Torah Courses Material/Recordings

Immerse yourself in the Deepest Learning of our Mothers

Open your Mind and Heart

The learning program at B’erot Bat Ayin will encourage and support you in exploring the traditional sources with the aid of dynamic instructors, with study partners, and through independent study. 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 to appreciate the views of others.

We are committed to offer you a balanced program where you can delve into Torah texts, learn from amazing teachers, explore your creativity and develop your Jewish femininity.

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Weekly Torah Portion

Enjoy the feminine fresh Torah perspective from Rebbetzin Chana Bracha on the parsha!

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Parsha Meditations

Use Rebbetzin’s parsha meditations to connect deeply to the weekly Torah portion and to yourself.

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Weekly Haftorah

Be inspired and enlightened by Rebbetzin’s commentaries to the weekly haftorah.

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Jewish Months

Immerse yourself in the secrets and the power of each month of our year.

Commentaries by Rebbetzin Chana Bracha Siegelbaum, Director Midreshet B’erot Bat Ayin

Women in Tanach – Mothers of Redemption
A Series of 10 Classes

A Textual, Mystical & Creative Exploration of Women Who Built the House of Israel
with Rebbetzin Chana Bracha Siegelbaum author of Women at the Crossroads: A Woman’s Perspective on the Weekly Torah Portion

The Class takes place online via  https://zoom.us/ 
Tuesdays noon-1:15 PM EST | 7-8:15 pm Israel time
Estimated Dates: January 21, 28, February 4, 11, 18, 25 March 3,17, 24, 31, 2020
$100 for the course of 10 classes               

Women in the Prophets

Yiftach’s Daughter – Dedicated to G-d
The story of Yiftach’s daughter is a sad story of sacrifice and seclusion of an unfortunate Jewish young woman who was prevented from marrying and raising a family due to the mistakes of men. Yiftach made the following vow to Hashem: ‘If you deliver the Ammonites into my hands, then whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me on my safe return from the Ammonites shall be for Hashem, and I will offer it as a burnt offering. When Yiftach arrived at his home in Mitzpeh, his daughter who was his only child came out to meet him, with timbrel and dance.

  • What is improper about Yiftach’s vow?
  • In which way did Yiftach sacrifice his daughter?
  • Why didn’t Yiftach release himself from his vow in order to avoid ruining his daughter’s life?
  • Which current issue does the incident of Yiftach’s daughter remind you and how can they be compared?

 

Chana – the Mother of our Prayer Part 1
Chana introduces the period of the prophets following the period of the Judges. She is the mother of Shemuel, the prophet, who is compared to a great stream through which small rivers flow. Before his time the channel of prophecy had been blocked for Israel. When he received prophecy, it spilled over into smaller prophets like a river overflows into smaller streams.                 

Perhaps one reason why Chana was barren was to reflect Israel’s state of being barren from prophecy until the birth of Shemuel. Besides being the mother of prophecy, Chana moreover, is one of the seven prophetesses; she understood G-d’s ways in a prophetic manner.

  • What kind of portion did Elkana give Chana? And what does it teach about their relationship?
  • Why did Penina only make her angry when they were going up to the house of Hashem?
  • How is the relationship between unity and duality depicted in Chana’s story?

 

Chana – the Mother of our Prayer Part 2
Chana’s ability to express and compose the words of prayer is the most vital aspect of prophecy. We learn the importance of women’s prayer from Chana. The words emanating from our heartfelt personal prayer are most powerful of all. We do not need a minyan in order to be heard.  Chana preferred to pray in solitude in order to pour out her heart to G-d in privacy without any inhibitions. Since we are not limited to the present accepted prayer ritual, we can be creative in prayer and bring down new ways of praying to Hashem.

  • Which principles do we learn about women and prayer ritual from Chana?
  • What do we learn about Elkana’s attitude towards his lot, by his words of comfort to Chana?
  • Which general halachot of prayer do we learn from Chana?
  • Which are the four elements that made Chana’s prayer acceptable to G-d?

