Rabbi Dr. Ephraim Kanarfogel at SFW

We were pleased and honored this week welcome Rabbi Dr. Ephraim Kanarfogel to Sha’alvim for Women. Rabbi Kanarfogel discussed the position of the Torah towards asceticism. Does the Torah view abstinence from physical pleasures in a positive or negative light? If one does engage in worldly pleasure, are there legal and/or ethical limits? Rabbi Kanarfogel explored these and other challenging issues using classical and modern Torah sources focusing primarily on the opinions of the Rambam and Ramban.

Please click here to hear the shiur.

Rabbi Kanarfogel has found time in his very busy schedule to share words of Torah to the girls from SFW for the past many years and, we thank him from the bottom of our hearts for finding time again this year.

In addition to being the Rebecca Ivry Dean of Jewish Studies at Stern College for Wo, Rabbi Kanarfogel is a world renown scholar on Medievel Jewish History, manuscripts, and the Ba’alei Tosfot. Rabbi Kanarfogel was, for almost 20 years, the Rabbi of Congregation Congregation Beth Aaron, in Teaneck, NJ and, over the years, he has authored or edited five books and published more than 50 articles and reviews.

Shiur on Parshat Vayechi

Please click here to listen to a shiur (in Hebrew) on the parsha by the S’gan Rosh HaYeshiva, HaRav Aryeh Hendler, shlit”a

For other shiurim at Sha’alvim, please click here

Rav Tzvi Flaum at SFW

We were privileged this week to hear a shiur from Rav Tzvi Flaum. Rav Flaum, mining from his decades of Torah scholarship and experience (see below) tackled a most challenging topic, "Human Cloning and Stem Cell Research: Halachic and Hashkafic Perspectives."  With both in-depth sources and clear diagrams, Rav Flaum explained this fascinating and timely topic in an exhaustive and clear fashion. Rav Flaum stayed after the shiur for answering questions from our students!

Please click here to hear the shiur.

We are grateful to Rav Flaum for giving of his time to share words of Torah and inspiration.

Rabbi Tzvi Flaum was a talmid of Rabbi Yosef Ber Soloveitchik zt”l and, after obtaining his B.A. in Jewish History from Yeshiva University, he received his rabbinical ordination from Yeshivas Rabbeinu Yitzchak Elchanan.  He was a “Chaver” of the RIETS Kollel for more than a decade, and he received the advanced rabbinic ordination “Yoreh Yoreh Yadin Yadin,” qualifying him as a serious decisor of Jewish Law. Concurrently, he earned his M.A. in Jewish History from the Bernard Revel Graduate School.. Raav Flaum served as the Rav of the Torah Center of Hillcrest, Chairman of the Vaad HaRabbanim of Queens, and Co-Chairman of the Chevra Kadisha Commission of Queens.  He served as the Chairman of the Board of Education at Yeshiva of South Shore, and he is currently Chairman of the Vaad HaRabbanim of Far Rockaway and Lawrence.  He was Professor of Judaic Studies, as well as Mashgiach Ruchani, at Stern College for Women, and he is currently Professor of Judaic Studies and Mashgiach Ruchani at Lander College for Women.

Scenes from SFW

For the latest "Scenes from SFW", please click here!

For more.... click here!

S.E.M. Torah - Vayechi

Please click here to listen to S.E.M. Torah for this week.

For more S.E.M. Torah, please click here. 

S.E.M. Torah is a series of brief divrei Torah delivered by various members of the faculty of Sha’alvim for Women. S.E.M. stands for "Squeezing Every Minute" and represents an important philosophy at SFW: every minute counts and every minute can be used productively. Torah must be learned deeply and profoundly on the highest levels possible. However, even when you find that you have only a few moments, we believe that opportunities - like listening to this S.E.M. Torah - are always available…. if you know where to look!

Alumni Event: Asara B'Tevet with SFW!

Join us on Asara B'tevet this Sunday, December 23rd at 4:00 PM for a shiur with Rabbi Turetsky followed by a break-fast and divrei Torah with Michelle Elmaleh.

Special appearance....... Elisheva Frist!

The program will take place in Stern College, room 718.

Join us for this special break-fast program!

Mazal Tov to Aliza Keller (SFW ‘09)!

Mazal Tov to Aliza Keller (SFW ‘09) on her engagement to Jojo Hedaya!

