Uplift yourself through intense Torah classes interwoven with creativity, music & movement in the art-inspiring awesome nature of Bat Ayin!

 Discover your inherent femininity, and how to channel it in your life!

🌸 Bond with like-minded women integrating Torah, Nature & Creativity!

🌸 Learn the Torah perspective on becoming a woman in modern society as you reveal your true aishet chayil within you!

🌸Engage in art expression through multiple mediums including, free dance, Yoga, acrylics paint, pastels and more.

🌸 Make space just for yourself and the connection that you need.

*Online zoom classes – ONLY $180 for 8-week or 114 hours of classroom time.

*Our program is 8 weeks long but you are welcome to join us for any length of time.

*For information/registration for the full-time campus resident program: info@www.berotbatayin.org

*Zoom in from around the world! Link in the green box below with all online learning details, early registration discount code, and registration.

*All classes are recorded for your convenience.

 

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

Online Times: 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!

 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. 

Women’s Intimate Mitzvot

Learn and discuss intimate issues, such as modesty and sexuality in an open-minded atmosphere where you don’t have to be embarrassed to ask your personal questions. The course will also include topics such as Women’s Mitzvot in Tefilah (prayer) and Women and Torah Learning. We will be studying inside selected sources in Hebrew and English followed by free discussion.

 

Eishet Chayil – A Woman of Valor Unattainable Ideal or Reality?

A series of five classes based on the 22 concluding verses of Proverbs (Mishlei Chapter 31 verse 10-31) with the commentary of Malbim. Each class stands on its own and can be presented separately.

Why is the Eishet Chayil compared to pearls rather than gold, diamonds and rubies? What does the Eishet Chayil refer to allegorically, and what does this allegorical meaning teach us about women? Why is it a custom to sing the verses of the Eishet Chayil on Shabbat night? Through deep text-analysis we will discuss the delicate balance between wife/motherhood and career, comparison between the Jewish women’s role in her home and the role of the Kohen Gadol in the Temple and the relationship between husband and wife in an evolving world.

 

 Women in Tanach

A Textual, Mystical & Creative Exploration of Women Who Built the House of Israel

Chana Bracha Siegelbaum’s teachings empower women while bringing new sources and a fresh perspective highlighting the importance Women’s role in the Torah. This course offers an in-depth analysis of our Foremothers. We will learn and discuss selected texts from the Torah, Midrash, Chassidut and Kabbala, highlighting sources that tap into Women’s hidden Power, weaving together and amplifying the personalities of these holy women. A comprehensive source sheet in Hebrew/English accompanies the textual study of each of the classes integrating, Bible texts, Midrash, Chassidism and sometimes Kabbalah. Creative writing, art, & drama will help make the struggles and aspirations of these inspirational role-models come to life.

 

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. For the Elul program, we will focus on the seven holy fruits of the Land of Israel with their mystical and medicinal properties, as this is the time of their ripening. 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. 

 

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.

  Tehillim (Psalms)

Moshe gave us the five Books of Law, the Torah. David offered us the five Books of Emotion, the Tehillim. Few of us ever receive the opportunity to grasp the inner aspect of this poetry from Heaven. Through analyzing the fundamentals of its words and sentences, developing its syntax, exchanging this new knowledge with a partner, meditation, writing and sharing our new interpretations, we connect our own emotions to those of our Source. We gain the tools to continue this study towards a deeper appreciation of the Tehillim. 

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.

Derech Hashem – The Way of G-d 

The classic work of the 18^th 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 Art of Emunah

Emunah is the craftsmanship of our holy ancestors. How do we relate to the trials and obstacles along our path of life? What’s the secret which enables thriving in the face of hardship? We will study together parts of Rabbi Yitzchak Ginsburgh’s essay Emunah and Bitachon and learn to harness our power of emunah to proactively strive towards Geulah – personal and global.

Dr. Nurit Sirkis Bank, PhD
Nurit Sirkis Bank was born in Boston, Mass. in 1964 to Israeli parents who were studying there. In 1991 during her doctoral studies, she discovered Judaism, and became Torah observant.  Since then, Nurit studies and teaches Chassidut regularly. She completed her PhD in Visual Arts in 2017, at the Bar-Ilan University. The topic of her dissertation: Visual Aspects of Contemporary Chassidic Weddings in Israel. In 2019 Nurit was awarded by the President of Israel as Volunteer of the Year for activity in Art, Culture and Spirit.

Insights for Life| Weekly topics to be announced. 

Morah Sarah Goldstein
Sarah has an extensive Torah education from various perspectives – from Old Gateshead seminary to B’erot Bat Ayin, Orayta summer program and learning at Shiviti. She has a BSc in psychology from BPP University in London. Sarah has been on her own internal journey to discover and receive the light, transformational wisdom and Divine connection available in the Torah. A lover of everything connected to the Torah of early chassidut, with a focus on the Torah of Rebbe Nachman and the writings of Rav Kook, she delves deeply into the texts of our tradition, while facilitating others to find their own connection and transformation as well.

Rav Kook on Emunah & Creativity

Rav kook has a unique approach on exploring the natural inner creativity of our soul. There is a rich world to explore when the soul is open to explore and express, the heart is able to find regulation and healing and we tap back into our essence. Finding our Emunah from within is a deeply rewarding process intrinsically linked with discovering the unique path of spiritual and expressive creativity Rav Kook lays out for us.

Morah Yedida Miriam 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.

Creative Writing Workshop

Creative writing is a tool for connecting to ourselves, to our world and to our Creator.  The workshop combines techniques such as mind maps, brainstorming, meditation, memory scanning and opening the heart in order to develop one’s creative, spiritual and perceptual abilities.  Each class combines a segment of theory, practice and analysis of our works in a warm, encouraging and noncompetitive atmosphere.  The students are guided to explore and accept their inner thoughts and feelings and turn them into creative writing.

Na’ama Gertsch 

Meditative Movement & Dance |

We develop flexibility and strength, health and awareness through exercises focusing on the harmony and unity of body, breath, and mind. We learn about the sephirot to know ourselves made in G-d’s image, vessels for light and knowledge. We connect heaven and earth, the breath (neshima) and the soul (neshama). Through this connection we grow in tefilah (prayer) and mitzvot, clinging to the Tree of Life, growing in peace and joy.

Retreat Cancellation Policy

* Until five days before the retreat you may claim refund minus 60 NIS cancellation fee.
* From five days before the retreat until 24 hours before the retreat, you receive credit minus 60 NIS, which may be applied to another Midreshet B’erot Bat Ayin retreat, classes, book purchases. *Credit is good for 2 full years.

*Within 24 hours before the retreat no credit is given.