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The Tzurba M’Rabanan

Phenomenon

In recent years, the Lax Family Tzurba M’Rabanan halacha series has become
extraordinarily popular in both Israel and the Diaspora. A systematic and
concise learning method that walks the reader through the entire halachic
process, Tzurba M’Rabanan covers the Biblical and Talmudic sources
through modern-day halachic application. With its clear introductions and trademark color-coded sections, Tzurba
M’Rabanan has changed the way thousands of people study halacha.

To learn more about the “Tzurba phenomenon,” Rabbi Aron White spoke with Rabbi Doron
Podlashuk, Director of the Lax Family Tzurba M’Rabanan English Series and founder and director
of the Selwyn & Ros Smith and Family Manhigut Toranit Program, a five-year post-semicha
program whose goal is to develop serious rabbinic leaders who will impact communities and
strengthen their commitment to Torah, mitzvot and Eretz Yisrael.

What will readers find when they open a volume of halachic topics to some of his graduates from Kerem B’Yavneh
Tzurba M’Rabanan? who joined the workforce and wanted to seriously learn
halacha. This process of compiling sources and condensing
The Lax Family Tzurba English series is a revolutionary them became the Tzurba prototype. The Tzurba Hebrew
halachic work. Tzurba is written in a digestible and easy- program has grown from this one shiur to over one thousand
to-follow format allowing readers of all ages to walk away shiurim.
with a comprehensive understanding of halacha. Each
chapter contains all the sources in their original Hebrew Years later, Rav Algazi moved to Yad Binyamin, where I
along with a side-by-side English translation, guided by our live, and began giving a Tzurba shiur. One of my friends,
trademark color-coded sections based on the time period of Jonny Ucko, remarked how it’s a great shame these amazing
the commentary. We are currently working on volume 15 of materials aren’t accessible to the English-speaking world,
our projected 30-volume set covering over 300 topics. We aim and I agreed. We decided that Manhigut Toranit, along
to publish a new volume every 4 months. with Rabbi Eli Ozarowski, would translate and expand the
Hebrew Tzurba volumes into English and that our avreichim
How are schools, communities and individuals using would write additional in-depth articles to supplement the
the Tzurba books? translations. In recent years, Marsha and Michael Lax have
become the key supporters of the project, enabling us to
The feedback to our custom curriculum program has been expand our reach in unprecedented ways. The program has
exciting. Schools and organizations have the ability to hand grown tremendously just in the last few years, due to the
pick any of our published chapters and create their very own hard work of the internal Tzurba team together with the
curriculum. Many high schools that we speak to are looking efforts of World Mizrachi.
to create a halacha curriculum but don’t know where to start.
With Tzurba, we can jump start their curriculum and afford Our generation is blessed with many learning opportu-
teachers the ability to focus on crafting meaningful lessons nities, from daf yomi to Torah podcasts and more. What
without having to worry about creating the content.
makes Tzurba unique?
Additionally, in the United States, there are over 50 Daf yomi is wonderful; I’ve personally taught a daf yomi
communities with weekly Tzurba chaburot learning our
regular volumes. We have dedicated staff coordinating with shiur for over 18 years. However, Tzurba is unique because
it not only helps you study Torah in depth, it also impacts
chaburot to be sure they have what they need and to celebrate your daily life and the way you view daily halachic living. It
the completion of volumes. Due to increased demand, the
Tzurba volumes are now available on Amazon which means conveys the logic behind each halacha, helping people develop
a deeper appreciation for what they are practicing in their
most people can get their order within 2 days.
everyday lives. Many people find halacha confusing or simply
a long list of rules; learning halacha in depth gives them a new
What are the origins of Tzurba M’Rabanan and how did perspective on the halachic system. I believe Tzurba brings
the English series come to be?
our mesorah to life in a very unique way. Just by learning a
Rabbi Benzion Algazi is the mastermind behind the original few Tzurba pages you can begin to see and appreciate the
Hebrew version of Tzurba. Rav Algazi began giving classes on full tapestry of halacha.

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