Greater Boston NCSY Presents: Benchmark

Explore Judaism Wisdom In The Merit of Israel Hostages.

The Jewish community is at a critical point. Since October 7th, the Jewish people have been at war. In Israel, they’re fighting for their lives against Hamas and terror. Jews around the world are also fighting a war. A war in school and a war on social media. Everywhere we turn we see our enemies out in the open asking for Israel to be no longer exist. But we will win, as we have Hashem on our side! We have to stand up for ourselves and one of the main ways to do so is by taking some time in your week to explore your heritage. One of the main ways to fight back is by diving deeper into the rich heritage of the Torah and Jewish Values.  We believe in Judaism thought that our extra Torah study of Jewish wisdom can change the outcome of heavenly decisions on earth.
In the merit of the over 240 hostages, let’s make a small but extra commitment to take on JUST 10 minutes of learning through the Benchmark program. Benchmark is a Boston NCSY initiative to create a culture and community around opting-in on weekly Jewish learning, completing a Sefer (Jewish book), and essential mentorship opportunity. The goal is to create a movement where 200 teens in the Greater Boston area commit to learning on a weekly basis with mentors (primarily college students). We’ll have a marketplace of Torah Study options and times, and all you’ll have to do here is sign up and select the session you want to join! You can also switch to a different session each week if you want as well. The main point is that we go on a Torah values exploration for ten minutes each week!

 A Few Important Notes: 

  1. Please understand this is a weekly commitment. Of course, if you miss one here or there that is ok! However, these learning groups will only be amazing if you show up consistently!
  2. If you do want to sign up to learn, you need to sign up at a minimum for one slot during the week. The MAXIMUM you can sign up for is one learning group per day. (if you are interested in 2 or more of the learning groups on the same day please reach out to Rabbi Riesel, Sol Feder, or Mattie Watson. 
  3. We are ONLY accepting 6 teens per group at the moment so first come, first serve on the groups!
Below please see the list of advisors, there time there learning and what they are learning.

 

The official opening session of NCSY Benchmark will be on November 22nd!

How to join:

  • Fill out the form HERE
  • In the form, you can decide to select your own group to learn with or you can be put in a group.
  • Your group will be paired up with a compatible advisor
  • You will receive an email to confirm your group and advisor.

 

Rules and Parameters:

  1. Teens have to commit to 4 sessions before qualifying for a Sefer.
  2. Teens must choose one weeknight that they will participate in for the duration.
  3. Teens must not miss more than 2 sessions out of every 10.

Benchmark Tracks:

Scroll Down For More Details!

