Teaching Torah
Rav Shimshon Raphael Hirsch (zt”l) (Horeb) points out that Torah is not a book about God, but a book about God’s expectations of man.
As such, it is the book of man. A book of values for human beings and Jews in particular.
Values are not best taught as a subject. They are best taught in the context of life.
Therefore, if not being learned for its own sake, in the confines of a beis medrash, Torah can well be taught as a cross-curricula endeavour (nothing in the universe does not concern Torah – see Tifferes Yisroel; Avos 6:6 on the midah of yishuv.)
Jewish Studies could be presented as a three-prong focus:
Yahadut - general knowledge that could be e-learning and must be passed.
Torah Perspective - of secular studies and life issues.
Advanced Torah Instruction – modules of advanced text-based learning that address a particular topic of interest. Subliminal exposure to Torah learning methodology.
Yahadut is general knowledge that every Jewish student should know and should be a prerequisite of passing the year. It could be taught as a class subject or by e-learning.
Torah Perspective would be based largely on the secular curriculum, giving the Torah perspective on what the students are learning in their class subjects.
Example of 2 and 3:
Pankration - a book on the gladiators
Jewish Studies
Learning some of the vast halachic sources on nezikin (damages) - Chumash through to contemporary halacha
Jewish History
Jewish World at the time; Rebbi Akiva – veahavtah lereacha kamocha. Pirkei Avot etc.
This is what Jewish people of all ages were learning, whilst the Romans were throwing people to the lions.
Relevant, engaging (addresses what the students have to learn in secular) and substantive broadening of understanding of secular material.
Ideal platform through which to illustrate the sophistication of Torah and battle the “Jewed Out” phenomenon
Secular teachers and subject matter experts could be invited to embellish the program.
Advantages
Save the effort and cost of importing complicated curricula and resources
Dynamic curriculum, changing with the secular curriculum
Integrated curriculum
This holistic approach requires substantial Torah learning, academic rigour and unique application that combines the two without diluting either.
It was said of students of Yeshivas Telzhe in Lithuania, that the bochrim (students) were greater in their rounded education than an Oxford scholar.
This approach, if properly carried out, should produce students that obtain a rounded education and thinking skills, far exceeding that of their peers.