What happens when personal growth tools from the world of psychology aren’t enough? And how do we hold space for all the parts of ourselves, mother, professional, learner, friend, without feeling torn apart?
In this episode, Hadassah Shemtov sits down with Eda Schottenstein, a psychotherapist, ADHD coach, entrepreneur, and founder of Multi-Role Woman, to explore the powerful intersection between Torah, psychology, and real-life growth. Together, they delve into the limitations of therapeutic tools and where Torah steps in to provide the kind of direction, clarity, and inner alignment that can’t be found elsewhere.
Eda shares how her own journey into Torah learning began with a deep dive into self-awareness through psychology, and how understanding herself became the gateway to understanding Hashem and Torah on a deeper level. She talks about connecting to Torah not just intellectually, but personally, making it a source of meaning that speaks directly to the complexities of a modern, multifaceted life. Drawing from her clinical experience and spiritual growth, she reflects on how embracing fragmentation, rather than resisting it, can be a path to strength and authenticity.
This conversation is an invitation to think deeper about what truly heals us, what grounds us, and how women today can own all their roles without compromising their spiritual center. It’s a reminder that Torah isn’t just a set of ideas—it’s a framework that can hold all the pieces of who we are.
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Eda Schottenstein is a psychotherapist, certified ADHD coach, and the founder and CEO of The Swess, a lifestyle clothing brand designed for clarity, movement, and confidence. She’s also the co-host of the top-rated podcast From the Inside Out, where deep, honest conversations drive personal transformation.
Through her platform Multi-Role Woman, Eda explores the intersection of lifestyle and mental health—bringing raw insight, intention, and empowerment to women navigating many roles. She’s also a proud wife and mother of four, living the very balance she helps others pursue.
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Resources:
soulwords.org - Rabbi Shais Taub's complete Shaar Bitachon series
What happens when our inner world matures, but our relationship with Yiddishkeit remains stuck in childhood?
In this episode, Hadassah Shemtov sits down with Raizy Fried, popular author, speaker, and founder of “Inspired Living”.
Raizy explores the gap many women feel between the lives they’re living as complex, emotionally developed adults and the simplistic version of Torah they may have learned growing up.
Raizy shares her journey of re-engaging with Torah in a deeper, more personal way and discusses the power of adult women continuing to learn, ask questions, and grow. She speaks about the importance of infusing meaning into daily mitzvos, not just for those new to observance, but for women who have been frum their whole lives and still crave connection.
From the pressure to fit into certain “types,” to the way intelligence and depth are (or aren’t) valued in frum women, to the pull of materialism and how Torah can guide us to engage with our mundane lives with intention and purpose. This conversation gets honest about the tensions many of us feel but rarely say out loud.
With humor, warmth, and candor, Raizy invites us to stop settling for superficiality, to reclaim our curiosity, and to allow Torah to speak to us as whole, thinking, growing women.
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Raizy Fried is a world-renowned author and dynamic speaker known for her heartfelt, woman-to-woman communication. With her warm and engaging style, Raizy captivates audiences. She speaks on a wide range of topics, including honoring the Shabbos, emotional health, and spiritual growth. Her wit, wisdom, and practical advice always leave her audiences and readers clamoring for more.
Raizy is dedicated to teaching, innovating, and inspiring women with ideas that make everyday life more beautiful and more meaningful.
Her platform, INSPIRED LIVING, is where you can explore a variety of topics that focus on elevating and enriching the changing lives of today's Jewish women.
What does it take for a woman to make Torah her own?
In this insightful and inspiring conversation, Hadassah Shemtov sits down with educator and writer Stacey Goldman to explore what it means for women to develop their own voice in Torah learning. Stacey shares her personal learning journey, including the pivotal moments that drew her to Orthodox Judaism and deep Torah study, and how that journey helped her find not just knowledge, but a sense of belonging.
