What is the essence of תפילה? The תפילות in our סידור, in general, and especially the תפילות on ראש השנה, appear to have two opposing themes. On the one hand, תפילה is a time of standing before Hashem, of acknowledging His greatness, of praising His majesty.  On ראש השנה, this is especially true: the theme of the day is crowning Hashem king. The liturgy in our מחזור is dotted with proclamations of Hashem’s sovereignty over the universe, and pleas that His dominion be revealed and apparent...

Up to this point, this podcast series discussed what the mitzvah of kisui rosh is, who it applies to, and how and where it applies. In this final episode of the series, we start exploring why?  What is the mystical meaning behind hair covering? Menucha takes us through a few Chassidic sources that discuss the symbolism of hair in Kabbalah in general and how that sheds light on the obligation for married women in particular to cover their hair. This eye-opening conversation offers a novel...

Covering our hair with more hair seems like a strange concept. What is the halachic basis for wig wearing as a valid form of hair covering? What are some reasons wigs would or wouldn’t be allowed? Why might wigs be preferable over other forms of hair covering? This episode explores the original source in the mishna that introduces the concept of wigs and its various applications. We also discuss sheitels as a symbol for a general approach to our Judaism that brings together a strong...

Here is where we get into the details of where a married woman's hair needs to be covered and how much. We begin by introducing the concept of “erva” and offer a perspective shift on how to understand the guidelines for modest dress in general. We explore the original sources for the discussion and the various approaches to how we apply those sources to our practical observance. We also discuss the interplay between kabbalah and halacha in the context of hair covering and the hashkafic...

The Source for the Mitzvah Where does the concept of Kisui Rosh come from in the Torah? Is it a d’oraisa, a d’rabanan or both? Who does it apply to? What if a woman was married and then divorced or widowed? Does she have to cover her hair too? In this episode, we'll explore the unexpected source for the mitzvah of hair covering from stories in the Torah and the Mishna and Gemara. We'll explore the concepts of Das Moshe and Das Yehudis and give a new perspective on the minhagim of tznius...

Welcome to our new podcast series, where we'll explore everything you ever wanted to know about hair covering. We approach the topic from a new angle, giving you the inside scoop on how the halachos of Kisui Rosh developed, following the chain from the original sources in the Torah, through the texts of the Mishna, Gemara, Rishonim and Acharonim. In this introductory episode, we introduce Menucha Schwartz, our guest for this series and the genius behind the original Kisui Rosh course we...

Join Mushky Kovesh and Menucha Minkowitz, students at the Brooklyn Beis Midrash, in a 'Chavrusah Shmooze'. In their lively conversation, they explore the concept of sin, redefining Hashem's intention in creating the world. They discuss how our ability to choose between right and wrong comes from our unique connection with Hashem, the piece of divinity within us. The ideas discussed in this episode are based on the maamar באתי לגני תשל"א. This episode has been released in honor of Yud Shvat,...

Torah Ohr Parshas Vayechi Each of Leah’s first four sons are named to reflect her deep desire to connect to her husband, Yaakov. On a deeper level, each of these sons embody a pathway through which the Jewish soul connects to her ‘husband’, Hashem. This maamar walks us through four steps in building a relationship with Hashem, each one reflected in another part of our daily prayer. The climax is shemoneh esrei, where we achieve the ultimate unity with Hashem through the quality of...

Torah Ohr Parshas Vayigash This foundational maamar explores the dynamic between Yosef and Yehuda as a model for two core perspectives that shape the value system of Judaism.  When Yehuda approaches Yosef to plead on Binyamin's behalf, it’s more than a face-off between two brothers; it’s a meeting of two worldviews. Yosef's is one that values spiritual self-growth as the ultimate pursuit. Yehuda sees value in submission to a purpose beyond himself. Both perspectives portray an angle of...

Torah Ohr on Chanukah The celebration of Chanukah centers not around the military victory over the Greek army, but a spiritual victory of the soul, represented by the lights of the menorah. This spiritual battle is one we experience every day, as we fight to ignite a fire of love inside our hearts. This maamar retells the story of Chanukah on a personal level, exploring the metaphor of a candle as a model for developing a relationship with Hashem. ד״ה ענין חנוכה

Torah Ohr Parshas Mikeitz Parshas Miketz begins with Pharoah’s dream of the seven healthy cows being swallowed by seven sickly ones. This dream gives a powerful imagery for the fleeting nature of inspiration. Why does our excitement for spirituality seem to slip away as quickly as it comes? This maamar offers an answer by looking at the end of the previous parsha when ‘the butler forgot about Yosef’ as the root of the problem. We’ll explore the symbolism of each character in this story and...

