Ginat Risya - Women’s Bet Midrash

Monday evenings 8-9pm
at Chabad House
refreshments will be served.

Email Chanie@jewishjumbo.com for more info and to let her know you're coming.

What is a Bait Midrash? Literally, house of study, the words bait midrash describe a vibrant and dynamic environment with students earnestly learning Torah. It is said that the kol haTorah, the voice of Torah in a bait midrash, purifies and elevates the atmosphere and enhances the person's well-being.

 How Does It Work? You will bring or select a study partner(s) -- as many as three in a group -- with the purpose of delving into Torah topics that are of interest to you and your chavrusa (study partner).  For your perusal, we keep on file suggested material.

 Your First Time at the Bait Midrash: The best way to learn about the process is by doing it. First, ask a set of chavrusos (plural of chavrusa) if you can "listen-in" on their learning. After a few minutes, you'll be spring boarding ideas with your study partners, learning from them and, they, from you. Every participant is both a teacher and a student.

About the Process: The chavrusa process is a classic method of learning Torah, carrying with it the weight of history and tradition. It's the lifeblood of Jewish learning. In Rashi's commentary, he mentions the first chavrusos: "(This) teaches that Moshe heard from the mouth of the Mighty One and they repeated and studied the law, the two of them together." -- Sh'mos 31:18. Think about the Torah scholars who have come before you with the honorable goal of merging & connecting with Hashem through their learning and, as a nice by-product, they gained abundant wisdom and knowledge. You'll become a link in this amazing chain of learning.

Ginat Risya is named in honor of Chanie’s grandmother,  Risya Posner, of blessed memory. She was the rebbetzin of Sherith Israel Synagogue for fifty-seven years and co-founder -- along with her husband Rabbi Zalman Posner -- of Akiva School. Rebbetzin Posner was a beloved kindergarten teacher and a beacon for spreading the light of Torah among children, their parents and our community-- with many of her students now sharing her insightful teachings and love of Judaism around the world. Because the word ginah connotes a beautiful, lush garden (we were the flowers she cultivated), and is derived from the word, gan, also meaning kindergarten, we found the name Ginat Risya a befitting and an endearing way to remember our small-in-stature-but-giant-in-heart Torah mentor.