Together, they delve into the transformative power of high-level learning, the unique perspectives women bring to Torah, and the value of making space for women as both learners and leaders in the Torah world. This episode is a meaningful invitation to see women’s Torah study as an essential voice in its ongoing conversation.
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Mrs. Stacey Nechama Goldman teaches Tanach at Kohelet Yeshiva High School in Philadelphia. She also teaches adult education classes throughout the greater Philadelphia area including Aish Chaim, Lower Merion Synagogue, and Hillel at the University of Pennsylvania. Stacey Nechama has published reflective essays and articles on chabad.org and audio classes on YUTorah.org.
What if Torah learning isn’t just about understanding, but about creating?
In this powerful conversation, Hadassah Shemtov sits down with Tonia Chazanow to explore the creative process of learning Torah in a way that is rooted, rigorous, and deeply personal. Tonia shares how she approaches texts like Tanya with honesty and imagination, staying true to the source while allowing her own voice, metaphors, and visual language to shape how she teaches and understands Torah.
They discuss the inner work of developing your own perspective, the courage it takes to innovate in the world of Torah, and how even struggle and discomfort can be invitations to deeper connection. Tonia reflects on how she learns through questions, tension, and artistic thinking, offering a model of Torah study that is vibrant, integrated, and uniquely her own.
This episode is an inspiring exploration of what it means to trust yourself in Torah learning, to bring your whole self to the text, and to see Torah not just as a tradition to uphold, but as a creative relationship to grow in.
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Tonia Chazanow is a writer, host of the Human & Holy podcast and Torah teacher. She is passionate about Torah study, gathering Jewish women, and the power of the arts as a way of better understanding ourselves and G-d.
Website: humanandholy.com
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1mo2kXBh03DA218ZmfBqRb?si=uDmGyySHQROnVTOnwwlnCw
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/human-holy/id1543330611
Instagram: @humanandholy
Email: info@humanandholy.com
Show Notes:
The introduction of Igros Moshe:
https://www.valleybeitmidrash.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/INTRI-IGROT-MOSHE-1.pdf
Article by R. Solovetchik:
https://www.bjpa.org/content/upload/bjpa/rupt/RuptureAndReconstruction.pdf
What’s the story behind the schools that shaped generations of frum girls—and what does that story mean for us today?
In this illuminating episode, we sit down with scholar and educator Leah-Perl Shollar to explore the history and evolution of Orthodox girls’ education. Drawing from her extensive doctoral research, Leah-Perl takes us on a journey through the origins of formal Jewish schooling for girls in Eastern Europe, long before Sara Schenirer stepped onto the scene.
We discuss what led Leah-Perl to this topic, how her own educational experiences shaped her questions, and why this history matters now more than ever. Together, we unpack the unique mission and legacy of Sara Schenirer's Bais Yaakov movement, why it succeeded where earlier efforts fell short, and how differing visions of its goals have shaped the way Bais Yaakov is remembered—and lived—today.
We also dive into the lesser-known story of Achos HaTemimim in Latvia, a bold and original approach to women’s Torah learning that offers powerful insights for today’s educators and learners alike.
From questions of secular education to the development of Torah curricula, Leah-Perl shares reflections on where we’ve succeeded, where we’ve adapted, and where there’s still room to grow. Whether you’re a student, teacher, parent, or lifelong learner, this episode offers a deeper understanding of how we got here—and what kind of future we might envision for the next generation of frum women.
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Leah-Perl Shollar is a doctoral candidate at the Azrieli Graduate School of Education (Yeshiva University) and has an M.S. Education; she attended seminaries in Israel and Brooklyn. Shollar has over 30 years of experience as an educator with students from preschool to adults; currently, she teaches Chumash and Jewish history in Yeshiva Girls' High School. Prior to joining Yeshiva’s administration, Shollar worked at the Jewish Learning Institute as an instructional designer and curriculum specialist in partnership with Touro College, and published award-winning books for children, as well as works for adults. In her capacity as principal, Shollar oversees all aspects of the student learning experience, paying particular attention to the scholastic and hashkafic requirements of their curriculum, as well as the individual needs of each student.
