Torah Class Announcement — Weekly Shiur Template

Looking for a ready-made torah class announcement for the notice board? Here is a dignified template for inviting the community to a weekly shiur — fill in the date, the times and the topic, then copy it, print it for the shul entrance, share it on WhatsApp, or download it as a Word file.

בס״ד   Shiur Announcement   The community is warmly invited to a weekly Torah class given by [Rabbi or speaker].   Topic: [Reason] On [Date], from [Start time] to [End time], at [Synagogue name], [Address or location].   The shiur is open to everyone — regulars and newcomers alike. Light refreshments will be served after the shiur.   With blessings of Torah, The Gabbaim — [Synagogue name]

Fill in the details — the text updates automatically:

Illustration of a learning corner in a synagogue with an open sefer and a notice board carrying a shiur announcement

How to publicize a shiur people actually come to

A good shiur announcement answers five questions at a glance: who is giving it, what the topic is, when, where — and who it is for. The maggid shiur’s name matters no less than the topic — people come first of all for the person — and a precise location (“in the women’s section”, “in the classroom on the lower floor”) saves newcomers an awkward search. It is also worth stating how long the shiur runs: someone who knows it ends at a fixed time comes with a quiet mind, even on a midweek evening.

A regular shiur is a community asset, and the announcement should say so: write the regularity explicitly — “every Tuesday”, “daily between Mincha and Maariv” — so one announcement serves you for weeks, not once. When a new series begins or the topic changes, refresh the notice: stating the updated topic (“starting this week: hilchot Chanukah”) draws in people the previous topic didn’t speak to. And one open line of invitation — “the shiur is open to everyone, newcomers included” — removes the biggest barrier of all: the feeling that everyone there already knows each other.

On the practical side: hang the announcement on the entrance board at eye level, and announce the shiur at the end of davening on the Shabbat before — a live announcement still brings more participants than any poster. Send a short reminder in the congregation’s WhatsApp group on the day itself, and if light refreshments are served — say so; that isn’t pettiness, it signals the atmosphere. Finally, update the notice when anything changes: a shiur advertised at a time that is no longer right loses the kehilla’s trust — exactly like an outdated times board.

Frequently Asked Questions

What must appear in a shiur announcement?

Five details: the name of the maggid shiur, the topic, the day and time (including when it ends), the exact place in the shul, and who the shiur is for. An announcement that answers those five questions at a glance does the job.

Should the announcement give an end time?

Yes. Someone who knows the shiur lasts an hour and ends at 9:30 pm comes with a quiet mind and can plan the evening. A shiur with no end time puts off exactly the newcomers, who worry about getting stuck. An end time also lets people add the shiur to their calendar.

How do you attract newcomers to an established shiur?

Three things work: an explicit line of invitation in the announcement (“open to everyone, newcomers included”), a personal announcement at the end of Shabbat davening, and a rotating topic publicized in advance — a new series is a natural moment to join without feeling you’ve missed the train.

When and where is it best to hang the announcement?

On the entrance notice board, at eye level, at least a week before a new series starts. In parallel — a WhatsApp reminder on the day of the shiur and an announcement after davening on the Shabbat before. The three channels together also reach those who missed a week.

Should you mention that refreshments are served?

Yes, in one simple line. Light refreshments are part of the atmosphere of a community shiur — they turn the learning into a gathering, and they are one of the things that keep attendance steady over time. No need to elaborate.

Key Takeaways

  • Five questions at a glance: who gives the shiur, the topic, when, where and for whom
  • Give a start time and an end time — it reassures people and goes into calendars
  • State the regularity explicitly: “every Tuesday” — one notice that serves for weeks
  • An explicit welcome to newcomers removes the biggest barrier to joining
  • The template is free — quick fill-in, copy, print or download as Word

Related Templates

All synagogue templates →

And a regular shiur deserves a regular board: with a digital notice board at the shul entrance, the shiur announcement is on display all week, the topic updates from your phone in a minute — and the kehilla always knows what is being learned this week.