 

Michal – the Princess in Love Part 1
David’s ability to become king was in the merit of the mesirut nefesh of Michal to save him. Without Michal, David would would have been killed by Shaul’s sword before he would merit the crown.  Michal is a direct descendant of Rachel. Rachel proved more loyal to her husband than to her father, she stole the house-gods in order to prevent her father from knowing her husband’s whereabouts. Michal, likewise, proved more loyal to her husband than to her father. She had to take sides between her father and David and developed the deepest love for David corresponding to her father’s hatred of him. 

  • What is Michal’s dilemma? Imagine what inner tumult she has to go through before she decides to help David escape.
  • Which part of her inner being does hence her father hence David represent?
  • Think of a situation you have experienced where you had to decide between supporting two different people and the conflicting sides of yourself they represent.
  • Compare Michal to David, in which way are their personalities opposed?

 

Michal – the Princess in Love Part 2
Michal, daughter of Shaul was the model of tzniut (modesty). She was greatly bothered by David’s public exposure and breakdancing celebrating the return of the ark. From Michal we learn the limitations of tzniut. She had to pay a high price for being overly modest. Michal was a strong and self-confidant woman. She would lay tefillin, and the sages did not stop her.

  • What is wrong with women laying tefillin and why did the sages allow Michal?
  • Why did Michal desire the mitzvah of tefillin more than any other time-bound mitzvah?
  • What is the meaning of the name Michal and how does it fit in with her personality?
  • What is the underlying reason Michael was childless?
  • What are the character-traits for which Avigail is praised?

 

Avigail – The Enlightened Woman Part 1
Avigail’s story takes place during the reign of the Jewish king, Shaul, whnen G-d has already chosen David the next king of Israel. Shaul keeps pursuing David in the desert from place to place, believing mistakenly that David is rebelling against him. The hostility of Naval, Avigail’s evil ultimately causes David to plan an attack on his household. Avigail manages to avert this catastrophe through her wisdom, ingenuity and inherent goodness. In order to gain a deeper understanding of Avigail and what she has to offer, it is worthwhile to first examine the context and the characters in her story. Of particular significance in this regard is the conflict between Naval and David, which generates obstacles that Avigail overcomes and through which her greatness shines.

  • What are the character-traits for which Avigail is praised?
  • What is the Meaning of the Name Avigail?
  • Explain the three components of Avigail’s strategy in convincing David to avoid bloodshed among Israel and compare them with Ya’acov’s strategy when preparing to face Esav:

 

Avigail – The Enlightened Woman Part 2
Avigail is one of the seven prophetesses listed in the Talmud. In this class we will explore the nature of her prophecy and the depths of her perception.  Great principles in the Torah are explained by means of women like the matter of the World-to-Come which is called “the bundle of life” by Avigail (Rabbeinu Bachaya, Shemot 15:20).

  • What did Avigail teach us about the secret of the afterlife?
  • Why do you think Avigail was the one who taught the secret of the afterlife?
  • What was Avigail’s prophecy by which she was included among the seven prophetesses?
  • Why should a person never ask for a test?

Batsheva – Woman of Valor
Batsheva was destined to be David’s true soulmate from the six days of creation.
She was a modest woman who carefully observed the laws of family purity, but who found herself, without any conscious action on her part, in an affair with the king. The fact that she is neither reprimanded nor punished indicates her guiltlessness. G-d’s forgiveness of David for his sin, endorses his marriage to Bat Sheva. The fact that her son Solomon continued the royal dynasty of the Davidic lineage cleared David and Batsheva of any blame.

  • If Batsheva was a modest woman how did it come about that David saw her bathing?
  • How does David’s relationship with Batsheva differ from his relationship with Avigail, and how did it affect his ability to overcome the temptation of sin?
  • Was David guilty of the sin of adultery with Batsheva?
  • What is the connection between Batsheva and the Eishet Chail described in the end of the Book of Mishlei?

