[Avodah] More on Mitzvos and Iyun

[Arie Folger]

RSMashbaum wrote:
> I think that the recent spirited discussion of a the halachic implications
> of hiring a worker whose services are ultimately not needed very nicely
> illustrates an idea I have advanced before: a shiur based on a series of
> "court cases" can prove interesting to many otherwise unmotivated high
> school students.

I have a friend who opened a program for chassidische yeshivah drop outs in 
Israel that does exactly that, with one more exciting feature: The cases are 
real cases. They are essentially playing lawyer clerk.

However, while that will turn on students, it won't give them solid knowledge 
they can refer back to. They won't have acquired first hand knowledge of 
primary text (Talmud).

So, IMO, such a curriculum would be great when (a) the students already know 
somewhat how to learn (reasonably good reading skills in Rabbinic Hebrew), 
(b) this is meant to enhance and perhaps preface their classical learning, 
not supplant it.

Good Shabbos,
-- 
Arie Folger
http://www.ariefolger.googlepages.com