Don’t just learn Torah, experience Torah!

To really immerse yourself in Torah, we have intensified our program with additional classes in two levels. Our program offers the best of Bat Ayin Rabbis, scholars, and female role models and features a well-rounded exposure to Torah texts from Tanach, classical Jewish thought, and various kinds of Chassidut including the teachings of Chabad, Rebbe Nachman, and Rav Kook.

The learning program includes multiple special Holiday and Rosh Chodesh Programs. We will be walking in the place where our matriarchs and patriarchs walked, treasuring every rock and hill. We will be picking plants from our garden, making salads from our homegrown produce while sipping teas from our healing herbs.

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. 

Megillat Esther
This scroll sensitizes us to seeing G-d behind the mask of His hiding place. In our time at the verge of redemption, the role of womanhood is in transition both within the family and in the world. The Scroll of Esther – taking place in the transition period between the first two Temples – sheds light on the rise of Feminine Consciousness and provides a powerful role model for true Jewish feminism within the parameters of Halacha. By tuning into the character of Esther, and reflecting on the various phases of the moon, we will gain a deeper understanding of Jewish women’s role in the evolving process of redemption. While reading the text, we will also touch upon topics such as “Divine Providence,” and “The Relationship between Good and Evil in the world.” Creative expression such as drama, dance, and art will be incorporated when appropriate. 

Rachel Our Mother – Returning Us to the Land
Why is our mother Rachel especially connected with Eretz Yisrael and how is this connection reflected in her relationship with Ya’acov and Leah? What can we learn from Rachel about the role of women in building Eretz Yisrael today?
We will explore these questions and others through textual Torah study with classical commentary spiced with Chassidic and mystical interpretation. You will be encouraged to apply your own creative thinking in discussing pertinent questions centering around the character of Rachel our Mother. Creative writing, art, and drama will be applied when appropriate. A source sheet in Hebrew/English Bible text, Midrash, Chassidism, and Kabbalah accompanies the learning.

Herbal Workshop, Torah & Healing
The Herbal Workshop integrates vast information of 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. We will focus on the seven holy fruits of the Land of Israel with their mystical and medicinal properties. 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.

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.

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.

The Haftorah (The Weekly Prophet Reading)
Our Shabbat and holiday readings from the Torah are accompanied by parallel readings taken from the books of the Prophets. Each reading acts as a commentary or an expansion of an idea from the Torah reading, or one connected to the holiday at hand. In this course, we will take an intimate look at selected readings from the prophets chosen by our sages to illuminate the weekly Torah reading (Parashat Hashavua). We will study the special Haftarot of this time period in order to delve into the significance of the time flow of Elul and the Tishrei holidays and gain a deeper understanding of their significance to our lives.

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.

The Tanya – The Heart of Chabad
Tanya is unique among Chassidic writings in that it systematically presents the worldview of Chassidism. Additionally, it offers extremely practical teachings about how to process through the difficulties and resistance one encounters on a spiritual path. The course will present the student with an in-depth interpretation of the text together with guidance in applying the concepts of Tanya to the challenges of our lives.

Morah Yedida Levy
Yedida Miriam grew up in UK and made aliyah early on. With a passion for education, and a background in theatre, she spent ten years teaching in Jerusalem, before returning to Bat Ayin in 2018. Her passion is ‘tutoring’, teaching the Holy texts, and Hebrew ~ making it accessible to students.

Torah, Self-Discovery & Drama Workshop Preparing for Purim Play Performance
Using Megillat Esther as a base, we will delve into Esther’s journey, exploring the challenges she faced, while also gaining a greater understanding of ourselves, and our potential of the Jewish Woman. In a warm classroom setting, we will connect deeply from the inside out, expressing our insights through the lens of our personal journey. The workshop will include drama techniques such as character exploration, personal monologue, inner monologue, and character development through brainstorming, meditation, memory scanning, and opening the heart to develop our creative, spiritual, and perceptual abilities. The workshop will culminate in putting together and performing B’erot Bat Ayin Annual Purim Spiel.

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.

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.

Selected Topics in the Teachings of Rav Kook
Rav Kook is known as our modern-day prophet, a visionary whose spiritual and redemptive teachings speak to the individual, the people of Israel, and humanity as a whole. We will explore Rav Kook’s deep spiritual, philosophical, and psychological insights through learning and meditating on the deep writings of Rav Kook and his understanding of topics such as Eretz Yisrael, Redemption, Emunah, and Art & Creativity.

Morah Kochava Rozenbaum
Kochava is the current Dorm Mother of Midreshet B’erot Bat Ayin and lives on campus with her husband and three children. She especially enjoys teaching and one-on-one tutoring at the midrasha, going on special tiyulim and creating a lively and warm atmosphere on campus. Aside from her role as Dorm Mother she is a creative content writer and ceramics arts teacher.

Practical Kashrut in the Kitchen
In the Practical Laws of Kashrut course, we will apply the Laws of Kashrut (Kosher) in a hands-on experiential way inside the kitchen. We will focus primarily on the topic of Basar V’chalav (separation of meat and dairy) and checking for bugs. In addition, we will prepare ourselves for the upcoming holiday of Pesach by applying these same principles to the separation of chametz and Kosher l’Pesach (for Pesach).

Morah Miriam Raphael
Miriam grew up in Israel and has been involved in Jewish education for 20 years. She lives in Bat Ayin Bet with her husband and four children.

Interpersonal Relationships in the Torah
n this study group we will focus on sources from the Torah, midrash and chazal about interpersonal relationships. Each class will present texts on a different type of relationship within the family, between man and a woman, children and parents, between siblings and within the greater society. We will discuss how to build our personality from what we learn and how the Torah stories inspires a higher level of ethics and morality in our interpersonal relationships.