2008 Woodie Awards
TorahTech
Alex Kushnir
Issue date: 2/15/05 Section: Science & Technology
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Who would have ever thought that "daf" would be the most popular three letter internet search word? Well it isn't; yet. However, with the advent of torah websites featuring shiurim in Gemara, halacha, and hashkafa, Jews from all corners of the earth can now connect to their heritage and take part in this enormous undertaking of mass torah dissemination.
There is no doubt that over the years the internet has been responsible for the destruction of many frum homes, families, and neshomas. While some factions of Orthodox Judaism stress alienation from this technology, many organizations including Lubavitch, Yeshiva University, and Aish-Hatorah have been using this incredible technology to spread Torah and Yidishkeit to every corner of the earth. YUTorah.org, a Max Stern Division of Communal Service of Yeshiva University project, is an exceptional example of this effort.
It all started about ten years ago when a students led by Rabbi Marc Spivak and Chaim Jaskoll decided to start posting shiurim from various Roshei Yeshiva on a new website called Shiur.net. Eventually, a few years later, Yeshiva University created RIETS.edu, which was soon replaced by YUTorah.org. Today, because of support from generous donors and professional webmavens, YUTorah.org has evolved into one of the worlds leading sources of online torah.
When you enter the YUTorah.org website, you are greeted with a string of options, including links to specific Roshei Yeshiva, individual dafim, and advanced search options. Due to advanced linking, it is even possible to search for shiurim that relate to specific sugyas, rashis, and tosfos. The site also offers video shiurim, shiur notes, and divrei torah, not to mention links to popular publications including Beit Yitzchak, Ten Da'at, and Torah u-Madda.
What sets YUTorah.org apart from any other torah website is its advanced backend design. Created by Azriel Chelst, Daniel Gordon, and the QuIC Solutions Inc. team, the program enables students and faculty to upload shiurim and assign categories quickly and easily without fancy computer programming skills. It also allows Rabbi Spivak to monitor what people are posting and the extent of their access privileges.
There is no doubt that over the years the internet has been responsible for the destruction of many frum homes, families, and neshomas. While some factions of Orthodox Judaism stress alienation from this technology, many organizations including Lubavitch, Yeshiva University, and Aish-Hatorah have been using this incredible technology to spread Torah and Yidishkeit to every corner of the earth. YUTorah.org, a Max Stern Division of Communal Service of Yeshiva University project, is an exceptional example of this effort.
It all started about ten years ago when a students led by Rabbi Marc Spivak and Chaim Jaskoll decided to start posting shiurim from various Roshei Yeshiva on a new website called Shiur.net. Eventually, a few years later, Yeshiva University created RIETS.edu, which was soon replaced by YUTorah.org. Today, because of support from generous donors and professional webmavens, YUTorah.org has evolved into one of the worlds leading sources of online torah.
When you enter the YUTorah.org website, you are greeted with a string of options, including links to specific Roshei Yeshiva, individual dafim, and advanced search options. Due to advanced linking, it is even possible to search for shiurim that relate to specific sugyas, rashis, and tosfos. The site also offers video shiurim, shiur notes, and divrei torah, not to mention links to popular publications including Beit Yitzchak, Ten Da'at, and Torah u-Madda.
What sets YUTorah.org apart from any other torah website is its advanced backend design. Created by Azriel Chelst, Daniel Gordon, and the QuIC Solutions Inc. team, the program enables students and faculty to upload shiurim and assign categories quickly and easily without fancy computer programming skills. It also allows Rabbi Spivak to monitor what people are posting and the extent of their access privileges.