שיזכו לבנות בית נאמן בישראל

For other announcements see the scrolling list on our homepage or click here

Mazal Tov to Eliana Brecher (SFW ‘10, ‘11)

Mazal Tov to Eliana Brecher (SFW ‘10, ‘11) on her engagement to Moshe Watson!

שיזכו לבנות בית נאמן בישראל

For other announcements see the scrolling list on our homepage or click here

S.E.M. Torah - Vayigash

Please click here to listen to S.E.M. Torah for this week.

For more S.E.M. Torah, please click here. 

S.E.M. Torah is a series of brief divrei Torah delivered by various members of the faculty of Sha’alvim for Women. S.E.M. stands for "Squeezing Every Minute" and represents an important philosophy at SFW: every minute counts and every minute can be used productively. Torah must be learned deeply and profoundly on the highest levels possible. However, even when you find that you have only a few moments, we believe that opportunities - like listening to this S.E.M. Torah - are always available…. if you know where to look!

Scenes from SFW: Chanukah Edition

For more Scenes from SFW: Chanukah Edition, please click here!

Shiur on Parshat Vayigash

Please click here to listen to a shiur (in Hebrew) on the parsha from the Rosh HaYeshiva, HaRav Yechezkel Yaakovson, shlit”a.

For other shiurim at Sha’alvim, please click here. 

Mrs. Sara Leah Haber at SFW

We heard a moving sicha from Mrs. Sara Leah Haber, beloved former teacher of many of our students at SKA and wife of our very own Rabbi Yakov Haber. Mrs. Haber talked very personally and very openly about her special, special-needs son and the life lessons he has taught her. After the sicha, Mrs. Haber stayed late into the night answering questions from our students.

To hear the shiur, please click here.

We appreciate Mrs. Haber’s openness and candor. We are especially grateful for her ability to enable us to appreciate every single person in our own lives.

Mrs. Sara Leah Haber received her BA from Stern College in Judaic Studies and Biology and her Masters in Jewish Education from Azrieli Graduate School. Before making aliyah in 2007, Mrs. Haber taught, was a grade advisor and planned programs in SKA in NY. Mrs. Haber is also very involved with the Son-Rise Program for autistic children.

Mazal Tov to Sara Schnaidman (SFW ‘10)!

Mazal Tov to Sara Schnaidman (SFW ‘10) on her engagement to Yosef Gillers!

שיזכו לבנות בית נאמן בישראל

For other announcements see the scrolling list on our homepage or click here

Rabbi Daniel Cohen at SFW

SFW was privileged to hear a moving shiur from Rabbi Daniel Cohen last week about the importance of seizing every moment and how every single day is full of opportunity. Using the analogy of “reverse engineering,” Rabbi Cohen helped us create a plan for this year (and for the rest of our lives) which would maximize our personal and spiritual growth.

We appreciate Rabbi Cohen taking out of his busy schedule to share words of inspiration with us!

To hear the shiur, please click here.

To see the article that Rabbi Cohen wrote in the Huffington Post on the same topic, please click here.

To see other articles written by Rabbi Cohen in the Huffington Post, please click here.

Finally, to see Rabbi Cohen’s fascinating website, please click here.

Rabbi Cohen is Senior Rabbi at Congregation Agudath Sholom in Stamford Connecticut and is father of Michal (SFW ’13) and Sara Malka (SFW ’11)

S.E.M. Torah - Miketz

Please click here to listen to S.E.M. Torah for this week.

For more S.E.M. Torah, please click here. 

S.E.M. Torah is a series of brief divrei Torah delivered by various members of the faculty of Sha’alvim for Women. S.E.M. stands for "Squeezing Every Minute" and represents an important philosophy at SFW: every minute counts and every minute can be used productively. Torah must be learned deeply and profoundly on the highest levels possible. However, even when you find that you have only a few moments, we believe that opportunities - like listening to this S.E.M. Torah - are always available…. if you know where to look!

SFW Chanukah Carnival in Sderot's Secure Playground Recreation Center

Over Chanukah, SFW brought ruach and joy to the children of S'derot in their Secure Playground Recreation Center in Sderot.

Bringing our ruach and our energy - along with all of the supplies necessary for a full-blown Chanukah carnival - SFW came to Sderot with one goal in mind: to bring simcha to the children of Sderot after weeks and years of trauma and fear.

And what a simcha it was (click here for more pictures) and see a video of the special SFW girls and this wonderful experience below....

The children from Sderot and its environs enjoyed face-painting, dreidel spinning, bowling, sufganiya-decorating, arts and crafts, basketball, ping-pong, singing, dancing and lots, lots more in a fully- protected environment.