What does it mean for a woman to truly make Torah her own—and how can that connection evolve across generations?
In this thoughtful and nuanced conversation, Alex Fleksher reflects on her journey with Torah learning: from her own education growing up, to the experiences her daughter is having today, and the shifts she’s witnessed—and hopes to see—within her community.
We discuss how women’s access to Torah learning has expanded, and how that expansion can continue in ways that honor each community’s unique hashkafa. We explore the importance of creating meaningful opportunities for women to engage deeply with Torah, even in places where the desire or demand may not yet be visible. Sometimes, change begins not by waiting for a need to be voiced, but by planting seeds that open new doors.
Alex also shares her reflections on the transition many women experience after seminary, the value of women's Torah leadership, and how subtle changes in language, visibility, and access can make a profound impact on how women see themselves within the world of Torah.
This episode is an invitation to think about what continuity and growth in Torah learning can look like—not only for ourselves, but for our daughters and the future of our communities.
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Alexandra Fleksher is an educator, speaker, op-ed columnist for Mishpacha Magazine, and co-host of the Deep Meaningful Conversations podcast. She holds a Masters degree in secondary Jewish education from Azrieli Graduate School and an undergraduate degree in English/Communications from Stern College for Women. She has 15 years experience teaching middle and high school English and Judaic Studies, in schools spanning the Orthodox spectrum. She has also spoken for shuls, schools and organizations around the country. Alexandra is an active member of her local Cleveland community and has a passion for community activism. She’s a former chair of the Shabbos Project Cleveland, a founding board member of Chaviva High School for Girls and a co-founder of The Chizuk Retreat Cleveland. She was behind the #myorthodoxlife social media movement and is currently the creative director of the Faces of Orthodoxy social media account.
Links:
Creative Director -- Faces of Orthodoxy
Podcast co-host -- Deep Meaningful Conversations
Columnist -- Mishpacha Magazine
Learning Suggestions:
What happens when the Torah we learn doesn’t sit well with us — when it challenges our instincts, values, or sense of self?
In this honest and moving episode, we speak with a woman whose relationship with Torah is marked by both fierce passion and radical openness. We explore how she’s cultivated the ability to engage with complex, sometimes uncomfortable Torah concepts without cynicism or fear — and how she believes that real growth happens not in avoiding those teachings, but in leaning into them with curiosity and humility.
We discuss what it means to truly own your Torah learning — not just as support for others, but as a vital part of your personal identity. We also explore the fears some people have around giving women access to halachic texts: Will it distance them from halacha? Create confusion? Or might it do the opposite — draw them closer?
This episode is a fascinating exploration of how to stay open-hearted and open-minded in your learning, and how women can claim a seat at the table not just as spectators, but as active participants in the world of Torah.
What does it look like to move from dabbling in Torah to making it your identity? What does it mean to move from an interested layperson to a ‘professional’ of Torah learning?
In this powerful episode, Rebbetzin Golshevsky shares about her journey doing just that. From her early education to the pivotal shifts that shaped her learning, we trace the journey of one frum woman who turned her deep personal connection to Torah into a lifelong mission.
She explores the challenges she faced along the way, the birth of Shiviti, and how Torah learning continues to shape her as a teacher, mother, friend, and leader. We also take a deep dive into one of Rebbetzin Golshevsky’s personal passions: pnimiyus haTorah. We explore practical suggestions for engaging with the deeper parts of Torah in a meaningful way and how we can integrate its messages into our lives.
This episode is a fascinating exploration of what it means to build a life around Torah — not just as a source of inspiration, but as a core identity.
