Join us for the first of a 3-part series with Chana Hirschowitz, exploring the spiritual journey of the month of Tishrei. 

In this episode, Chana introduces a beautiful maamar from Likutei Torah that encourages us to turn inward and look at Rosh Hashana from the perspective of our own soul's experience. We discover two dimensions to the neshama; a more superficial dimension that is vulnerable to outside influences and a deeper one that is as infinite and unchanging as G-d Himself. We discover that the greatest sin of all is when we lose sight of that core identity and identify instead with the sin that we've done. And we discover that real teshuva isn't about wallowing in guilt over our past misdeeds but redefining ourselves as the pure and precious soul that we really are. 

Chana grounds her discussion in the powerful words of the maamar itself while offering her own honest, insightful and down to earth reflections.

Follow along in the maamar here.

When Rosh Chodesh Elul rolls around, there are mixed emotions associated with the upcoming month of introspection. Is it an ominous, tense and foreboding month as we await the dreaded day of judgement? Or is it a month of closeness, connection and hope, as we rekindle a loving relationship with G-d. 

In this episode of our monthly maamar series, Zeldy Friedman takes us on a powerful journey through the maamar "Ani Ledodi" 5726. The maamar analyzes the famous analogy the Alter Rebbe gives for the month of Elul; a king who leaves his glorious palace and comes out to the field  to spend time with the simple peasants. As we dig deeper into the details of this analogy, we rediscover Elul as a unique opportunity to tap into the deepest relationship in our lives. We rediscover Hashem as a King who is waiting with open arms to welcome us back home. And we rediscover ourselves as pure, untainted souls who, even in our darkest moments, always yearned to be close.

You can access the full text of the maamar in Hebrew and English here:

http://downloads.simplychassidus.com/Ani_LDodi_5726.pdf

In honor of Rosh Chodesh Av, Peshy Raitport joins us to explore a beautiful maamar of the Rebbe Rashab on the theme of ahavas Yisrael. What makes it so difficult for us to get along with other people and why is it that certain people trigger us more than others? This maamar challenges us to take an honest look at ourselves and recognize that at core of all jealousy and divisiveness is our own ego. When our own self-consciousness takes up all our emotional space, it leave little room for other people and for G-d to enter our lives. Peshy summarizes the core ideas of the maamar, reads one particularly relatable chapter inside and discusses some of its practical takeaways. She brings it all home by tying the ideas of the maamar into the period of mourning for the Beis Hamikdash that we are about to enter and how rectifying the sinas chinam that brought about its destruction is the key to bringing geulah.

Link to the Hebrew text of the maamar with linear English translation:

https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/83594/jewish/Lessons-in-Heichaltzu.htm

Link to purchase our Heichaltzu textbook to use as an aid to studying the original Hebrew text:

https://www.batshevalearningcenter.com/textbooks

This is the last episode in our new podcast series exploring a woman's relationship with Talmud Torah. In this episode, interview Mrs. Rivky Slonim, a shlucha at Binghamton University, an author and lecturer who focuses on the intersection of halacha and contemporary life with a special focus on Jewish women. We explore the challenges women face in integrating serious Torah learning into their lives and the steps we can take to overcome those challenges.

We discuss these questions and more:

What internal or external challenges have you faced in progressing with your Torah learning and what challenges do you think other women might face? How can we overcome those challenges? What resources do you recommend women use to make learning a part of their lives? To what extent is it important to make learning a priority at stages of life when it might be more difficult? What do you think is most important for a woman to make time to learn? How can we shift the culture in our communities to make Torah more accessible to women? What is the biggest shift we need in girls’ education today?

Visit our website to sign up to be the first to receive our updated source booklet which will include all the sources referenced in this episode (and more!): www.batshevalearningcenter.com

Thank you to Minna Hershcopf for sponsoring this episode.

This is the sixth episode in our new podcast series exploring a woman's relationship with Talmud Torah. In this episode, we interview Rebbetzin Holly Pavlov, a lecturer, published author and founder and director of She’arim College of Jewish Studies. We explore the necessity for in-depth Torah study for women in the modern age and how to make Torah alive and relevant in the lives of Jewish women.

We discuss these questions and more:

What is your vision for the students of your seminary? What subjects do you think are most important for women to study and why? Do you think it’s important for women to study from the text specifically? Will learning halacha from the sources make women disrespectful of halacha? Is too much knowledge a dangerous thing? What gaps do you see in the girls’ education system and how can we fill those gaps?

Visit our website to sign up to be the first to receive our updated source booklet which will include all the sources referenced in this episode (and more!): www.batshevalearningcenter.com

Thank you to Esty Kugel for sponsoring this episode in honor of Hadassah and all the work she does for Batsheva Learning Center.

This is the fifth episode in our new podcast series exploring a woman's relationship with Talmud Torah. In this episode, we interview Mrs. Sara Morozow, high school educator and beloved kallah teacher who lectures on topics related to chinuch for young women and teenage girls. We explore the role Torah study plays in the life of a modern frum woman both before and after she gets married and starts a family.

