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Rabbi Yehuda Winder, previously a Rebbi at the Bais Medrash Chofetz Chaim in Israel, returned to America and found himself presented with an opportunity at Yeshiva Tiferes Moshe: a position as a first-grade Rebbi. Seeking a recommendation from Rabbi Landesman, he received a somewhat cautious response from Rav Henoch Lebowitz (ZT’L): “I am confident in his ability to teach at the Bais Medrash level, but I am uncertain about his capacity to instruct first graders.” Nevertheless, the need for a teacher was pressing, and Rabbi Winder was hired.

Upon commencing his role, Rabbi Winder learned that the curriculum being used is where students memorize phrases and repeat over what their Rebbi said. He believed in a different methodology: one that focused on fostering skills and comprehension regarding the origins of words. This approach was rooted in the teachings of the Chofetz Chaim yeshivos, and he was interested in implementing it at the first-grade level.

To achieve this, Rabbi Winder worked to understand the meaning behind words.

He chose to teach the Parshas Lech Lecha, rich in prefixes, suffixes, and verbs. Many of the grammatical rules were not clearly defined, but he set out to create a series of workbooks with codified rules. His method involved having students memorize the “shoresh” or root of a word separately and then understand how prefixes and suffixes could modify its meaning. Importantly, he utilized words directly from the Torah, providing students with a solid foundation of language skills. This approach allowed for gradual progression as students advanced through different grade levels, making Hebrew a more familiar and native tongue.

The success of Rabbi Winder’s method was undeniable, and it has since become the standard Hebrew grammar curriculum in many Jewish schools. Inspired by his story, individuals seeking to learn Hebrew or teach it to others can now purchase the L’Shon HaTorah series of workbooks, which are designed to aid in the teaching of the fundamentals of Hebrew Grammar and basic vocabulary. These workbooks, created by Rabbi Winder himself, offer a unique and effective approach to learning the Hebrew language.

Rabbi Yehuda and Goldie Winder currently live in Queens, NY, and can be reached using the contact information below.