Rebbetzin Golshevsky is the director of SHIVITI. She holds primary and secondary teaching certification from Yavne Teachers College in Cleveland, as well as a BA from SUNY Buffalo in Classics-Judaic Studies. Rebbetzin Golshevsky has been a well-known Torah educator in Jerusalem and abroad for twenty-five years, with students all over the world. She is a published author, editor, and translator… but teaching Torah is her first love.
Website: https://shiviti.org.il/about/
Book Recommendations:
https://www.sefaria.org/Bnei_Machshava_Tova?tab=contents
https://www.amazon.com/BNEI-MACHSHAVA-TOVA-Hebrew-Feldheim/dp/B001EUJTB6
In this episode, Dr. Chava Green explores how uncovering a genuine curiosity about our Judaism can ignite a lifelong passion for Torah study. Chava shares about her own journey of seeking out a community that would give her access directly to the texts of Torah and why that was a deal breaker for her. We dive into how firsthand engagement with Torah sources has shaped her understanding of Jewish womanhood, how she’s adapted to the changes that came with motherhood, and why direct access to learning at the various seasons of her life can take on different forms.
We talk about the research she did while writing her dissertation on Chassidic feminism, focusing specifically on the impact of the Rebbe speaking directly to women, and how a direct relationship with Torah contributes to a sense of spiritual belonging.
What does it mean to truly feel that Torah is ours? Where do gaps remain in women’s connection to Jewish learning—and how might we begin to close them? This episode is an invitation to ask: What’s your question? And what might open up if you followed it into the text?
Dr. Chava Green is an educator, writer, and public speaker. She has a PhD in Religion from Emory University where she wrote a dissertation on Hasidic Feminism. Her academic and popular work explore the role of gender in Chabad society and its mystical texts. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband and three children.
Website: https://thehasidicfeminist.wordpress.com/
Monthly newsletter: https://the-hasidic-feminist.kit.com/16d7257907
Podcasts:
18forty: https://18forty.org/podcast/what-is-chabads-feminist-vision/
The TrailBLAZER Pod: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9EH2164Bjw&t=91s
Book Recommendation:
References
As Shavuos approaches, we're excited to introduce a brand-new summer podcast series: Finding Myself in Torah — a journey into the hearts and minds of ten frum women from across the Jewish world, each sharing how they’ve discovered their voice and place within the world of Torah.
In this special trailer episode, host Hadassah Shemtov shares the inspiration behind the series and offers two powerful Torah insights that explore how women can fully connect to Torah and claim it as their own. Though the formal obligation of Torah study may differ for women, the depth, breadth, and spiritual richness of Torah are equally available to all.
Join us as we begin this heartfelt series — one that aims to uplift, challenge, and reimagine what it means for women to say: “Torah is mine.”
Sources Referenced in this episode:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uH7dkHM6_voLR6_IuxAf84_ZcmYtZh5z/view
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xpjYtRktThIoMBMr3XF0Kulxh1s-CjPT/view
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hL2XeIF6J_CRb2OQ5Xj6XWKQ9ygz4Esn/view?usp=sharing
For a full exploration of this topic, pre-order our new book on women’s Torah study: a compilation halachic, hashkafic and historical sources on the topic:
https://www.batshevalearningcenter.com/product-page/women-s-torah-learning-book
Dive into an intricate legal discussion on the laws of removing chametz before Pesach.
Both searching for chametz (and burning it) and disowning it are valid ways to fulfill this mitzvah—so why are both necessary?
As we explore this discussion in the Gemara, we’ll uncover a profound lesson on self-growth and perfectionism. How do the halachic parameters of purging our homes of physical chametz reflect the way we approach ridding ourselves of our spiritual chametz within?
Tune in to discover the deeper connection between Pesach preparation and personal transformation. Follow along in the sources here.
In this pre-Purim episode, Zisi Zirkind explores the symbolism of Esther's name and character through the lens of various midrashim and Chassidic sources.
