Yeshivos for Adult Beginning Learners

There is Hadar HaTorah 824 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11213 (718) 735-0250
hadarhatorah dot org

and Tiferes Bochrim at RCA 226 Sussex Ave, Morristown, NJ 07960 (973) 668 3219
theworldsgreatestyeshiva dot com

Yeshiva Toras Dovid
Rabbi Yosef Simon, Rosh Yeshiva
69 Carlton Rd. Monsey, NY 10952
845-290-0075

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Learning to learn is not like learning a secular subject. Learning to learn should mean that you are trying to improve your connection to Hashem via davening, learning and mitzvah observance. Some of that involves teich and kriah, but some of that comes from experiencing Shabbos, learning, and davening with the attitude that I will do whatever Hashem wants me to do, and then seeing what feelings that creates in you.
For instance, in last week’s Parsha, an angel asks Bilaam why he hit his donkey 3 times. Really? What’s wrong with hitting a disobedient donkey? Isn’t that the proper and correct way to make the donkey do what you want? Should the donkey be allowed to go wherever it feels likes? How was Bilaam supposed to know that there was an angel blocking the donkey’s way?
The answer is that Bilaam got angry at the donkey. He wanted to kill the donkey, but he did not have a sword with him. The angel was criticizing Bilaam for hitting the donkey in ANGER.
When things don’t go our way, often we get ANGRY. We’re not supposed to do that. We are supposed to realize that Hashem runs the world. If Hashem is preventing someone from getting what they want (marriage, wealth, etc.), it is probably for their own good. We should look inside, figure out why it’s really better not to have this right now (from Hashem’s perspective) and then work on changing our goals and/or our middos to align with Hashem’s.

You can’t learn how to do that by sitting in a class. The first step is to get a grasp of the Hebrew language. Chumash with Rashi is in Hebrew. The Mishna Brura is in Hebrew. Davening is in Hebrew. There are translations, but to the extent it is possible, you want to learn and daven in Hebrew and then read the translation. This is learned from the halachos of davening. Theoretically, you can daven in a foreign language, but it is preferable to daven in Hebrew.

I suggest you go to all of the places suggested above, walk in and try a class. See what it feels like. But the ultimate goal is an immersive experience. Perhaps six weeks in the summer if you have summer vacation. It’s the immersive experience that enables you to change your goals and Middos. That process is what will bring you closer to Hashem.

Derech Chaim is a regular mainstream Yeshiva.

The above computer programs can help. To learn on your own, one has to recognize the common expressions of the gemora which I call idioms and recognize the introductory words to see the logic of the gemora as a question, answer or a proof of a statement and Rashi requires the knowledge of Hebrew.

Yes, gemora is aramaic.

I found a website which might be useful see marbitz dot com/gemara-game/ which teaches the expressions of the gemara as gemara tutor.