Real Women, Real Torah

Join us on this journey through Maseches Sotah, hosted by Devorah Silberstein and Hadassah Shemtov.

Why do we eat matzah on Pesach? The simple answer, it commemorates the haste of leaving Egypt, is true. But there’s a much deeper layer, one that reframes what emunah actually is and what happens to us when we sit down at the seder. In this episode, we work through our new Pesach learning booklet, Bread of Faith: Nurturing Our Inner Child, exploring a set of primary sources that build a remarkable...

Why is the "birthday of the trees" marked as a holiday on the Jewish calendar? Agriculture is one of the Torah's central metaphors for our relationship with Hashem. The fruit tree holds particular significance, teaching us deep truths about the nature of Torah. Unlike grain, which sustains the body, fruit delights the palate. In the same way, Torah nourishes the soul with the deepest...

At first glance, teshuvah seems straightforward: recognize mistakes, feel remorse, resolve to change. Yet when we examine the Rambam's Hilchos Teshuvah closely, fundamental questions emerge. The Rambam only lists viduy as a formal obligation. What about the internal, emotional process of teshuvah? Is that a mitzvah? Some argue that teshuvah is not a mitzvah at all, just the procedure we follow...

In this powerful finale to our "Finding Myself in Torah" series, we sit down with Avital Chizhik-Goldschmidt — journalist, Rebbetzin, and one of the most honest voices in contemporary Jewish discourse. Avital takes us on her journey from feeling overwhelmed by serious Torah learning to becoming a woman who uses her platform to advocate for deeper spiritual engagement for Orthodox women....

What happens when personal growth tools from the world of psychology aren’t enough? And how do we hold space for all the parts of ourselves, mother, professional, learner, friend, without feeling torn apart? In this episode, Hadassah Shemtov sits down with Eda Schottenstein , a psychotherapist, ADHD coach, entrepreneur, and founder of Multi-Role Woman , to explore the powerful intersection between...

What happens when our inner world matures, but our relationship with Yiddishkeit remains stuck in childhood? In this episode, Hadassah Shemtov sits down with Raizy Fried, popular author, speaker, and founder of “Inspired Living”. Raizy explores the gap many women feel between the lives they’re living as complex, emotionally developed adults and the simplistic version of Torah they may have learned...

What does it take for a woman to make Torah her own? In this insightful and inspiring conversation, Hadassah Shemtov sits down with educator and writer Stacey Goldman to explore what it means for women to develop their own voice in Torah learning. Stacey shares her personal learning journey, including the pivotal moments that drew her to Orthodox Judaism and deep Torah study, and how that journey...

What if Torah learning isn’t just about understanding, but about creating? In this powerful conversation, Hadassah Shemtov sits down with Tonia Chazanow to explore the creative process of learning Torah in a way that is rooted, rigorous, and deeply personal. Tonia shares how she approaches texts like Tanya with honesty and imagination, staying true to the source while allowing her own voice, metap...

What’s the story behind the schools that shaped generations of frum girls—and what does that story mean for us today? In this illuminating episode, we sit down with scholar and educator Leah-Perl Shollar to explore the history and evolution of Orthodox girls’ education. Drawing from her extensive doctoral research, Leah-Perl takes us on a journey through the origins of formal Jewish schooling for...

What does it mean for a woman to truly make Torah her own—and how can that connection evolve across generations? In this thoughtful and nuanced conversation, Alex Fleksher reflects on her journey with Torah learning: from her own education growing up, to the experiences her daughter is having today, and the shifts she’s witnessed—and hopes to see—within her community. We discuss how women’s access...

What happens when the Torah we learn doesn’t sit well with us — when it challenges our instincts, values, or sense of self? In this honest and moving episode, we speak with a woman whose relationship with Torah is marked by both fierce passion and radical openness. We explore how she’s cultivated the ability to engage with complex, sometimes uncomfortable Torah concepts without cynicism or fear —...

What does it look like to move from dabbling in Torah to making it your identity? What does it mean to move from an interested layperson to a ‘professional’ of Torah learning? In this powerful episode, Rebbetzin Golshevsky shares about her journey doing just that. From her early education to the pivotal shifts that shaped her learning, we trace the journey of one frum woman who turned her deep per...