  • Sol Feder – Sundays at 10pm – Iggeret Harambam: Imagine receiving a secret letter from a medieval genius! “Iggeret HaRambam,” written by the legendary Moses Maimonides, is like a treasure map of wisdom. In this ancient note, he shares mind-bending ideas about the Bible, deep thoughts on philosophy, and the secrets of Jewish law. It’s like getting a personal letter from a genius mentor who wants to unlock the mysteries of the world with you!
  • Tamar Israel – Monday at 6:15pm – Open Your Eyes:  Open Your Eyes is a sefer that truly opens your eyes to Hashem presence in many different aspects of life. It takes us on a personal tour of Hashems world showing us how to appreciate every amazing aspect of creation and its creator. opening this sefer opens your eyes to a whole new way of living.
  • Charne Lesnoy – Monday at 7:00pm – Olam Hamidos: Olam HaMiddos talks about each middah (character trait) and how improving our middos can help us live full and happy lives. Learning this Sefer will teach us how to build a better version of ourselves and give us a better outlook on life so we can approach every situation with the tools we need.
  • Yonah Erlbaum – Monday at 7:30pm – Mesilas Yesharim: Written by the legendary R’ Moshe Chaim Luzzato, the Mesilas Yesharim is a guidebook for our purpose in this world. He walks through the fundamentals of what our goals in life should be and teaches us how to understand, and in turn, achieve those goals in an incredibly unique way.
  • Elisheva Glatt – Monday at 10:00pm – Gates of Prayer:  Gates of prayer by Rav Shimshon Pincus is a Sefer that explores the concept of tefillah (prayer). It goes through different topics regarding prayer in general (what prayer is all about, how to work on prayer) and then it goes into different categories of tefillot based on the different words the Rabbis of Chazal use to describe prayer. It is an amazing work which truly has the power to change how you approach the concept of prayer.
  • Mikey Neusner – Tuesdays at 7:15pm –  Pirkei Avos: Pirkei Avot, often translated as “Ethics of the Fathers” is a compilation of short ethical teachings from the Mishna. It focuses on imparting ethical guidance, wisdom, and principles for leading a pure and meaningful life.
  • Gabi Riffkin – Tuesdays at 9:00pm – Living Inspired: Rabbi Akiva Tatz’s bestselling, remarkable exploration of Torah patterns & Jewish thought will show you how to live an inspired life! Learn how understanding deep ideas of Torah will greatly affect and enrich your everyday experiences.
  • Jake Falik – Tuesdays at 10:00pm – Beis Halevi on Bitachon: Beis halevi on bitachon is a great Seder on the combination of belief faith and hishtadlus (doing your own work).
  • Eliana Marcus – Wednesday at 6:15pm – Pathways of Mussar:  This sefer explores 18 different levels of Middos (character traits) through characters in the Torah. By seeing how they lived with these traits, we can learn how to channel them into ourselves, and emulate them in order to grow into better people. Learning is done in a PRACTICAL and STRAIGHTFORWARD way, while learning directly from the Torah simultaneously.
  • Dovid Engel – Wednesday at 8:15pm – Master your Words Master your Life: Master your words, master your life is an epic Sefer that gives you real life scenarios and real-life answers to questions about when it’s permissible to speak about others and when it’s better to hold ourselves back. After going through even a couple of lessons you will see that the way you speak about others and your perception of them is guaranteed to change!
  • Hannah Marill – Wednesday at 9pm – Rav Sacks on the Parsha: Rabbi Sacks in his book on going through the Parsha takes a story that comes up and makes it meaningful to us. He talks a lot about our relationships in life, Emunah, connecting with our friends, and other big ideas within Judaism.
  • Sarah Rabitz – Thursday at 7:15pm – Living in the Presence: Together, with the help of the book Living in the Presence, we will focus on acquiring a peaceful mindset in our everyday crazy lives. In order to do so you will begin to understand the unique gift God has placed inside of you, and as a result begin to better appreciate who you are. After all, if you do not understand WHO you are and how special YOU are, HOW will you be able to best recognize your potential and reach fulfillment and enjoyment your life?
  • Michelle Kirschner – Thursday at 9:30pm – Art of Tefillah: The Art of Tefillah is a Sefer about looking and examining Tefillah through a different lense. This Sefer goes the extra mile of providing challenges at the end of each topic we learn so that you can try to implement Tefillah in the right way.
  • Rabbi Yudi Riesel- Sunday Night at 8:30pm- Learn to Read Hebrew: Go on the important and incredible journey to learn how to read hebrew and get access to all the  important texts, like prayer, the Torah, amnd Talmud! It’s a slow but consistent process and WELL worth the journey!
  • Uriel Cohen- Monday Night at 8:30pm- Gemara Boot Camp: Calling all teens that want to discover the brilliance and analytical journey of Talmudic study, join Uriel as he shows how to deconstruct and discover the wisdom! Primarily for teens on the Yeshiva track. (*Also, this track is for boys only)
  • Podcast Fellowship- Special Opportunity for Seniors!

 

Here is a list of other books you can choose if you’d like instead:

Jewish Thought: 

  • Iggeres Haramban
  • A Letter in the Scroll
  • Derech Hashem
  • Mesilas Yesharim
  • Magic Touch
  • Permission to Believe
  • Permission to Receive
  • Praying with Fire
  • Pirkei Avos
  • 6 Constant Mitzvos
  • Chafetz Chaim- Daily Companion
  • Chovas Hatalmidim
  • Praying with Fire
  • Judaism Unraveled

 

Halacha/Jewish Law: 