Torah Ohr Parshas Vayeishev Life in exile is a lot like a dream; an alternate reality in which contradictory experiences coexist and nothing seems to make sense. But dreaming has another side to it. It’s a time of infinite imagination that transcends the limits of reason and accesses the deepest parts of the psyche. This maamar explores the recurring theme of dreams that appears multiple times at the end of Sefer Bereishis and why Yosef is considered the ultimate dreamer. ד"ה שיר המעלות

Torah Ohr Parshas Vayishlach What was Yaakov trying to achieve in making peace with Eisav? How do we reconcile within our own souls the boundless, unchanneled energy of Eisav with the disciplined, focused approach of Yaakov? This week’s maamar will retell the story of Yaakov and Eisav’s dramatic reunion on a mystical level and give us profound insight into the internal battle of every Jew. ד״ה וישלח יעקב מלאכים לפניו https://batshevalearningcenter.com/bereishis

Torah Ohr Parshas Vayeitzei Some people are naturally driven to engage with the world, while others prefer to retreat into their own spiritual oasis. Which one does Judaism prefer? This week’s parsha is our first introduction to Rachel and Leah, the two sisters who marry Yaakov and become the last two matriarchs of the Jewish people. In this maamar, we’ll explore the message behind each of their life stories and how we can incorporate both of their roles within our own lives. ד״ה וללבן...

Torah Ohr Parshas Toldos What did Yitzchak see in Eisav that motivated him to shower Eisav with blessings unconditionally? What did Rivka see that made her realize the blessings had to go to Yaakov? This maamar explores the fascinating story of Yaakov deceptively taking the blessings from his father and what that teaches us about keeping our idealism in check. While Yitzchak believed in the power of Eisav’s potential, he failed to see the reality on the ground–that his energy was...

Torah Ohr Parshas Chayei Sara Why are human beings dependent on an act so mundane as eating food in order to survive? What is the nature of our relationship with food and what does that tell us about how we can engage with the physical world around us in a way that lifts us up, rather than dragging us down? This maamar answers these questions by exploring the mystical symbolism of the mearas hamachpela and the meaning of a cryptic line from the Arizal’s poem sung on Shabbos day, “Asader...

Torah Ohr Parshas Vayeira Why does the Torah so often describe G-d in human terms? Does G-d have a personality? This foundational maamar gives us insight into these questions by exploring the kabbalistic concept of the sefiros. We use the human psyche as a metaphor to understand the dual nature of the sefiros and how they bridge the gap between Creator and creation. ד״ה ״פתח אליהו״ Follow along in the maamar here. Here is a chart of the mashalim used in the first few paragraphs of the...

Torah Ohr Parshas Lech Lecha The first seventy-five years of Avraham Avinu’s life tell a remarkable tale of personal discovery and heroic sacrifice, but none of that makes it into the story told in Parshas Lech Lecha. We begin with Hashem’s instruction to embark on a journey and with that, Avraham begins for the first time to access the limitless potential of his soul by channeling it towards his unique life’s purpose. Visit our website for more resources on this maamar.

Torah Ohr Parshas Noach Did we really need the drama of a massive flood to teach a few crooks a lesson? Based on a verse from Shir Hashirim, we discover that the flood waters are not a vengeful punishment but a peaceful cleansing and powerful lesson for living a focused life. Stand unprotected and you’ll get washed away by the flood of worldly distractions. Build yourself an ark and those same waters will lift you up to heights you never dreamed of. This episode is sponsored by the...

Torah Ohr Parshas Bereishis What was so terrible about eating from the Tree of Knowledge? And why did it result in so much shame? In this episode, we’ll discover that ‘knowledge’ isn’t always a good thing and how that first encounter with good and evil changed the human psyche forever. Follow along in the maamar here. ד״ה ״ויאמר ה׳ אלוקים״ Visit our ⁠website⁠ for more resources on this maamar.

Join us on a 12-week journey through Torah Ohr on Bereishis. Explore the stories of Bereishis through a fresh lens and discover the inner strengths you never knew you had. Find out more at batshevalearningcenter.com/bereishis

Stories of Sorrow, Lessons of Hope - Part 3 This episode explores four different angles on a story from the end of Maseches Makkos that describes four sages observing the aftermath of the destruction. Three of them cry, but the fourth, Rabbi Akiva, laughs. As they discuss the reasons for their reaction, we learn some powerful lessons about finding hope in darkness.

Stories of Sorrow, Lessons of Hope - Part 2 In this episode, Mushhky Steinmetz explores the story of Titus as it is told in Maseches Gittin. We learn about his horrific acts of desecration in the Beis Hamikdash and about his unexpected downfall. The Gemara describes in great detail how Titus was tortured for seven years by a mosquito that entered his head through his nose. What is the meaning of this strange punishment, and why do Chazal spend so much time telling us this tale? We'll...

In this episode, Mushky Steinmetz explores the fascinating story told in Maseches Gittin about R. Yochanan Ben Zachai's clever escape from the walls of Yerushalayim and his conversation with Vespasion, the Roman general. The story concludes with R. Yochanan Ben Zachai making three requests of the future emperor. What is the meaning of these three requests? Why not ask for the salvation of the entire Jewish people and what is it about these three things that make them keys to the Jewish...