5-Week Spring Program: Grow and Let Grow

Sunday April 23 – Shabbat May 27
2 Iyar – 7 Iyar 5783

* Live on campus, or Zoom in from around the world!

* All classes are recorded for your convenience.

* If you would like to attend our full-time program on campus, please contact Info@berotbatayin.com

Midreshet B’erot Bat Ayin: Holistic Torah for Women on the Land is for women who seek to delve deeply into their soul through intensive textual study and creative expression. We engage women of all ages and nationalities in intense Torah study. We offer classes suitable for both frum-from-birth as well as students whose interest in Torah has recently been ignited.

Do you want to fill the gaps in your basic Torah knowledge? And/or are you ready to reignite your personal Torah connection through discovering inner dimensions of the Torah? Then Midreshet  B’erot Bat Ayin is the right place for you. Our program offers learning for mind, body and soul!

Whether you are new in Torah, or you are seeking a wider perspective, Midreshet B’erot Bat Ayin offers the opportunity to improve your learning skills while strengthening your commitment to Judaism within the parameters of halacha. The open-minded atmosphere at Midreshet B’erot Bat Ayin will allow you to discover the rich variety of Torah approaches, while forming your own outlook and learning from the views of others.

Women, please join On-line or In-person, we look forward to including you in our learning community! 

🌱Our Spring program focuses on moving from exile to redemption through serious textual learning of Torah, Chassidic and kabbalistic teachings. Join us in the heart of the Judean hills that offers an exciting opportunity to integrate the spiritual renewal of the stirrings of spring in a unique holistic setting.

Our Program supports you to: 🌼 Share Your Feelings in a Warm, Supportive Environment 🌼 Immerse Yourself in Jewish Learning 🌼 Build Textual Skills 🌼 Express Your Creative Potential 🌼 Integrate Torah and Creativity 🌼 Come Closer to G-d as You Experience the Beauty of the Land 🌼 Learn and Connect with Like-Minded Amazing Women and Teachers

Where: Midreshet B’erot Bat Ayin’s growing campus or live on Zoom classes from around the world with our brilliant teachers, plus recordings of every class to keep, review, and listen to again and again.

When: Sunday through Thursday

Time: 9 to 1:10 pm/EST | 4 to 8:10 pm/Israel time

NEW: Catch an additional early class 7:15-8:30 pm/EST | 2:15-3:30 PM Israel time (ask for details)

Supplies needed: A passion to learn, connect, and grow!

Spring Program: Grow and Let Grow Sunday, April 23 – Shabbat, May 27, $180.00 / 5-week (over 70 classroom hours)

 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. 

Ruth – Gleaning the Fallen Sparks
Why was Ruth, a convert from the lowest of people, selected to become the mother of Royalty? This question, together with topics such as: “The true Nature of Kindness,” “Love of the Land of Israel,” and “How to bring about Redemption” will be elucidated, as we analyze of the text with classical and mystical commentaries, from midrash to Arizal. The book of Ruth takes place during the bleak period of “the Judges,” its lack of unity and central leadership foreshadowing our current time. Ruth the mother of Royalty is the perfect role-model and inspiration for women who aspire to walk in her path of righteousness and make a difference in the world. She is explicitly a role-model for the many righteous converts who join the Jewish people. Ruth inspires us through her special qualities with which she was able to shine her light in the dark times; and eventually bring about the sprout of Mashiach through the birth of her great grandchild King David. The characters of the Book of Ruth will come to life through drama and art.

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.

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.

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 Book of Shmuel: Prophecy, Spiritual Transitions and Malchut
In this class we will become acquainted with the Jewish people during the end of the era of the Judges’ (שופטים/shoftim) leadership. We will explore the relationship between leadership and the spiritual stature of the people. We will meet great Jewish leaders such as Elkana, Chana, Eli, Shmuel and Shaul. Through them, we will try to understand the spiritual make up of a good leader. How does the leader impact the people? How does a nation undergo spiritual change? What lessons can we take from these leaders into our own lives, as we too strive for greatness.

Rabbi Hillel Benchimol 
Born and raised in Gibraltar in southern Spain, Rabbi Benchimol at age 16 learnt in Sunderland Yeshiva, England and Beer Yakov, Israel. He received Semicha from Rabbi Shalom Messas זצ״ל, Chief Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu זצ״ל and Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach זצ״ל. Served as Rabbi of the Turkish, Iranian and Iraqi communities in Miami and Los Angeles for over 20 years. A certified active Mohel since 1992, Rabbi Benchimol is married to Keter, has 6 children and lives in Moshav Aviezer in the Ella valley Israel. 

Parashat HaShavua
Rabbi Benchimol will be teaching our Parashat HaShavua from an inner dimension viewing the weekly Torah portion as part of a bigger plan – part of the jigsaw puzzle and tapestry of life. You will receive a broad perspective as to how the parsha is lived today and how it pertains to your life today.

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.

Pirkei Avot – Ethics of our Fathers
Come join us with Our spiritual fathers as they guide us on a path that will insure our continuous growth towards moral perfection and character refinement.

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.

Striving to Become a Vessel for Torah
In this course we will learn about our midot (character traits) – reflecting the seven emotional sefirot (Divine Emanations) from Chesed (Kindness) to Malchut (Royalty). We will explore how to develop and balance our character traits that encompasses our spiritual garments of thought, speech, and action. Our aim, and prayer, will be to become motivated to take steps towards positive growth and change, enabling us to become suitable vessels for receiving and embodying the Torah.

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.

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.

Finding Your Way in the Siddur
On this Journey through the Siddur, we will be learning the general structure of the daily prayers in the Siddur, while exploring our own personal relationship to prayer. We will analyze the words of this vital channel of life – peppered with uplifting stories of both Gedolim (Torah Sages) and ordinary people. You will be encouraged to add your own story as well, through discussion and discovery.