Yossi Swissa, general manager of the Sderot
Secure Playground Area, addresses
the SFW students

Yossi Swissa, the general manager of the facility, addressed the girls at the end of the day. He said, "Children all around the world want only one thing: to laugh. It has been hard for the children in Sderot to do that these last few weeks. They got the opportunity to do that again because of the immense chessed of the young women of Sha'alvim for Women. Thank you!"

(Please click here and here for more information on this wonderful place.)

We would like to express our sincerest gratitude to the following families that helped defray the costs of this outstanding program!

- Lyons Family (for a refuah shelaima for Daniel Avraham Raphael Ben Rachel)

- Shapiro Family (dedicated to Rabbi Menachem Leibtag who is now inspiring a second generation of the Shapiro family)

- Meyer Family (l'zecher nishmat Avraham ben Efraim (Daniella (SFW ‘13) paternal grandfather - Arne Meyer) and l'zecher nishmat Hene Rachel bat Nachman Leib (Daniella’s maternal grandmother - Ruth Windwehr)

- Bierig Family (in honor of their children Eli, Rena (SFW ‘13), Yael, and Yonah)

- Wietschner Family (in memory of Danielle (SFW ‘13) maternal grandfather, Avraham Yosef Ben Yisrael Shalom)

- Bodoff Family (to commemorate the 10th yahrtzeit of Col. Dror Weinberg, Ariella (SFW ’12, ‘13) step-uncle and commander of the Hevron Brigade, click here)

- Stark Family (dedicated to Lola Stark (Cayley's (SFW ‘13) Bubbe who, after Auschwitz, came to Israel)

- Lerner Family (in memory of my mother and Rachael Lerner’s (SFW ‘13) grandmother Sara Raiza Frankel a”h who passed away 3 weeks ago.)
- Sima, Richard, Eliana and Yonah Soskin (in honor of the brave Chayalim who stand on guard in defense of Eretz Yisrael every day and night and in honor of all the children of Sderot.)
- Chesir Family (in memory of Adina (SFW ’13) grandparents, Selma and Morton Rosenbloom)

May this wonderful chesed - bringing simcha and joy to the children of S’derot and its environs - be a z’chut for all of the above!

Rabbi Jonathan Rosenblatt at SFW

On Thursday night, we had the zechut of hearing a sicha from Rabbi Jonathan Rosenblatt. In addition to being the father of Rivka Rosenblatt, SFW ’12, ‘13, Rabbi Rosenblatt has been the Senior Rabbi of the Riverdale Jewish Center in Riverdale, NY since 1985. He lectures widely in the United States, the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Israel and is an instructor in the RIETS Rabbinic training program as well as in programs in Israel that train Rabbis for the Diaspora. 

Rabbi Rosenblatt delivered an inspiring sicha about the Haskafic differences between the disagreement between Beit Shammai and Beit Hillel about order of candle lighting on Chanukah. 

We thank Rabbi Rosenblatt for taking time out of his busy schedule to share words of Torah and inspiration! 

We look forward to seeing him at SFW soon!

S.E.M. Torah - Vayeshev

Please click here to listen to S.E.M. Torah for this week.

For more S.E.M. Torah, please click here. 

S.E.M. Torah is a series of brief divrei Torah delivered by various members of the faculty of Sha’alvim for Women. S.E.M. stands for "Squeezing Every Minute" and represents an important philosophy at SFW: every minute counts and every minute can be used productively. Torah must be learned deeply and profoundly on the highest levels possible. However, even when you find that you have only a few moments, we believe that opportunities - like listening to this S.E.M. Torah - are always available…. if you know where to look!

Shiur on Parshat Vayeshev

Please click here to listen to a shiur (in Hebrew) on the parsha by the S’gan Rosh HaYeshiva, HaRav Aryeh Hendler, shlit”a

For other shiurim at Sha’alvim, please click here

Scenes from SFW

For the latest "Scenes from SFW", please click here!

Mazal Tov to Shira Moer (SFW ‘ 09, ‘10)!

Mazal Tov to Shira Moer (SFW  ‘ 09, ‘10) on her marriage to Josh Maslow (brother of Elana (SFW ‘06) and Aliza (SFW ‘12, ‘13)!

