The Judaic Studies curriculum at YULA is built to immerse students in the richness of classical Jewish texts, fostering both deep textual skills and a lasting passion for limmud Torah. Our goal is not only to educate, but to ignite a lifelong love for learning and living Torah.
We emphasize more than just knowing how to keep mitzvot, we focus on understanding why we do them. By exploring the meaning, purpose, and spiritual depth behind halacha and hashkafa, students come to see Torah not just as a set of obligations, but as a guide for a meaningful, inspired Jewish life.
At YULA, Judaic Studies is More Than a Curriculum – It’s a Way of Life.
Our goal isn’t only to teach Torah; it’s to ignite a lifelong love for it. We nurture a deep connection to Torah learning and inspire spiritual growth in every student. Through an emphasis on mitzvot bein adam laMakom and bein adam lachaveiro, tefillah, chesed, and a strong bond with Medinat Yisrael, we cultivate both knowledge and character.
At YULA, Torah is not something you just learn, it’s something you live. We strive to bring out the joy, meaning, and beauty of shmirat hamitzvot in everyday life. Most importantly, our students build lasting, personal relationships with their mechanchot, who serve as mentors and role models, helping guide their Avodas Hashem both inside and far beyond the classroom.
We offer multiple learning tracks in Judaic Studies, from (applied) beginner through advanced (honors) so each student can thrive at the level that’s right for her. Placement is thoughtfully determined upon acceptance, taking into account a student’s background, skills, and motivation.
But growth doesn’t stop there. Throughout high school, we continually assess each student’s progress to ensure they’re in the right environment to flourish. Movement between tracks is always possible, allowing for a dynamic, individualized path of limmud haTorah that supports real, lasting growth.
Chumash
The Chumash program at the Girls Division is designed to give every student a strong foundation in Chamisha Chumshei Torah. We emphasize not only textual familiarity, but also the skills to approach psukim with clarity and confidence.
Students develop proficiency in kriah and textual analysis, guided by the wisdom of classic mefarshim, from Rishonim to Acharonim. Many classes take a thematic approach, uncovering the deeper messages within the parshiyos and exploring how pshat and drash each bring out different facets of the Torah’s eternal truths.
Our goal is for students to experience the beauty and depth of Chumash as both an intellectual journey and a spiritual anchor.
Nach
YULA’s Nach program offers students a rich and meaningful encounter with Neviim u’Ketuvim, blending conceptual depth with textual mastery. Structured as a four-year chronological journey, the curriculum moves thoughtfully between Nevi’im Rishonim and Nevi’im Acharonim, guiding students through the sweep of Jewish history and the spiritual legacy of our prophets.
Through close study of the pesukim, students gain insight into the lives and messages of the Nevim, the historical context in which they spoke, and the enduring relevance of their words. The program emphasizes not only textual and thematic skills, but also mussar and personal growth, encouraging students to see themselves as links in the chain of the ongoing mesorah, inheritors of a sacred tradition and active participants in the unfolding story of Am Yisrael.
Nach at YULA becomes more than just a subject, it’s a formative experience that shapes identity, values, and a deep sense of Avodas Hashem.
Halacha
YULA’s four-year Halacha program empowers students to engage with Halacha not just as a set of laws, but as a living guide for everyday life. Through the study of core areas: Tefillah (prayer), Brachot (blessings), Kashrut (dietary laws), Nashim (women) and Shabbat, students gain practical knowledge and a deeper appreciation for the rhythms and values of Jewish living.
We are proud of our diverse student body, and the Halacha curriculum reflects that. We take care to distinguish between Ashkenazi and Sefardi psak and minhagim, ensuring that each student feels seen and supported in her family’s mesorah.
More than just learning what to do, students explore the ta’amei hamitzvot and develop a meaningful relationship with Halacha as a path of Avodas Hashem. The program fosters not only clarity and confidence in observance, but also a genuine love for mitzvah practice, reinforcing the idea that Halacha is not just relevant, it’s transformative.
Machshava
Our Jewish Philosophy program offers students a practical framework for exploring foundational ideas in machshevet Yisrael so students internalize core beliefs and apply them meaningfully to their daily lives and Avodas Hashem.
