students, I commend Rabbi Hoffinger for pressing ahead with this work. many people start new programs and methods for teaching Gemara, but… Read more »
If only Chananya my Rebbi!!!
The world is lucky to have this.
Keep up the amazing work
I like the concept, חילך לאורייתא!
Kudos to a job well done. Thought out. From a caring and intelligent individual. Our boys can succeed with inovative ideas such as these.
Rabbi Hoffinger is doing trailblazing work! This is the ultimate in differentiated instruction as each student effectively has control over his own pace. Awesome!!
Amazingly simple and practical
a must for every Yeshivah
Incredible work! Clear and user friendly! Thank you
Thank you Reb Chananya!
I have taught haschalas gemorah for years. This system makes things so much clearer for the new student and reachable for the struggling student.
Much hatzlacha
Kol Hakavod Reb Chananya.
Great job. May you go from strength to strength.
I wish I had this growing up.
As a student, is there a way I can keep track of which classes I’ve watched so far, like where I’m up to in my learning, with the videos?
Hatzlacha raba
I’ve use these slide shows even though I’m not a רבי. I found it enhanced my larger knowledge of the סוגיא layout dramatically.
I wish I had this growing up.
Rabbi Hoffinger has amazing skills for explaining very clear any subject, especially gemoro.
much Hatzlacha!
The website is still fixing up some last bugs. The Contact Us is not working yet. It will hopefully be up and running sometime today.
כל הכבוד!!
It’s amazing to see the the perseverance that you have, I remember a year ago it was just an idea, and now 7 schools later, a beautiful website, you have a bright future!
I wish this was available when I was in Yeshivah. Gemmara would have made more sense to me and would have been more enjoyable.