 

Na’amah – The Pleasant Woman Part 1
The name Na’amah appears four times in the Tanach, Na’amah is also attributed to four different female characters: 1. Noach’s wife 2. A woman playing and singing in honor of idolatry.  3. The mother of evil spirits that tempt men to sin. 3. The wife of King Solomon. The first mention of Na’amah in Tanach is in Bereishit where she is described as the sister of Tubal-Kayin, daughter of Lemech and Tzilah. Most of the commentaries explain that this Na’amah is Noach’s wife. The more we delve into this woman’s background and life-story, the more we understand the story of the flood, and the more it becomes apparent that the sages did not identify Noach’s wife as Na’amah arbitrarily; Noach’s wife could only be Na’amah. 

  • How do we learn from the text that the deeds of Na’amah were pleasant?
  • How does Na’amah merge the lineage of Kayin with the lineage of Shet?
  • How is Na’amah is proof that Kayin’s teshuva was genuine?

 

Na’amah – The Pleasant Woman Part 2
Na’amah mentioned in the Tanach refers to King Shlomo’s wife, the daughter of the King of Ammon, who became the mother of Rechavam from whom the Mashiach is to descend. Thus,  Na’amah is the mother of the Messianic line.

  • What do we learn from Kabbalah about the connection between the root letters of עמון/Amon and נעמה/Na’amah?
  • What gave Na’mah the merit to become mother of Rechavam?
  • How did Na’amah help Shlomo to return to his kingdom after being exiled by the demon?

Enlighten the Winter!

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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 Masters of Art in Jewish History from Touro College. Rebbetzin Chana Bracha creates curricula emphasizing women’s spiritual empowerment through traditional Torah values. She has been researching and teaching women in Tanach for more than thirty years. Her teachings always bring new sources and a fresh perspective highlighting the importance the Women’s role in the Torah.

In 2010 she published her first book, Women at the Crossroads: A Woman’s Perspective on the Weekly Torah Portion. Since then she has published Ruth: Gleaning the Fallen Sparks (2012), the award-winning The Seven Fruits of the Land of Israel with their Mystical & Medicinal Properties (2014), her first children’s book The Nameless Chicken from Judea (2015) and Parasha Meditations for Spiritual Renewal and Strengthening Communication with the Creator (2016). 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.

Chana Bracha Siegelbaum has been researching and teaching women in Tanach for about thirty years. Her teachings always empower women while bringing new sources and a fresh perspective highlighting the importance the Women’s role in the Torah. This series of 10 experiential classes focus on an in-depth analysis of our Foremothers, highlighting sources that tap into women’s hidden power. A comprehensive source sheet in Hebrew/English accompanies the textual study of each of the classes integrating, Bible texts, Midrash, Chassidism and sometimes Kabbalah, weaving together and amplify the personalities of these holy women.  Creative writing, art, & drama will help make the struggles and aspirations of these inspirational role-models come to life. Below is a short description of the women we will study in the upcoming course.

Other Classes: Women in Tanach – Mothers of Redemption
A Textual, Mystical & Creative Exploration of Women Who Built the House of Israel
with Rebbetzin Chana Bracha Siegelbaum

Online Course of 10 classes via  https://zoom.us/                              

Women in Bamidbar

  • Class 1: The Divergent Approaches of the Wives of Korach and On
  • Class 2: The Daughters of Tzlafchad, Part 1. Redeeming the Land
  • Class 3: The Daughters of Tzlafchad, Part 2. Women Affecting the Process of Halacha


Women in the Book of Yehoshua

  • Class 4: Rachav – Woman of Ultimate Renewal, Part 1
  • Class 5: Rachav – Woman of Ultimate Renewal, Part 2
  • Class 6: Achsah -The First Kollel Wife, Part 1
  • Class 7: Achsah -The First Kollel Wife, Part 2


Women in the Book of Shoftim

  • Class 8: Devorah the Prophetess, Part 1
  • Class 9: Devorah the Prophetess, Part 2
  • Class 10: Yael – More Blessed than the Women of the Tent

Image by Elisheva Shira

Class Syllabus

Women in Bamidbar

Class 1
The Divergent Approaches of the Wives of Korach and On
The son of Pelet is listed as one of Korach’s supporters but there is no further mention of him. On, the son of Pelet is not included among the people who are punished with Korach. How did he escape sharing their fate?