  • Kitzur Shulchan Aruch
  • Peninei Halacha
  • Kosher Kitchen
  • Laws of Daily Living
  • Shaarei Halacha
  • Guidelines Series

 

Gemara: 

  • Taanis
  • Megillah
  • Makkos
  • Chagigah
  • Moed Kattan

 

– To join the incredible Benchmark program, please click HERE

Jewish Thought:

  • Iggeres HaRambam- according to tradition, after his exile from Spain for his defense of Judaism, the great Ramban (Nachmanides) sent this letter to his son. The letter which many recite weekly gives a blueprint for an ethical life as timely today as it was then. This book presents it as the basis for a beautiful collection of insights, comments, and anecdotes.
  • A letter in the scroll by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks- written originally as a wedding gift to his son and daughter-in-law, A Letter in the Scroll is Rabbi Sacks’s personal answer to that question, a testimony to the enduring strength of his religion. Tracing the revolutionary series of philosophical and theological ideas that Judaism created — from covenant to sabbath to formal education — and showing us how they remain compellingly relevant in our time, Sacks portrays Jewish identity as an honor as well as a duty.
  • Derech Hashem, Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzato- Derech HaShem is a philosophical text written in the 1730s by Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto. It is considered one of the quintessential handbooks of Jewish thought. The text covers a vast gamut of philosophical topics in the vast spectrum of classical Judaism’s outlook on the world.
  • Mesilas Yesharim- Composed in Amsterdam (1738 CE). Mesillat Yesharim is an ethical (musar) text composed by the influential Rabbi Moshe Hayyim ‎Luzzatto (1707–1746). It was written and published in Amsterdam. The earliest known manuscript ‎version, written in 1738, was arranged as a dialogue between a hakham (wise man) and ‎a hasid (pious person). Before publication, it was rearranged to have only one speaker. The ‎dialogue version often sheds light on the more well-known version. Mesillat Yesharim is probably ‎Luzzato’s most influential work
  • Magic Touch-  The Magic Touch explores the mystery and majesty of touch – leading up to, and within the context of marriage – all from a traditional Jewish perspective.
  • Permission to Believe-  by Rabbi L. Kelemen is the best available logical approach to G-d’s existence, written in English, that I have come upon. Rabbi Keleman explains via teological, moral, cosmological, and historical reasoning that will appeal to the skeptic who seeks rational proof to know that G-d Is.
  • Permission to Receive- Those who passionately value both intellectual integrity and their spiritual inheritance and those separated from their Jewish heritage only by healthy skepticism, will find in this book Permission to Receive.
  • Praying with Fire- Praying With Fire is the ultimate guidebook to fine-tune attitudes and approaches to daily communicating with Hashem. The book examines several key components of meaningful tefillah, such as: -Igniting the Power of Prayer.
  • Pirkei Avos- Pirkei Avot, which translates to English as Chapters of the Fathers, is a compilation of the ethical teachings and maxims from Rabbinic Jewish tradition. It is part of didactic Jewish ethical literature.
  • 6 Constant Mitzvos- Based on a series of lectures by noted scholar Rabbi Yitzchak Berkowitz, co-author of A Lesson a Day, the groundbreaking work on shemiras halashon, The 6 Constant Mitzvos is a book that will transform the way we live our lives.
  • Chafetz Chaim- Daily Companion- The concepts and laws of proper speech as formulated by Sefer Chofetz Chaim arranged for daily study by the Manchester Rosh Yeshivah, Rabbi Yehudah Zev Segal. This book has been designed to make this learning accessible to every Jew, of every background and level of learning. The sources in Sefer Chofetz Chaim are given for each day’s lesson. The daily lessons follow the Shmiras Haloshon Yomi Calendar dividing into segments the lessons so that the entire Sefer can be studied three times a year.
  • Chovas Hatalmidim- Composed in Warsaw (c.1928 – c.1932 CE). Chovat HaTalmidim (lit. ‘Students’ Obligation’) is an ethical work and self-development guide for young students, authored by the Rebbe of Piaseczna. It is the only work that was published during his lifetime and has become a standard textbook in contemporary yeshivot.
  • Praying with Fire- With soul-stirring introductions by HaRav Mattisyahu Salomon and Rabbi Yisroel Reisman, Praying With Fire is the ultimate guidebook to fine-tune attitudes and approaches to daily communicating with Hashem. The book examines several key components of meaningful Tefillah, such as: Igniting the Power of Prayer.
  • Judaism Unraveled- How do we know G-d exists? • Why did G-d create the universe? • If G-d knows the future, how can we have free will? • Isn t the concept of the Chosen People inherently racist? • Why do Orthodox Jews not accept conversions performed by other Jewish denominations? • How could the Torah sanction the killing of certain ancient non-Jewish peoples, such as the Amalekites? • Why does Judaism prohibit wine touched by a non-Jew?

