In a time when packed schedules and long commutes keep many people away from synagogue classrooms, one New York area rabbi is bringing serious Torah learning to them.
Rabbi Daniel Sayani, an Orthodox rabbi who serves communities in Queens, Brooklyn, and New Jersey, has built a growing network of online shiurim and Zoom classes for people who might otherwise get left out.
Homebound individuals, busy professionals, young parents, and people who live far from a traditional shul now log on to learn.
“Torah should not depend on your commute, your health, or your zip code,” Rabbi Sayani says. “If a person wants to learn, the opportunity should come to them.”
Bringing the Beis Midrash to the Living Room
Several nights a week, the laptop camera goes on, the sefarim are open, and a small digital beis midrash comes to life.
Participants join from Queens apartments, Brooklyn homes, New Jersey suburbs, and sometimes from other states. Some are longtime bnei Torah. Others are just beginning to reconnect with learning after years away. Many cannot attend a regular shiur in person, but they can find 45 minutes on Zoom.
The format is straightforward. Clear sources. Practical topics. Real questions.
Popular series have included:
- Weekly parsha shiurim with a focus on everyday lessons.
- Halacha classes on Shabbos, kashrus, and yom tov.
- Short, focused sessions on Torah values in modern life.
Each shiur is delivered in plain language, with sources on screen for those who want to follow inside. Participants can raise questions by voice or in the chat, and the rabbi pauses to address them, making sure no one feels lost.
“People are working hard, raising families, dealing with real pressure,” Rabbi Sayani explains. “If we want Torah to be part of that life, we have to meet people where they are.”
A Lifeline for the Homebound and Isolated
For some attendees, these online classes are not simply convenient. They are essential.
Elderly community members, people recovering from surgery, and those managing chronic illness often cannot make it to shul even when they want to. For them, a Zoom link is more than a technical solution. It is a lifeline.
From their living rooms, they can see familiar faces, hear divrei Torah, and feel part of a real kehillah. They can ask questions, share comments, and stay connected to the rhythm of the Jewish calendar.
Daniel Sayani notes that in many cases, these students once attended in person but can no longer do so. “We have people who never thought they would be homebound,” he says. “Now, when they log on, they feel that they still have a rav, still have a shiur, still have a place.”
Family members often join in as well, turning a weekday evening into a small, at home learning program.
Built for Busy Professionals
The online format has also opened doors for another large group: working professionals who want real learning, not watered down content, but are juggling long hours and family duties.
He schedules shiurim at predictable, realistic times, often later in the evening after bedtime routines are done. He also makes recordings available for anyone who misses a session, so learners can catch up on a commute, a lunch break, or after hours.
The subjects are chosen with this audience in mind. Halacha that speaks to the office, the home, and the modern workplace. Torah perspectives on honesty, speech, technology, and time management. Clear guidance on questions of kashrus, Shabbos travel, and community obligations.
Participants say the classes help anchor their week and give them a sense that Torah is speaking directly to their daily decisions.
Reaching Beyond the Neighborhood
Daniel Sayani stays firmly rooted in the New York and New Jersey region, but his online presence now reaches far beyond the blocks surrounding his shuls.
People have tuned in through word of mouth and shared links from smaller Jewish communities, college campuses, and even overseas. Some join from places with limited access to Orthodox rabbanim or regular shiurim. Others value the balance of structure and flexibility.
Even with a wider audience, he keeps the tone personal. He remembers names. He answers follow up questions. When someone emails after a class with a practical shailah, he treats it with the same seriousness as a question asked after davening in shul.
Traditional Torah, Modern Tools
At the core of this effort is a simple idea. Use modern tools to deliver timeless content.
The technology is basic: a stable internet connection, a webcam, shared source sheets. There is no attempt to replace the beis midrash or minimize the value of in person learning. Rather, the online platform extends that beis midrash to people who would otherwise have no access at all.
“Of course nothing replaces sitting with a sefer in a real beis midrash,” Rabbi Sayani says. “But if a person is home with a baby, caring for a parent, or coming home from work at 9 p.m., we can still give them authentic Torah. That matters.”
The approach reflects his broader rabbinic style. Serious about halacha. Grounded in traditional sources. Delivered in a way that speaks to real people living real lives.
How to Join
Those interested in joining one of Rabbi Sayani’s online shiurim can connect through his congregations in Whitestone and East Brunswick or by reaching out via his publicly available contact information. He shares weekly schedules, topics, and Zoom links in advance so participants can plan around their own commitments.
Rabbi Daniel Sayani’s online Torah classes offer something rare: he delivers structured, reliable learning that fits into the lives of people who refuse to give up on serious Torah, even when their time and energy are limited.
In his words, “If someone is looking for a way to add more Torah to their day, I want it to be very simple. One click, and they are in the shiur.”
