Real Women, Real Torah

This episode is sponsored by Marisa Lewitan in memory of Penina Yalta bas Yosef Yitzchak. May her neshama have an aliya! In this foundational episode, Mrs. Rivky Kaplan gives us a glimpse into an era thousands of years ago, when the laws of tumah and tahara took center stage of Jewish life.  We look at the Torah's definition for the tumah of niddah and zavah and what the purification process looked like for each. Understanding the complexities inherent in these categories of tumah and the practical implications they had on women's lives will lay the groundwork for appreciating the development of these halachos as they are practiced today. ***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.

Join us as we embark on a journey with Mrs. Rivky Kaplan, from Tzfat, Israel, unraveling some of the common questions and confusions women have surrounding hilchos niddah.  This series goes beyond the practical dos and don'ts you might learn at kallah classes and offers a window into the history and development of these halachos, providing important context for their day-to-day practice.   In this introductory episode, we’ll discuss the goal of this series, the significance of this area of halacha and why we feel this content is so valuable for women to hear.

This is the final episode in our 3-part Tishrei series with Chana Hirschowitz. In this episode, Chana introduces a maamar from Likutei Torah on Shemini Atzeres. It paints the paradox of our human experience and leads us to a deeper understanding of our true nature. We explore how what seems to be two opposing forces work together to choreograph a beautiful dance. The combination of working on ourselves with a real acceptance of who we are is what achieves a dynamic relationship with G-d. Join Chana as she journeys to the culmination of the ideas we have been exploring throughout Tishrei to understand how the seesaw of being human is what allows us to be our best selves.

This is the second episode in our 3-part Tishrei series with Chana Hirschowitz.  In this episode, Chana introduces another maamar from Likutei Torah on Shobbos Shuva that looks at teshuva from a cosmic perspective, drawing a parallel between our own individual experience of teshuva and the world's global journey towards Moshiach. Within the miniature world of the human psyche, we examine the role that our thoughts play in bringing us to teshuva. While our thoughts are separate from our identity, they are the language our soul uses to communicate our perception of the world to ourselves and they thus become an integral part of creating internal change.  Throughout this episode, Chana takes us with her on her on her personal journey struggling with the words of this somewhat esoteric text and discovering her own relevance and meaning in the words.

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.