 

Halacha/Jewish Law:

  • Kitzur Shulchan Aruch- Composed in Uzhgorod (c.1844 – c.1864 CE). The Kitzur Shulhan Arukh is a summary of the Shulhan Arukh of Joseph Karo with reference to later commentaries, The Kitzur states what is permitted and what is forbidden without ambiguity
  • Peninei Halacha- Peninei Halakha is a comprehensive series of books on Jewish law applied to today’s ever-changing world. In this series, Rabbi Eliezer Melamed’s well-organized, clear, and concise writing style brings the halakha, from principle to practical detail, to readers of all backgrounds. With over 400,000 copies in circulation, Peninei Halakha stands as one of the most popular and useful halakha series in Israel today.
  • Kosher Kitchen– The Kosher Kitchen he explains the basic principles of kashrus and their practical ramifications, showing us how to avoid problematic situations and how to recognize halachic questions and ask them correctly.
  • Laws of Daily Living– A comprehensive halachic guide to Morning Routines, Preparations for Prayers, Tallis, Tefillin, The Berachos, Amen, Pesukei Dezimrah
  • Shaarei Halacha– This masterpiece fills a great need for our generation–a generation characterized by a thirst for the eternal values of Judaism. Now, the English-speaking reader can enjoy a clearly written and easy-to-read summary of Jewish law, based on the Mishnah Berurah. Among the many topics included in this work are: Tzitzis, the daily routine, prayer, tefillin, blessings, the Sabbath, festivals and special days, the dietary laws, and mourning.
  • Guidelines Series- this concise book contains everything you need to know about cooking on Shabbos.
  • Sefer HaMitzvos Hakatzar – Written by the Chafetz Chaim, this Sefer includes all the commandments applicable in our time, including those contingent upon the Land of Israel, with invaluable commentary and explanation. Hebrew text with facing English translation.

Gemara: 

  • Taanis– Composed in Talmudic Babylon (c.450 – c.550 CE). Taanit (Fasting) belongs to the second-order, Moed (Festivals), and discusses the regulation of the special fast-days in times of drought or other untoward occurrences. It has four chapters.
  • Megillah–  Composed in Talmudic Babylon (c.450 – c.550 CE). Megillah (Scroll) belongs to the second-order, Moed (Festivals), and discusses regulations and prescriptions regarding the reading of the scroll of Esther at Purim, and the reading of other passages from the Torah and Neviim in the synagogue. It has four chapters.
  • Makkos–  Composed in Talmudic Babylon (c.450 – c.550 CE). Makkot (Lashes) belongs to the fourth order, Nezikin (The Order of Damages), and discusses collusive witnesses, cities of refuge, and the punishment of lashes. It has three chapters.
  • Chagigah– Composed in Talmudic Babylon (c.450 – c.550 CE). Hagigah (Festival Offering) belongs to the second-order, Moed (Festivals) and the Three Pilgrimage Festivals (Passover, Shavuot, Sukkot) and the pilgrimage offering that men were supposed to bring in Jerusalem. It has three chapters.
  • Moed Kattan- Composed in Talmudic Babylon (c.450 – c.550 CE). Moed Qatan (Little Festival) belongs to the second-order, Moed (Festivals), and discusses Chol Hamoed, the intermediate festival days of Pesach and Sukkot, and the laws of mourning. It has three chapters.

Mishna: Choose a Mesechta and work towards completing a few Mishna’s a day!

 

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