Topics include Tachlis HaBriyah (the purpose of creation), Yediat Hashem (knowledge of God), Bechirah Chofshit (free will), Bein Yisrael la’Amim (our unique national mission), and Hashgacha (Divine Providence), and working on our middos (character development). These concepts are not just studied, they’re lived and reflected upon, forming a personal worldview grounded in Torah values.
Students also engage with classic texts that have shaped Jewish thought across generations, including Iggeret HaRamban, Chovot HaLevavot, Pirkei Avot, the 13 Ikkarei Emunah of the Rambam, and Mesilat Yesharim. The program empowers students to develop a mature, nuanced, and deeply personal relationship with their faith and identity as bnot Yisrael.
Talmud
Our Talmud program empowers students to engage meaningfully with the mesorah of Torah Sheba’al Peh, focusing on masechtot that are particularly relevant to women’s halachic lives. Students develop core skills in reading, translating, and analyzing Gemara (and sometimes Rashi/Tosfot), while building a strong foundation in Aramaic vocabulary and textual structure.
Through the study of topics such as Tefillah and Berachot, students explore both the halachic mechanics of timing, sequence, and obligation together with the spiritual messages which underlie them. Alongside the legal discussions, students encounter Aggadic passages, offering rich opportunities to delve into the philosophical and ethical teachings woven throughout the Talmud.
As part of our commitment to the optional well-rounded Gemara literacy, the YU Bekius program , covering an amud a week, is interspersed throughout the curriculum. This structured component complements the in-depth learning and helps students develop breadth, fluency, and consistency in their limud.
Beginning in 10th grade, students who opt into the Beit Midrash track are introduced to the dynamic experience of chavruta learning, cultivating not only skills and understanding, but also a passion for the daf and a deep personal connection to Torat Chayim.
Jewish History
Our four-year Jewish History curriculum takes students on a journey through the full arc of the Jewish experience, from the era of the Nevi’im to the founding of the modern State of Israel, all through the lens of יד ה׳, viewing the unfolding of history as a reflection of Hashgacha Pratis. The program begins with the Classical era (1000 BCE–500 CE), focusing on the Jewish experience under ancient empires and the emergence of Chazal and Torah Sheba’al Peh. Students then explore Jewish life in both Christian and Islamic Spain, examining how our people navigated exile while preserving spiritual identity. In The curriculum shifts to Modern Jewish History, covering key movements such as Chassidut, Haskalah, and emancipation, and culminates in the study of the Holocaust and the development of American Jewry, framed by the enduring question of how Hashem’s presence can be found even in times of darkness. Finally, students engage in a deep study of Israel Advocacy, exploring the miracle of modern Zionism and the ongoing challenges of a Jewish democratic state. Throughout, students are encouraged to develop historical understanding alongside spiritual insight, recognizing the hand of Hashem guiding the destiny of Am Yisrael.
Derachim: Many Paths, One Journey Toward Hashem
Inspired by the wisdom of Shlomo HaMelech, “Chanoch lana’ar al pi darko”, YULA’s l’shma Derachim program recognizes that each student connects to Avodas Hashem in her own unique way. Across grades and learning tracks, Derachim offers multiple “paths” for spiritual growth, providing a space where students can explore Torah topics beyond the standard curriculum in a more personal, relaxed, and meaningful setting.
Courses are one semester long, and intentionally ungraded, removing the pressure of tests and creating space for open dialogue, curiosity, and deep connection with the teacher. Students delve into a wide array of subjects, from philosophical and hashkafic explorations to creative and text-based learning, always with an eye toward relevance and authenticity.
As the needs and interests of the student body evolve, so too does the Derachim program, adapting each semester to remain fresh, responsive, and deeply impactful.
Mechanechet Program: Mentorship Rooted in Torah and Connection
The Mechanechet Program offers students the chance to build deep and meaningful relationships with our female Kodesh faculty both in and out of the classroom. Through a combination of small group meetings, grade-wide events, and one-on-one conversations, students receive personal guidance and mentorship grounded in Torah values.
These sessions create space for open, honest dialogue around spiritual growth, personal development, future aspirations, and each student’s role in Am Yisrael and the broader Jewish world. The Mechanechet becomes more than a teacher; she’s a role model, a guide, and a partner in each student’s journey toward becoming a confident and committed bat Yisrael.