Real Women, Real Torah

In this episode, we introduce our new series, "Stories of Sorrow, Lessons of Hope" with Mushky Steinmetz. This series will explore stories from the Gemara related to the destruction of the Beis Hamikdash and some of the messages the commentators take out of them. In this introductory episode, Mushky defines what Aggadah is and gives a general overview of how to understand Aggadah.

This final episode in our zman grama series is short enough to fit into your pre-Pesach schedule and packed with everything you need to know about the connection women have to the mitzvos we perform at the seder.  Adi Bitter explores the source and reason behind each mitzvah and explains if and why women are obligated to perform them. She ends with a beautiful takeaway about internalizing the deeper message of the seder at all stages of our lives. 

In this second episode of our series on mitzvos asei shehazman grama, Chava Goodman explores the topic from a fresh angle, based on various sources from Kabbalah and chassidus. Rather than looking at women's exemption as driven by pragmatic concerns, this mystical perspective sees it as a product of a cosmic reality. What are the masculine and feminine energies within creation and how does that explain a woman's relationship to mitzvos? Chava paints a beautiful picture of what a feminine mode of service is all about and demonstrates how the halachic sources on this topic allude to this deeper understanding of a woman's relationship with time. This series is published in conjunction with our recent course on the topic of mitzvos asei shehazman grama. To purchase the sourcebook & textbook, visit our website here: www.batshevalearningcenter.com/textbooks

In this candid discussion with Adi Bitter, she gives an overview of the concept of women's exemption from time-bound mitzvos that is both informative and relevant. She explains the halachic definition for mitzvos asei shehazman gerama, the reasons given in various halachic sources, and the parameters for women voluntarily fulfilling these mitzvos. Throughout the discussion, she sprinkles in insights and examples from her personal life that address the misconceptions and frustrations some women may have around this topic and offers practical advice for how to incorporate these mitzvos in our lives in a way that is both personally meaningful and enhances our relationship with Hashem. This series is published in conjunction with our recent course on the topic of mitzvos asei shehazman gerama. To purchase the sourcebook & textbook, visit our website here: www.batshevalearningcenter.com/textbooks

This episode is co-sponsored by Levi and Sara Liba Schrager l’ilui nishmas Yochanan ben Béla on the occasion of his yahrzeit and by Batsheva Davidson in honor of this series and all the work that Batsheva does. In this final episode, we take a deeper look at the concept of niddah from a spiritual perspective and discover its profound symbolism in our lives. Mrs. Rivky Kaplan pulls from various Chassidic sources to give us a mystical insight into the word “niddah” and the link between the cosmic reality of niddah and the chet etz hadaas, which is where it all started. ***Please note that content discussed in this podcast series is intended for educational purposes only and should not replace speaking to a qualified rav regarding any practical halachic questions. If you would like to contact Rivky Kaplan regarding any follow-up questions, please email her at rivkaplan@gmail.com.

This episode is sponsored by Mrs. Vivi Deren, l'lui nishmas Bluma a"h bas HaRav Yisrael HaKohen Deren on the occasion of her 25th yahrtzeit, 28 Kislev, 4th lichtl of Chanukah This episode discusses the conclusion of a woman's purification process and the preparations that are necessary before immersing in a mikvah. We look at which type of chatzitzos (barriers) are forbidden from the Torah, which are Rabbinic and the ramifications of that on the way we prepare for mikvah today.  Mrs. Kaplan also discusses the difference between the two stages of preparation, chafifa and iyun. ***Please note that content discussed in this podcast series is intended for educational purposes only and should not replace speaking to a qualified rav regarding any practical halachic questions. If you would like to contact Rivky Kaplan regarding any follow up questions, please email her at rivkaplan@gmail.com.

This episode is sponsored anonymously in honor of a refuah sheleima for Henya bas Bracha Devorah Leah. In this eye-opening episode, Mrs. Rivky Kaplan sheds light on the topic of kesamim (staining), an area of hilchos niddah she has found to be wrought with the most confusion. She discusses the interplay between d'oraisa and derabanan and how that forms the basis for some of the leniencies that are employed when dealing with kesamim. She explains how our implementation of these halachos aren’t "cheating the system", but are a natural part of the way the system of derabanan was set up, to begin with. ***Please note that content discussed in this podcast series is intended for educational purposes only and should not replace speaking to a qualified rav regarding any practical halachic questions. If you would like to contact Rivky Kaplan regarding any follow up questions, please email her at rivkaplan@gmail.com.

This episode is sponsored by Chavi Russ in honor of a refuah shelaima for Moshe Aryeh Leib ben Bracha This episode explores the original sources for the hefsek tahara and the bedikos that are performed during the seven clean days leading up to immersion in the mikvah. We look at the roots of these halachos in the purification processes performed by both the niddah and the zavah during the temple era and how they both impact halacha as we practice it today. Sources quoted in this episode: Yoreh De'ah ***Please note that content discussed in this podcast series is intended for educational purposes only and should not replace speaking to a qualified rav regarding any practical halachic questions. If you would like to contact Rivky Kaplan regarding any follow-up questions, please email her at rivkaplan@gmail.com.

This episode is sponsored by Leia Baitelman. This episode discusses the requirement for a woman to wait five days from when she sees a flow until she can perform a hefsek tahara. We’ll trace this five day wait back to the story of Matan Torah and understand how the practice evolved from waiting three days to four and eventually five. As we explore the fascinating history behind this halacha, we'll see an example of where the divergence between Sefardi and Ashkenazi custom originates and learn a lesson about the value of having a personal relationship to Torah along the way. ***Please note that content discussed in this podcast series is intended for educational purposes only and should not replace speaking to a qualified rav regarding any practical halachic questions. If you would like to contact Rivky Kaplan regarding any follow-up questions, please email her at rivkaplan@gmail.com.

This episode is sponsored by Goldie Markovits in honor and appreciation of her parents, Shmuel Tzvi and Devorah Markovits. Building off of our last episode that described how niddah is defined by Torah law, Mrs. Rivky Kaplan explores the development of these halachos and the challenges that led to the shift in how we practice them today. This episode provides an important historical context that sheds light on the pragmatism behind the development of mitzvos derabanan and minhagim. ***Please note that content discussed in this podcast series is intended for educational purposes only and should not replace speaking to a qualified rav regarding any practical halachic questions. If you would like to contact Rivky Kaplan regarding any follow-up questions, please email her at rivkaplan@gmail.com.