Listen in to a fascinating discussion about the theme of concealment that characterizes Purim and the unique power of the G-d's hidden presence that exists within darkness and the hidden love of the Jewish people that emerges in when we are in exile.
Part 5 of Pru Urvu: Torah Perspectives on Women’s Fertility In this bonus episode, Miri Birk, a student of last year’s Pru Urvu course, shares some of her reflections on the concepts explored in the course and how they can shape our approach to parenting. In this candid conversation, Hadassah and Miri talk about the real challenges of motherhood and what it looks like to adopt the Torah value of having a family while keeping in mind the realities of our human experience.
Part 4 of Pru Urvu: Torah Perspectives on Women’s Fertility
In this conversation with Aimee Baron from ‘I was supposed to have a baby’, Hadassah explores the topic of pregnancy and infant loss.
She introduces some fascinating Torah sources that discuss the identity of the soul of a miscarried fetus, its value and its purpose. She also discusses the inherent value Torah places on embarking on the journey towards motherhood, regardless of the outcome.
Join the course on Pru Ur'vu here to learn the sources.
What’s the story behind Yehudis, the fearless woman who played a key role in the Chanukah miracle? Join Hadassah Shemtov as she delves into Yehudis’s remarkable bravery, the halachic implications of her story on women’s connection to the mitzvah of Menorah, and Chanukah minhagim. Discover a mystical perspective on why women take center stage in the salvation stories of Purim and Chanukah. Follow along in the sources with our free Chanukah booklet here.
Part 3 of Pru Urvu: Torah Perspectives on Women’s Fertility
This episode explores some of the practical concerns that come up with raising a large family and how to navigate them.
We discuss questions like:
Sign up for the Pru U'rvu course here.
Listen to the mikvah.org series on this topic: 'Building a Family.'
Part 2 of Pru Urvu: Torah Perspectives on Women’s Fertility
In this episode, Yitty Gniwisch explores the question of why women are exempt from Pru Urvu from a mystical perspective and redefines the unique role a woman plays in influencing her family and the world.
www.batshevalearningcenter.com/courses
Part 1 of Pru Urvu: Torah Perspectives on Women’s Fertility
In this first episode of our Pru Urvu podcast series, Ita Broh lays out the foundational sources behind the mitzvah Pru Urvu and how it relates to women. She explores:
This episode lays the groundwork for the discussion in all future episodes in this series.
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 launched three years ago. She talks about the process of researching and writing on this topic, we give an outline for the upcoming episodes and we talk about what we hope you, our audience, can gain from listening.
If you liked this series and want to take your learning to the next level by diving into the original sources for yourself, register for our upcoming course starting end of October: batshevalearningcenter.com/courses
To purchase the course books to learn on your own or in a group, visit our online store here:
batshevalearningcenter.com/textbooks
Follow us Instagram or join our WhatsApp group for more text-based Torah learning opportunities for women.
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Join us for a fascinating discussion with a third-year student at our Beis Midrash and high school Jewish history teacher, Tzivi Greenbaum.
Tzivi has always had a fascination with the development of women's Torah education in both formal and informal settings throughout the ages.
In this episode, she shares some of the research she has done on the topic and discusses these questions and more:
To get your hands on our new book: a comprehensive compilation of halachic, hashkafic, and historical sources on the topic of women’s Torah study, sign up to join our new monthly donor club to be the first to receive a hard copy or pre-order the book!
To learn more about this topic, check out these links:
https://www.chabad.org/theJewishWoman/article_cdo/aid/338925/jewish/Transforming-Womens-Torah-Learning.htmhttps://www.amazon.com/All-Your-Children-Shall-Learned/dp/0765799634https://www.amazon.com/Sarah-Fascinating-Jewish-Famous-Forgotten-Expanded/dp/1600912532https://www.chabad.org/theJewishWoman/article_cdo/aid/6224533/jewish/Meineket-Rivka-The-First-Published-Book-by-a-Jewish-Woman.htm