In this episode, Dr. Chava Green explores how uncovering a genuine curiosity about our Judaism can ignite a lifelong passion for Torah study. Chava shares about her own journey of seeking out a community that would give her access directly to the texts of Torah and why that was a deal breaker for her. We dive into how firsthand engagement with Torah sources has shaped her understanding of Jewish w...

As Shavuos approaches, we're excited to introduce a brand-new summer podcast series: Finding Myself in Torah — a journey into the hearts and minds of ten frum women from across the Jewish world, each sharing how they’ve discovered their voice and place within the world of Torah. In this special trailer episode, host Hadassah Shemtov shares the inspiration behind the series and offers two power...

Dive into an intricate legal discussion on the laws of removing chametz before Pesach. Both searching for chametz (and burning it) and disowning it are valid ways to fulfill this mitzvah—so why are both necessary? As we explore this discussion in the Gemara, we’ll uncover a profound lesson on self-growth and perfectionism. How do the halachic parameters of purging our homes of physical chametz ref...

In this pre-Purim episode, Zisi Zirkind explores the symbolism of Esther's name and character through the lens of various midrashim and Chassidic sources. Listen in to a fascinating discussion about the theme of concealment that characterizes Purim and the unique power of the G-d's hidden presence that exists within darkness and the hidden love of the Jewish people that emerges in when we...

Part 5 of Pru Urvu: Torah Perspectives on Women’s Fertility In this bonus episode, Miri Birk, a student of last year’s Pru Urvu course, shares some of her reflections on the concepts explored in the course and how they can shape our approach to parenting. In this candid conversation, Hadassah and Miri talk about the real challenges of motherhood and what it looks like to adopt the Torah value of h...

Part 4 of Pru Urvu: Torah Perspectives on Women’s Fertility In this conversation with Aimee Baron from ‘I was supposed to have a baby’ , Hadassah explores the topic of pregnancy and infant loss. She introduces some fascinating Torah sources that discuss the identity of the soul of a miscarried fetus, its value and its purpose. She also discusses the inherent value Torah places on embarking on the...

What’s the story behind Yehudis, the fearless woman who played a key role in the Chanukah miracle? Join Hadassah Shemtov as she delves into Yehudis’s remarkable bravery, the halachic implications of her story on women’s connection to the mitzvah of Menorah, and Chanukah minhagim. Discover a mystical perspective on why women take center stage in the salvation stories of Purim and Chanukah. Follow a...

Part 2 of Pru Urvu: Torah Perspectives on Women’s Fertility In this episode, Yitty Gniwisch explores the question of why women are exempt from Pru Urvu from a mystical perspective and redefines the unique role a woman plays in influencing her family and the world. www.batshevalearningcenter.com/courses

Part 1 of Pru Urvu: Torah Perspectives on Women’s Fertility In this first episode of our Pru Urvu podcast series, Ita Broh lays out the foundational sources behind the mitzvah Pru Urvu and how it relates to women. She explores: What are the sources in the Torah for the mitzvah of having children? What are the specific guidelines for the mitzvah?  What reasons are given for the mitzvah and why is i...

Welcome to our new podcast series, where we'll explore everything you ever wanted to know about hair covering . We approach the topic from a new angle, giving you the inside scoop on how the halachos of Kisui Rosh developed, following the chain from the original sources in the Torah, through the texts of the Mishna, Gemara, Rishonim and Acharonim. In this introductory episode, we introduce Menucha...

Join us for a fascinating discussion with a third-year student at our Beis Midrash and high school Jewish history teacher, Tzivi Greenbaum. Tzivi has always had a fascination with the development of women's Torah education in both formal and informal settings throughout the ages. In this episode, she shares some of the research she has done on the topic and discusses these questions and more: What...

In this episode, Devorah Silberstein shares with us some of the fascinating women she's encountered in the process of researching sources for the new book we're putting out on women's Torah learning. In this conversation, we address these questions and more: Why is it important to see a precedent for women engaging in Torah study throughout Jewish history? How does that change our hashkafic perspe...