Beit Midrash Programme

The Immanuel College Beit Midrash Programme (ICBM) started this September. Four university and seminary/yeshiva graduates, two men and two women, have joined Immanuel College to find out more about a career in teaching whilst furthering their Jewish knowledge.

During the course of the year, the ICBM graduates will:

• Assist in the development of the Immanuel College Sixth Form Intensive Learning and Year 10 and 11 Textual Learning Programmes. The syllabus for these classes is designed to equip the students with excellent textual skills and a deeper understanding of how Jewish law, life, philosophy and ethos are expressed in the sources. By the completion of their Sixth Form studies, students should be at a standard of learning that enables them to join study programmes in Israel (Yeshivot and Seminary).
• Create informal opportunities for pupils to discuss ideas and to participate in textual learning in chavrutot and small groups.
• Contribute to the Jewish life of the College through tefillot, the celebration of Chagim, and participation in Shabbatonim and school trips.

The graduates chosen to be on the programme are bright and dedicated with strong records of attainment in both Jewish and secular learning, and possess excellent communication skills.

The Programme is led by:

Rabbi Eliezer Zobin, Rosh Beit Midrash

Born and educated in England, Rabbi Zobin recently returned to the UK, having lived in Israel for some 15 years. He trained there under some of the foremost Talmudists of the generation, including Rabbi Y. Soloveichik, specialising in the in-depth analysis of Torah texts, in particular Gemora. He has taught Gemora and Jewish philosophy at post-Yeshiva level both in Israel and England, and has been involved in founding Community Kollels in Eastern Europe, and working with ‘teenagers at risk’. Currently he lectures for Shaarei Orah Institute, and is the Director of Immanuel College Beit Midrash.

The members of the programme are:


Michal Smith

I graduated from Hasmonean High School as head girl and moved on to MMY seminary in Israel, for a growth-filled year of intensive study of Jewish philosophy and text. Having achieved a  first in Psychology at UCL, I went on to work at JFS as an Informal Educator. I am absolutely passionate about working with youth and sharing the excitement of exploring Judaism.  I have led over 12 camps in Sinai Youth Group and Aish HaTorah groups around the world. I love learning together with people in both one-to-one and large group settings, and I especially  enjoy  working with a variety  of personalities and religious leanings. After  a year's break following the birth of a beautiful baby boy, I am now ready and excited to get back into
the education field.

 

Zvi Ormonde

I attended IJPS primary school and Hasmonean High School. I then learnt at Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh in Jerusalem for two years and then attended Westminster University where I studied Psychology and received a BA Hons. degree.

Currently I am learning and teaching in the Immanuel College Beit Midrash programme. I am passionate about Judaism and have been teaching teenagers Jewish texts through various different organisations for the past three years. Now I hope to share my knowledge and enthusiasm of Judaism with the pupils at Immanuel College.   

Bradley Conway

I am available throughout the day to teach, discuss, or assist with any Jewish texts, questions or dilemmas any of the students may have.

Having been a youth leader in, and managed different clubs and summer camps both in the UK and abroad, for almost 10 years, I realised that my passion was helping children grow and develop as people, so that they are able to deal with situations and be more prepared to handle life as they get older. Having been to Yeshiva for almost 4 years, I decided that I wanted to persue my passions and become a Judaism teacher.