By COLlive reporter
Small steps, done regularly, cover large territory. While the thought of reviewing the whole Kitzur Shulchan Aruch might seem daunting, and many are sure they just don’t have the time, a great tool makes it doable.
Rabbi Aryeh Weinstein, a beloved teacher and Shliach at Lubavitch of Bucks County in Pennsylvania, has made the Kitzur as available, well, as a set table where the food is enticing and ready for consumption.
His podcast, Kitzur, gives 10-minute lessons in his trademark clear, warm and engaging style.
“10 years ago, my Shul community made the commitment to study the entire book over a year and I made the commitment to record the daily study in English so they could easily learn their daily study and accomplish this goal,” he said.
“Since then this tool has been accessed by many others. It’s been available on Chabad.org for a few years. It’s always gratifying when people tell me how much it means to them. I was contacted by a Jew is Los Angeles who just wanted to thank me. High school girls in Crown Heights have thanked me for making it easy for them to review for their tests. When I was at the JLI Retreat, a Shlucha told me she listens to them.”
Rabbi Weinstein opens each podcast encouraging his listeners, “Give yourself 10 minutes a day and learn the whole kitzur in one year.” The style is an engaging but easy pace, clear for beginners as well as those who are more learned.
The Kitzur Shulchan Aruch is the definitive text for studying all of the basic Jewish laws that are in regular practice today. These classes present an English translation of the Hebrew original. No knowledge of Hebrew is required. The teachings in this class are for study only and should not be considered as a ruling for deciding any specific case. For questions, please consult a competent halachic authority.
Recently, a family in Crown Heights who lost their father and grandfather, committed to learning it every day in his memory. Rabbi Weinstein made them a moreh shiur (a schedule) that began the day after shiva, with the links to the daily study. “I’d be happy to do this for any family that contacts me,” he says.
The shiur can be found at http://beginningwithin.com/jewishlaw, and is also available on iPhone or Android podcast apps (search “Kitzur.”)
A shliach of the Rebbe! thanks
Yes, been told 80% Rabbanus questions are in Kitzsur.
When HaRav Osdoba shlita was a young man and mentioned to the Rebbe that he was interested in becoming a Rov, the Rebbe told him to be boki in Kitzur. There’s a lot in the KSA for all of us.
We need more of these. Please put it on SoundCloud or youtube.
We’re so proud of you!
What a great resource! Thank you!
The Rebbe encouraged many people to learn
Kitzur