More than 1,700 participants across over 60 Lubavitch communities and Chabad Houses worldwide are set to begin a new, in-depth course on the halachos of berachos.

This 15-week course presents Hilchos Birchoss HaNehenin in a clear, sugya-based, and highly practical format, guiding participants in determining the correct bracha on everyday and modern foods. Focusing on core principles such as food categories, mixtures, mezonos, and ikar v’tafel, the course emphasizes real-life application—equipping participants not only with what bracha to make, but how to think through each sugya with clarity and confidence.

SCP-Chabad is returning for its summer semester with new shiurim for communities across the country and around the world. Operating under the motto “In-Depth Halacha for Everyone,” the program enables members of the Chabad community to continue growing in their לימוד התורה in a structured and meaningful way.

Semichas Chaver Chabad (SCP-Chabad) is designed primarily for Lubavitch communities and Chabad Houses with a more established frum base and participants with some yeshiva background. It is a branch of the global Semichas Chaver program, founded by Rabbi Elyada Goldwicht and currently offered in over 500 locations. SCP-Chabad was founded by Rabbi Betzalel Bassman and Rabbi Avrohom Jacks, in collaboration with Lubavitcher Rabbonim, to adapt the curriculum in accordance with the psakim of the Alter Rebbe, the Tzemach Tzedek, and contemporary Chabad poskim.

The program follows an eight-year track, divided into six-month courses with weekly classes. Each course covers a distinct halachic topic, followed by review and testing. Participants who successfully complete the course receive a prestigious Semichas Chaver certificate signed by leading Rabbonim worldwide, along with prominent Chabad Rabbonim. SCP-Chabad is endorsed by HaRav Gedalia Oberlander shlit”a and HaRav HaDayan Levi Raskin shlit”a.

This past semester, SCP-Chabad offered courses in Hilchos Tzedakah and Tevilas Keilim in 40 communities. Following Pesach, the new course on Birkas HaNehenin will launch in those communities, along with 10 additional locations.

Classes continue to grow, and participants express strong enthusiasm:

“I feel very fortunate to be able to participate in the Semichas Chaver learning program,” said Reuven Frank of Baltimore. “Much thought and intention has gone into the structure and delivery of the material—it strikes a beautiful balance between conceptual depth and practical application.”

Dr. Michael Moritz of Pittsburgh adds, “Semichas Chaver is a university-level program in content, structure, and instruction. It’s interesting, challenging, engaging, and highly practical.”

Rabbanim teaching the program share similar excitement. “The balance between in-depth study and practical halacha is exceptional,” says Rabbi Dovid Shmuckler of Los Angeles. “The program has powerful ripple effects, beginning in the Beis Medrash and extending to family and community.”

Rabbi Mendy Cohen of Sacramento notes, “This program is transforming our community, giving so many people a real understanding of how halacha works.”

Rabbi Moshe Markowitz of Chicago, who has been teaching SCP-Chabad for five years, describes it as “a rare combination of הלכה לעיון and הלכה למעשה—each shiur is engaging, interactive, and deeply relevant.”

Among the many questions explored in the upcoming course:

• Why is fruit juice often shehakol while vegetable broth may retain ha’adamah?
• When does a crushed food keep its original bracha, and when does it become shehakol?
• How do you determine whether a plant is ha’eitz or ha’adamah?
• When does water require a bracha?
• How should one act in cases of safek bracha?
• When does grain dominate a mixture?
• Which bracha takes precedence when multiple foods are present?
• When do foods become ikar and tafel, and when do they require separate brachos?
• How should one analyze modern foods such as sushi, cereal with milk, cheesecake, and more?
  

See the syllabus for the upcoming course 

Alongside SCP-Chabad, its sister program, HalachaU, is tailored for Chabad House participants with little to no formal background in text-based learning. Already piloted in over 15 locations, HalachaU has received strong positive feedback.

Rabbi Moshe Raichik of Brooklyn College shares, “I have a mix of students—some with background, others with none—and they are all engaged, asking questions, and enjoying the flow of the class.” He adds, “The material is not watered down. We learn Gemara and Shulchan Aruch inside, and then bring it to life through practical application. The level of engagement has been incredible.”

For more information about SCP-Chabad or HalachaU, please contact Rabbi Betzalel Bassman at [email protected].

The deadline to register for the upcoming semester is 5 Nissan at scpchabad.org.