Walk in the Footsteps of Our Matriarchs and delve deeper into Torah

During our fall session you will have the opportunity to study with highly acclaimed teachers. Through our in-depth textual study of Parshat Lech Lecha with Rebbetzin Chana Bracha, you can travel back in time into Avraham and Sara’s shoes. The Rebbetzin also gives exciting lessons on Women in the Bible where you can get inspired by the lives of our Biblical role-models.

Rebbetzin Chana Bracha Siegelbaum, Director
Rebbetzin Chana Bracha Siegelbaum, a native of Denmark, is founder and director of Midreshet B’erot Bat Ayin: Holistic Torah for Women on the Land. She holds a Bachelor of Education in Bible and Jewish Philosophy from Michlala Jerusalem College for Women, and a Master’s of Art in Jewish History from Touro College. Rebbetzin Chana Bracha creates curricula emphasizing women’s spiritual empowerment through traditional Torah values. She has published the following books: Women at the Crossroads: A Woman’s Perspective on the Weekly Torah Portion; Ruth: Gleaning the Fallen Sparks; The Seven Fruits of the Land of Israel with their Mystical & Medicinal Properties; Parasha Meditations for Spiritual Renewal and Strengthening Communication with the Creator and My Memoir: The Story of a Danish Jew who Fled the Nazis. Rebbetzin practices EmunaHealing as a gifted spiritual healer through Emunah, tefilah and energy work. Chana Bracha has a married son and several granddaughters, and lives with her husband and younger son on the land of the Judean hills, Israel.

Basic Jewish Concepts
This class is for beginners and those who have focused on the inner dimensions of the Torah and want to fill the gaps in their basic Torah knowledge. In Basic Jewish Concepts, we will systematically cover the foundation of the Torah, including Torah Hebrew terminology, reviewing the Tanach, The Written Torah (Bible); the development and structure of Torah She’Ba’al Peh – (Oral Law); Emunah (Jewish Faith); major Torah personalities who contributed to biblical, medieval and modern History; summarizing the Jewish holidays and more. Whereas Basic Jewish Concepts is not exclusively for conversion students, the topics have been gleaned from the Rabbis’ questions at the final Beit Din for conversion. The class is interactive, each week students are given an assignment to present to the class.

Torah and Permaculture
The term ‘permaculture’ was coined in the 1970s, but the principles of permaculture have been known in the Torah world since biblical times. Our forefathers and foremothers, who lived close to nature as sheepherders and farmers, applied permaculture practices in their service of Hashem. In this 6-week course, we will explore the 12 permaculture principles, their sources in the Torah, and their implementation in our daily lives. Students will receive a comprehensive source sheet in Hebrew/English integrating Bible texts, Midrash, Chassidut, and Kabbalah to accompany the textual study of each class. 

Spiritual Insights into the Hebrew Months
Based on Sefer Yetzira, through the lens of Rav Tzvi Elimelech Shapira of Dinov, grandson of the Ba’al Shem tov, we will explore the mystical dimension of the Hebrew months. This course will facilitate students in tuning into the spiritual energy of the month through learning and discussing selected texts. We will tap into the Hebrew letter, tribe, sense, and organ associated with the Hebrew month, as well as its constellation. The learning will highlight sources that tap into accessing the energy of the month and its potential for spiritual growth.  

Torah and Herbology
The Herbal Workshop integrates vast information from the ancient wisdom of our Torah about plants, herbology, nutrition, and health with traditional folk medicine and medical research. The course delves into textual Torah sources on herbs and healing, as well as general knowledge of the use of herbs. For the Elul program, we will focus on the seven holy fruits of the Land of Israel with their mystical and medicinal properties, as this is the time of their ripening. A comprehensive source sheet in Hebrew/English accompanies the textual study of each of the classes integrating, Bible texts, Midrash, chassidism kabbalah, folk medicine, and medical research.  

Rabbi Mechael Siegelbaum, MD, Rabbi of B’erot
Rabbi Dr. Siegelbaum holds a BA in Philosophy and Psychology from Yale University, and an MD from Rutgers Medical School, New Jersey. Rabbi Mechael received his rabbinical ordination from Toras Zekeinim, Jerusalem in 1987.  In addition to teaching halacha in B’erot Bat Ayin, Rabbi Siegelbaum learns Torah part time, is active in the Bat Ayin central synagogue, where he serves as the Gabbi and practices medicine in Bat Ayin and various other clinics.

Halacha
Rav Siegelbaum will discuss the halacha pertinent to the High Holidays. In addition, to learning the “how” of the mitzvot, the student will come to appreciate the process of the development and transmission of halacha from the written and oral Torah till contemporary halachic responsas.

Morah Tsipi Egert  
Tsipi Egert grew up in Israel where she attended high school. She received her B.A. in Jewish History from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Tsipi has been teaching Nevi’im (The Prophets) at Midreshet B’erot Bat Ayin since 1998 and has a Master’s in Education in Tanach from H*erzog College. She is currently obtaining a MA at Hebrew University towards a PhD in Tanach. Tsipi lives with her family in Efrat, Gush Etzion.

Tehilim  
Moshe gave us the five Books of Law, the Torah. David offered us the five Books of Emotion, the Tehillim. Few of us ever receive the opportunity to grasp the inner aspect of this poetry from Heaven. Through analyzing the fundamentals of its words and sentences, developing its syntax, exchanging this new knowledge with a partner, meditation, writing and sharing our new interpretations, we connect our own emotions to those of our Source. We gain the tools to continue this study towards a deeper appreciation of  the  Tehillim. 