We discuss these questions and more:

In the years before they get married, many women are focused on building careers so they can support their future families. Where does studying Torah fit in? Is it the right thing for a woman to spend her time and energy on if it is more of a man's mitzvah? If a woman will one day have a family and not have time to invest in learning, should she do so now if she won't be able to keep it up? How does learning fit into a women's role as an akeres habayis? Hashkafically, men and women have distinct roles in Judaism. Should that prescribe how they each bring Torah into the home?

Visit our website to sign up to be the first to receive our updated source booklet which will include all the sources referenced in this episode (and more!): www.batshevalearningcenter.com

Thank you to Chavi Russ for sponsoring this episode in the merit of any women waiting to have children. May they be blessed with זרע חיי וקיימא very soon.

This is the fourth episode in our new podcast series exploring a woman's relationship with Talmud Torah. In this episode, we interview Dr. Tali Loewenthal, a professor of Jewish studies at University College London and an academic whose research focuses on the history of Chassidic women. We explore the origins of the tradition amongst the Kabbalists to educate their daughters and how that has impacted the evolution of Chassidic women's Torah learning from the start of the Chassidic movement until the modern era.

We discuss these questions and more:

The Frierdiker Rebbe's Memoirs mentions an ancient tradition amongst the Kabbalists to educate their daughters. Where do we see evidence of this in the history of Kabbalah? How was this implemented practically? How did this perspective fit into the general perspective of the Kabbalists? Did this tradition continue to get passed down in subsequent generations? If so, was it only select women or did it ever become widespread throughout the entire community? Was this tradition passed down in any other Chassidic communities aside from Chabad? What was the goal of the Achos Hatemimim movement, started by the Frierdiker Rebbe? What in particular did the women study and in what format? How many women were involved? What impact did it have on Chabad girls education today?

Visit our website to sign up to be the first to receive our updated source booklet which will include all the sources referenced in this episode (and more!): www.batshevalearningcenter.com

Thank you to Rivka Lazarus for sponsoring this episode in the zchus of a refuah sheleimah for Velvel Shlomo Hakohen ben Fayga Gittel.

This is the third episode in our new podcast series exploring a woman's relationship with Talmud Torah. In this episode, we interview Dr. Leslie Ginsparg Klein, the academic dean of Women’s Institute of Torah Seminary & College. She is a scholar, author and lecturer whose research focuses on the history of Bais Yaakov. We discuss the evolution of the Bais Yaakov movement in Eastern Europe and the impact it has on girls’ education today.

We discuss these questions and more:

What theological beliefs and cultural attitudes towards women's learning existed leading up to Sara Schenirer's revolution? What kind of resistance did Sara Schenirer face in starting her movement? How did she finally gain support? Were there other parallel movements happening in other places at the same time? What made Bais Yaakov unique? How might the interruption of World War 2 have influenced the development of the movement? How has (or hasn't) the culture and values of the original Bais Yaakov influenced modern Bais Yaakov schools? What are the biggest misconceptions people have about the history of Bais Yaakov? What do you think is most inspiring about Sara Schenirer's story?

Visit our website to sign up to be the first to receive our updated source booklet which will include all the sources referenced in this episode (and more!): www.batshevalearningcenter.com

Thank you to Esther Babayov for sponsoring this episode, in honor of her family.

This is the second episode in our new podcast series exploring a woman's relationship with Talmud Torah. In this episode, we interview Rabbi Shlomo Yaffe, scholar, lecturer and board member at Batsheva Learning Center. He discusses the core halachic principles that impact the development of halacha in general and the development of women’s Torah study in particular. Rabbi Yaffe zooms in on the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s nuanced view of women’s Torah study, based on sources from the Rebbe’s letters and talks.

We discuss these questions and more:

In what circumstances can and should halacha adapt to the times? What justifies the modern shift in women’s education? Why is this more valid than other progressive movements that may have strayed from tradition? Should we be concerned about women who aren’t learning for the “right” reasons? Is that a factor that is brought up in any halachic sources? What did the Lubavitcher Rebbe say regarding women's Torah learning? Did he ever mention Gemara specifically? Did the Rebbe believe Gemara learning is only permissible for individual women who want it or that it should be taught on a communal level? What about topics in Gemara that are not relevant to practical halacha?

Visit our website to sign up to be the first to receive our updated source booklet which will include all the sources referenced in this episode (and more!): www.batshevalearningcenter.com

Thank you to Chava and Chaim Aharon Green for sponsoring this episode in honor of their daughter, Devorah Leah.

This is the first episode in our new podcast series exploring a woman's relationship with Talmud Torah. In this episode, we interview Laurie Novick, a talented educator and director of Deracheha.org. She explores the original halachic sources that discuss the mitzvah of Talmud Torah for women and lays the groundwork for understanding the fundamental halachic issues surrounding this topic.

We discuss these questions and more:

Is a woman obligated to study Torah? If yes, what? Aren't there sources that forbid Torah study for women? How do different halachic authorities interpret those statements? There seems to be a change in the way we approach this issue in the modern age. How can the halacha change? What about Gemara? Why is it so controversial and what are the arguments for and against making it accessible to women?

Visit our website to sign up to be the first to receive our updated source booklet which will include all the sources referenced in this episode (and more!): www.batshevalearningcenter.com

Thank you to Yitty and Leibel Gniwisch for sponsoring this episode.