  • What differentiated the ways of these two women whose influence on their husband had such tremendous impact on the political and spiritual fate of the entire Jewish nation?
  • How would hence the wife of Korach and the wife of On have tackled a modern-day situation, such as the husband losing his job, or a promotion?

 

Class 2
The Daughters of Tzlafchad Part 1. Redeeming the Land
In our time and age there is an intensified awareness especially among women of the inherent holiness of our Land. From where do we get this strength to stand up for the Land despite the dangers it entails? Among the role-models who have affected our connection with the Land of Israel are the daughters of Tzelafchad. In a time when the general sentiment was remiss regarding the love of the Land, these five sisters stood up in their dedicated quest for a portion in the Land. They yearned to be part of revealing the Shechina through redeeming the Land of Israel.

  • Why is the section about Tzelafchad’s daughters juxtaposed to the passage describing the punishment of the men in the desert?
  • How did the daughters’ request for a portion of the land prove that they indeed cherished the Land of Israel?
  • What was the great merit of Tzelafchad’s daughters that they taught laws of Torah, which even Moshe was unable to teach?

 

Class 3
The Daughters of Tzlafchad Part 2. Women Affecting the Process of Halacha
We live in a time when women’s place in Torah learning and participation in community life is in a state of transformation. Many Jewish women who feel passionately religious are not satisfied with the traditional female role in the Torah. They request equal legal rights to participate in every aspect of the Jewish community life including the halachic decision-making process. We are in a process of clarifying the Torah parameters for seeking a paradigm shift in the status of the Jewish women. In this process we need to ask ourselves as orthodox, practicing Jewish women, how to follow the Torah path in engendering positive change in our status as women without infringing on the halachic authority of the tradition? The daughters of Tzelafchad serve as role models for the accepted way of how women can affect this necessary change within the framework of Halacha.

  • Which practical implication for petitioners do we learn from the order through which the daughters approached the gatekeepers of Halacha?
  • What is the wisdom of the timing of the daughters of Tzelafchad?
  • What was Moshe’s attitude towards the petition of the daughters?


Women in the Book of Yehoshua

Class 4
Rachav – Woman of Ultimate Renewal, Part 1
Rachav serves as a role model for both converts and ba’alot teshuva (newcomers to Torah) for how it is possible to completely turn around our lives no matter our background. Rachav teaches us how to repent in the highest way by using the extent tools of sin for mitzvot. In this way she was able to transform herself from a harlot to become the wife of Yehoshua, the leader of Israel who led us into the land. Rachav also played a key role in enabling Israel to conquer the border of Yericho and the entire Israel.

  • How do we learn that Rachav had Ruach Hakodesh?
  • Why did Rachav mention explicitly the miracle of the splitting of the sea and not the 10 plagues etc.?
  • Why according to the Midrash is Rachav’s level of recognizing G-d the highest of the converts?

 

Class 5
Rachav – Woman of Ultimate Renewal, Part 2
Rachav was 10 years old during the Exodus.The following 40 years she was immersed in licentiousness. At age 50 she risked her life to save the Jewish spies that came to her home. She then declared, “I have heard…” – my entire nation and myself have heard of the miracles your G-d did in Egypt, and everyone is trembling … I realize that your G-d is the master of the heaven of earth. They heard, they were afraid, and they trembled, but it didn’t motivate them to any personal commitment or action. Yet, Rachav was moved to risk her life and do such an intense Teshuvah. The Israelite spies promised to save her if she would put a cord of scarlet in her window. In her merit, they saved at least 250 members of her family. 

  • What motivated Rachav to do this intense teshuva? What kind of teshuva did she master?
  • Why does scripture emphasize that Rachav was a harlot even after she had converted?
  • Why did Rachav need to place specifically a string of scarlet in the window as a sign through which to be saved by?

