The Full VHP Iyun Program
Each of the following sections will focus on an in-depth study of the underlying principles as well as many practical applications in various areas of halacha. We begin with the sugyas in the Gemara and work our way through the Rishonim, Tur, Beis Yosef, Shulchan Aruch, Misnhah Berurah, through modern day poskim such as Harav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, Harav Moshe Feinstein and Harav Ovadiah Yosef. After learning the principles in-depth we will apply what we have learned on the practical level.
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See Iyun Curriculum
Orach Chaim
Yoreh Deah
Orach Chaim
Hilchos Shabbos
Our study of Hilchos Shabbos includes an in-depth study of the melachos – what is prohibited m’Doryasa as well as m’Drabbanan – and basic halachic principles of Shabbos such as psik reishei, melacha she’eina tzricha legufa, and davar she’eino miskavein. In addition, we will be learning other Shabbos topics such as Hilchos Muktzeh and Amira Le’Akum (use of a non-Jew).
Some Examples:
- Hilchos Bishul – cooking and warming up food on Shabbos. We will learn the basic principles of hilchos bishul such as kli rishon, kli sheni, bishul achar bishul, shehiyah, chazarah, and much more.
- What is the definition of cooking?
- Under what conditions may I return food to the fire?
- How to properly cover the fire. What about an electric hotplate?
- How do I make a cup of tea on Shabbos? How do I warm up a baby’s bottle?
- Hilchos Borer – separating two objects mixed together. We will define ochel and psoles on a deeper level, le’altar, kli hameyeuchad lekach, shnei minei ochlim, and more.
- Defining the prohibition.
- What constitutes a mixture?
- Under what circumstances may I separate one item from another?
- May I peel fruits on Shabbos?
- May I rinse fruits and vegetables on Shabbos to remove the dirt?
- How do I remove bones from fish?
Hilchos Brachos
Our study of Hilchos Berachos focuses on berachos on foods – the bracha before eating as well as the bracha after eating. We will explore concepts such as ikar and tafeil, pas haba bekisnin, brachos on foods made of various ingredients, shinuy makom, and more.
Some examples:
- Bread and Cake
- What constitutes bread?
- If I eat at a Kiddush must I say Birkas Hamazon even though I did not eat bread?
- What bracha do I make on pizza?
- What bracha do I make on schnitzel with breadcrumbs?
- Brachos during a meal:
- If I made hamotzi are there times I must make a bracha during the meal?
- What about on wine and other beverages?
Hilchos Moadim
Hilchos Mo’adim includes an in-depth study of the halachos of Yom Tov including principles such as ochel nefesh and Chol Hamoed as well as specific halachos that apply to the various Yomim Tovim.
Some examples:
- Hilchos Yom Tov
- What melachos are permitted on Yom Tov that are not permitted on Shabbos?
- May I have a shower on Yom Tov?
- How do I light the Yom Tov candles on the second night of Yom Tov?
- Hilchos Chol Hamoed:
- What is permitted and what is forbidden on Chol Hamoed?
- May I do business on Chol Hamoed?
- Halachos of various festivals of the year
- Rosh Hashana
- Yom Kippur
- The obligation to eat on Erev Yom Kippur
- A study of all of the five inuyim.
- How ill must a person be in order to be able to eat on Yom Kippur?
- Sukkos
- What if I am on a family outing, may we have a picnic where there is no sukkah?
- Understanding the halachic principles of the arba minim
- Chanukah
- Where must I light?
- What if I am a guest at someone else’s house?
- Where do I light if I am going away for Shabbos?
- Purim
- How much should I give for mishloach manos and matanos laevyonim?
- Must I get drunk on Purim?
Bekius material:
Certain halachos in Orach Chaim will be studied less in-depth, with the goal of simply mastering the basic halachic rulings. We will cover an extensive amount of ground, the following are just a few examples:
- Hilchos tzitzis.
- Hilchos tefillin.
- Hilchos Netillas Yadayim
- Hilchos Kiras Shema and Tefillah
- Hilchos Kiddush and Havdalah
- Hilchos Tisha B’Av
Yoreh Deah
Each of the following sections focuses on understanding the underlying principles as well as many practical applications. As with Orach Chaim, we will begin with the sugyas in the Gemara and work our way through the Rishonim, down to modern day poskim. We will then apply the principles we have learned on a practical level.
Hilchos Basar B’chalav
In this section we will focus on attaining an in-depth understanding of Hilchos Basar Vechalav – we will learn about the basic prohibition, various harchakos such as waiting in between, separate dishes, not eating on the same table. We will learn and apply principles such as na”t bar na”t.
- Understanding the principles of separation of milk and meat.
- What if a drop of milk spills on the outside of my chulent pot?
- If I cook vegetables in a fleishik pot, may I eat them while drinking a glass of milk?
- If I eat an onion that was cut with a fleishik knife must I wait six hours before drinking milk?
- May I eat meat and drink coffee with non-dairy creamer or must I be concerned that people may think it is milk?
Hilchos Hechsher Keilim
We will study the principles of koshering keilim – when they require koshering and which method must be used.
- If I bought used dishes from a non-Jew what must I do to make them kosher?
- What if it is china or other earthenware material?
- What about glass dishes?
- When must I perform hagalah and when must I perform libun?
Hilchos Tevilat Keilim
Vessels owned by a non-Jew and acquired by a Jew must undergo tevillah in a mikveh. We will learn the underlying principles of this mitzvah including what type of acquisition from a non-Jew necessitates tevillah.
- Which vessels require tevillah?
- What if the required material is only an external layer?
- May I immerse vessels on Shabbos?
- What about the lids of dishes, must they be immersed?
- May I send a child to immerse the vessels?
Hilchos Niddah
We will study the laws of niddah. This will include vestos, harchakos, and a woman who has given birth.
- At what stage does a woman become a niddah?
- What if there was no flow of blood but she found a stain on her clothing?
- How can a husband help his wife when she is ill, if she is a niddah?
- How the chassan and kallah must act if the kallah is a niddah at the wedding.
- May a woman delay the tevillah if it is more convenient?
- What constitutes a chatzitzah – a separation between the mikveh water and the body?
- Is anything different when the night of tevillah falls on Shabbos or Yom Tov?
Hilchos Yichud
We will study the basic principles of hilchos yichud, whether it is prohibited by the Torah or it is a Rabbinic prohibition. We will then apply the principles to many common situations:
- Which women may I not be secluded with?
- May I be alone with my sister, my aunt, my cousin?
- Is there a difference between during the day and nighttime?
- What if my wife is nearby?
- Is it permitted for a man to be alone with two women?
- What if the front door is open?
