Women's Beis Midrash
Opening Fall 2020
OUR VISION
The vision of Batsheva’s Women’s Beis Midrash is to create a communal space where women who share a passion for in-depth Torah learning can develop their skills and reach their personal learning goals. The program will offer women the opportunity to make Torah study their primary occupation and will foster their growth as future female leaders and educators in the Jewish community.
OUR CURRICULUM
The primary curriculum goals for the part-time program are to provide our students with:
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Skills for studying texts of Chassidus and Halacha independently
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Mastery of basic knowledge of Halacha and Chassidus.
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Support in achieving independent learning goals
This will be accomplished through our carefully designed 3-part curriculum.
Chassidus Course:
The Chassidus course will cover the entire Kuntres Umaayon of the Rebbe Rashab.
Students will walk away at the end of the year with a mastery of the sefer as well as tools to tackle any text of chassidus on their own.
Halacha Course:
The Halacha course will cover the topic of Hilchos Shobbos, exploring the origins of the halachos in Mishna, Gemara, Rishonim and the Shulchan Aruch. Students will walk away at the end of the year with a mastery of these halachos as well as tools to tackle any text of halacha on their own.
Independent Study:
Each pair of chavrusas will choose one other text they would like to study independently over the course of the semester. They will meet with our program director at the beginning of each semester to set monthly and weekly goals. At the end of the semester, they present what they learned to the rest of the group.
OUR TEAM
Our team is committed to giving our students an immersive learning experience that is both engaging and empowering. Our instructors provide their students with tools to explore the text on their own, challenge them to thoroughly master the material they learn and lead discussions that foster a deeper understanding of the text.
Mrs. Natalie Rice - Chassidus Instructor
Mrs. Rice grew up in London and moved to New York after completing her MA in Philosophy at Cambridge University. She has been teaching in various capacities for over ten years and is currently teaching high school English, as well as adult Chassidus classes. Mrs. Rice has developed and taught two Chassidus courses for Batsheva Learning Center and is excited to join our Beish Midrash team as our Chassidus instructor.
Rabbi Shlomo Yaffe - Halacha Instructor
Rabbi Yaffe is a scholar and lecturer who has led seminars worldwide. He lives in Springfield, MA, serves as rabbi of Congregation Bnai Torah, and serves as the Dean of the Institute of American and Talmudic Law and the director of the Institute for Judaic Knowledge. Rabbi Yaffe is an innovative educator who has been involved in providing high level Torah learning opportunities for women for over 25 years. He has been a dedicated board member and teacher since Batsheva’s first steps as an organization and is passionate about creating a new generation of empowered female leaders and educators.
SCHEDULE:
Semester 1:
August 31, 2020 - December 31, 2020 (with breaks for Sukkos and Chanukah)
Semester 2:
January 11, 2021 - May 13, 2021 (With a break for Pesach)
Classes run Monday-Thursday 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
The following is a sample weekly schedule:
APPLICATIONS:
We welcome all women between the ages of 19 and 29 to apply. After your application is reviewed, you will be invited for an interview.
Application deadline: June 7, 2020 / 15 Sivan 5780
Application fee: $50
Student Tuition: $2000 per semester or $3500 per year
Scholarships and payments plans are available.
Please email admin@batshevalearningcenter.com for more information.
(Students who demonstrate commitment and diligence may be eligible to become fellows in the program the following year and receive a monthly stipend for their learning.)