 

Class 6
Achsah -The First Kollel Wife, Part 1
Learning about Achsah gives us more perspective on the hot topic of our time regarding Yeshiva learning versus army service. What is the relationship between Torah learning and conquest of the Land of Israel? Is it an ideal to be married to a Torah scholar? What are some things a Kollel wife can do in order to ensure the success of her husband – the Torah scholar and that their home will run smoothly? We will touch upon these and other topics as well as gaining training in careful text comparison and analysis.

  • Why is the story of Achsah mentioned both in the Book of Yehoshua and Shoftim? And how do we understand the differences of language between both recounts?
  • What can we learn from Achsah about how a kollel wife can ensure that her home is run smoothly?
  • How is it possible to find the proper balance between living very poorly dried up from any goods and ensuring the home has its basic needs fulfilled?

 

Class 7
Achsah -The First Kollel Wife, Part 2
Achsah is compared to Rivkah, both women understood that the Jewish people get their strength from their homes. If the home is not built strongly from within, the husbands will be unable to give themselves over to the nation. Achsah is compared to the daughters of Tzelafchad and praised for her struggle to hold on to the land. She too was part of the generation who possessed the land, in which the women of Israel played a key role. At the time when the men were involved in war, Achsah already thought of building a new settlement in the desolate desert and took upon herself the responsibility to fulfill this mission.

  • Compare Achsah with Rivkah, how are the stories about them similar and different?
  • Compare Tziporah and Achsah what were their different ways of dealing with their scholar-husbands?
  • Which part did Achsah have in reviving Torah learning during the unstable period of the Shoftim?


Women in the Book of Shoftim

Class 8
Devorah the Prophetess, Part 1
The most developed prophetess character in the Tanach is Devorah. She is not only a prophetess but also a judge in Israel. In general judges were not prophets. Devorah is therefore unique in her being described both as a judge and as a prophet. It is her intense prophecy which made her a leader in Israel. Through her judging the people modestly out in the open under the date-palm, Devorah was able to restore the original unity between the Israelites and their Father in heaven. Surprisingly, Devorah is not only praised for her leadership abilities but she merited prophecy due to her devotion to her husband who was far from her level of spirituality and Torah scholarship. Through Devora’s devotion to her husband she was able to overcome the challenge of the gap between them and find a meaningful way to bond with him despite their differences. This is why Devorah merited prophecy and to unite Israel with Hashem.

  • Why did Devorah merit prophecy?
  • Why is Devorah called “Woman of Flame” אשת לפידות? What is the meaning of this title?
  • What gave Devorah the ability to unite Israel with Hashem?

 

Class 9
Devorah the Prophetess, Part 2
“Devorah recited song and praise to G-d in a way that no man in the world ever did!” (Zohar III:19b). The righteous King Chizkiyahu, lost his opportunity to become the Mashiach because he didn’t sing song to Hashem for the victory over Sancheriv. Devorah preceded him and taught us a model for praising Hashem for His miracles in the highest way of song. The song of Devorah contains secrets and multiple hints for quickening the Geulah and Mashiach’s arrival. Reciting it is a segulah for the individual redemption and for Klal Yisrael. In addition to analyzing the Song of Devorah we will delve into her reincarnations and discuss the topic of female Rabbis.

  • Compare Devorah’s song to Shirat HaYam, how is the description of Devorah noticeably different than that of Moshe?
  • How does the meaning of the name Devorah relate to her personality?
  • What is the underlying reason Devorah called herself “a mother in Israel?”

 

Class 10
Yael – More Blessed than the Women of the Tent
Adultery is one of the cardinal sins for which a person must rather give her life than transgress. The exception is in the case where the entire nation can be saved through it. Although on the surface Yael’s act seems promiscuous, we will learn why its inner kernel completely extends the modesty of Sarah’s tent. In addition, the class will shed light on how Yael worked in a team with Devorah and how they together gave birth to Israel’s redemption.

  • Why did Yael go out of her tent? What is the difference between Yael’s and Dina’s going out?
  • Why is Yael more blessed than the women of the tent?
  • Why did Yael use the tent peg to kill Sisera instead of his sword?
  • What is the meaning of the name Yael and how does it fit with her mission?