Rabbi Avraham Iskowitz   
Rabbi Izkowitz spent the first 16 years of his life on American army bases in Europe and the United States while attending litvish yeshivot, after which he made aliyah with his family to Jerusalem. After high school, he pursued his hobbies as a rock keyboardist and songwriter, creative writer, and BMX biker, while tutoring at Yeshivat Ohr Sameach and working in the optometry industry. His hobbies led him to Manhattan where he almost signed a record contract with Atlantic Records, but Hashem had other plans for him. Avraham returned to Jerusalem, worked as a landscape artist whilst studying psychology and anthropology at the Hebrew University. At the age of 27, he ‘retired’ to study full time at the Bat Ayin Yeshiva for seven years. Avraham, his wife and 5 children live in Bat Ayin, where he teaches, practices safrut and therapy.

Derech Hashem – The Way of G-d 
The classic work of the 18th century master Kabbalist and Talmudist, Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto (The Ramchal), enables the exploration of such questions as: “Why Hashem created the world,” ‘The principles of Hashem’s Providence over Human Affairs,” “The Suffering of the Righteous vs. the Success of the Wicked,” “The Relationship between the Soul & the Body,” and “The Relationship between Israel and the Nations.”  Emphasis is placed on resolving some of the most basic contradictions and dualities which we tend to encounter as Jews, thus giving the student the clarity to strengthen her faith. 

Morah Devorah Konikov
Devorah is a mother and grandmother, raising growing family in Bat Ayin for 21 years. She is striving and thriving with life skills ingrained from learning chassidut. Devorah is a long-time student of Rav Yitzchak Ginsburgh shlita.

Climbing the Ladder of Tefilah  
Tefilla can be viewed as the ladder to self-transformation.  We will learn the inner meanings of our daily tefilot, going deep into the words, the class will spend a significant amount of time on the Amidah (Silent Prayer) which makes up the bulk of the daily prayers. We will learn the inner meanings of the various prayers, going deep into the words, to emerge rejuvenated and strengthened to fulfill our roles in life. 

Morah Avital Gastwirth
Avital Gastwirth teaches at Ulpanat Orly and is a certified kallah teacher. She studied in Nishmat’s Yoetzet Halacha course and Machon Puah’s Yoetzet Refua V’halacha (halachic medical counselor) course. In addition to her degree in Tanach, Israel studies, and education from Michlelet Herzog, Morah Avital brings a wealth of fascinating experiences to our midrasha as a previous editor of Mizrachi Magazine, coordinator of various educational programs, and as a talented artist. She lives in Alon Shvut with her husband and children.

Discovering the Inner Eretz Yisrael through the Lens of Chassidut & Rav Kook  
Eretz Yisrael is not a peripheral matter, an external acquisition of the nation… Rather it has intrinsic meaning, connected to the Jewish people with a living attachment… (Rav Kook, Orot) 
Together we will explore the essence of the Land of Israel within our hearts, minds, and souls and as a state of consciousness, we can experience. We will explore the process of finding our internal geulah (redemption) through learning and meditating on how the deep writings of early chassidic masters and Rav Kook understand Eretz Yisrael.     

Morah Raizi Rosen
Raizi Rosen holds a BA in Judaic Studies, a Hebrew Teacher’s Diploma from Stern College/Yeshiva University, and an EdM TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) from Boston University. Raizi started out teaching Hebrew/Jewish studies in day schools in the US. After making Aliyah she taught English in Adult Ed in Jerusalem, and worked in English publications and PR. Her teaching career went from Hebrew to English and back to Hebrew. Raizi taught private students for many years and served as Ulpan teacher at Midreshet B’erot Bat Ayin for several programs. Raizi lives with her family in Neve Daniel, Gush Etzion.

Conversational Hebrew
The goal of the Ulpan class is to enable students to navigate basic Hebrew. Improve your Hebrew speaking skills and comprehension with interactive exercises, grammar reviews, and conversation. We’ll look at everyday situational Hebrew, learning basic vocabulary, and practicing it. Each lesson is built around one major topic: for example: travel, medical treatment, shopping,
1. Introduce and practice relevant vocabulary
2. Write a sample dialog
3. Practice together as a class.
4. Divide into pairs or groups to gain more experience using the language format and vocabulary, so that they can maximize actually speaking.

Various speaking and written exercises will provide an overview of Hebrew Grammar, and help you become equipped with basic modern Hebrew skills for communicating in Israeli society. Come ready to roll, and build your confidence, and Hebrew knowledge through this interactive class. Every student no matter what level will benefit from the class.

Tzvi Taylor
Tzvi has always loved Tanach and has a master’s degree in Ancient Middle Eastern Studies with a specialty in Tanach.  He made aliyah from Baltimore, MD with his family two years ago, and they have happily made their home in Bat Ayin.  By profession, Tzvi is a healthcare consultant for an American company.  The Taylors regularly host B’erot students for Shabbat meals, and Tzvi enjoys creating engaging material for Shabbat discussions, such as Jeopardy on the Parasha, Earth Torah, Chassidut, and Facts about Israel.

Parashat HaShavua
Delve into the depth of the weekly Torah portion integrating textual and inner dimensions of the Torah with practical takeaways for bettering ourselves. In this class you will receive a broad perspective on how the parsha pertains to our lives today.

Gardening 
Learn to do the mitzvot of tending and harvesting from the Land of Israel and experience how you can transform yourself through the process.  In this class, we will plant and maintain the beautiful garden campus we have here at B’erot, planting various seasonal crops, which we will harvest for lunches and use in our herbology class.