שיזכו לבנות בית נאמן בישראל

For other announcements see the scrolling list on our homepage or click here

Bone Marrow Campaign at SFW

This week, Sha’alvim for Women held our own “Bone Marrow Campaign.” Girls over the age of 18 were invited to submit a “bone marrow sample” (a painless swab in the inside of the cheek). If they chose to do so, their information will be sent to the Gift of Life registry which matches potential donors and ill patients who might benefit from a bone marrow transplant.

Our campaign was run by SFW students in conjunction with Kedma, Gift of Life’s Israel agent for registering overseas students in the international bone marrow registry.

To date, more than 210,000 people are registered with Gift of Life and more than 9,000 matches have been found!

For more information about Kedma, please click here.

For more information about Gift of Life, please click here. 

Shiur on Parshat Vayishlach

Please click here to listen to a shiur (in Hebrew) on the parsha from the Rosh HaYeshiva, HaRav Yechezkel Yaakovson, shlit”a.

For other shiurim at Sha’alvim, please click here. 

SFW Volunteers for the I.D.F.

On Monday, the students of SFW were “called to duty” by the I.D.F. to contribute of their time and energy to help our soldiers. 

SFW answered the call…. and then some!

The I.D.F. "Sar El" Division, responsible for organizing I.D.F. volunteers, contacted SFW and asked if we could help pack field rations to replenish those used during Operation Pillar of Cloud. We were told that the work was incredibly essential, very timely but also quite strenuous. 

We were not daunted!

After more than 7 hours of tough work (and much laughter), we produced many, many boxes (the army asked us not to reveal the exact amount!) to be used, G-d forbid, in a time of crisis. 

Please click here for more pictures of this incredible experience!

Colonel Tiran, the commander of the base, praised our girls and their selfless efforts for the men and women of the I.D.F. He thanked the girls and said that SFW "has much to be proud of these lovely girls! They worked hard and responsibly. I cannot remember a more productive day since the Operation began." 

The work was indeed hard and strenuous (and, admittedly, fun). Yet it was unforgettable as well! We thank our Director of Student Programming, Elisheva Frist, for coordinating the day. And, most important, we thank our students for their kindness!

Kol Hakavod!

Mazal tov to Alli Mayer (SFW ’10)

Mazal tov to Alli Mayer (SFW ’10) on her marriage to Noah Weichselbaum!

 שיזכו לבנות בית נאמן בישראל

For other announcements see the scrolling list on our homepage or click here

Shiur on Parshat Vayeitzei

Please click here to listen to a shiur (in Hebrew) on the parsha by the S’gan Rosh HaYeshiva, HaRav Aryeh Hendler, shlit”a

For other shiurim at Sha’alvim, please click here

Mazal Tov to Leedan Cohen (SFW ‘11)

Mazal Tov to Leedan Cohen (SFW ‘11) on her engagement to Zach Mammon!

שיזכו לבנות בית נאמן בישראל

For other announcements see the scrolling list on our homepage or click here

Rabbi Lewis Wienerkur at SFW

Rabbi Lewis Wienerkur, beloved Rebbe at HAFTR High School and father of SFW alumnus Yael (Wienerkur) Schwechter (SFW ’05, ’06) visited SFW on Tuesday night to deliver the guest sicha. 

With his great sense of humor and profound insights, Rabbi Wienerkur discussed the concept of brotherhood in the Torah using examples of brothers in Sefer Bereishit as examples: Kayin and Hevel, Shem, Cham and Yefet and, as the paradigm for growth-oriented, outward-focused brothers, Yosef and Binyamin.

We thank Rabbi Wienerkur for his time and inspiration!

SFW Students React to the Situation in the South

The SFW students have been responding to the situation in the south in the most beautiful, supportive and productive ways.

Some examples.......

- Tefilla: The girls are engaged in special tefillot and special Tehillim sessions which have naturally been focused on the soldiers in the I.D.F. and the people in the towns of the south who live under the constant threat of missilie attacks. 

- Round-the-Clock Learning: Many of the girls have signed up voluntarily to learn in the Beit Midrash for an hour at a time throughout the night. During the day, of course, the learning never stops at SFW. But our students wanted to ensure that the learning never stops overnight as well. Now, thanks to the tireless efforts of the wonderful girls at SFW, the lights - and the learning - never turn off in the Beit Midrash. In their merit - and in the merit of all of the learning throughout Israel and the world - we daven for a quick return of the soldiers to their homes and a safe return to normalcy for the people living in the endangered regions of the south.

- Donations for the South - Girls have been donating toys, books, etc. that will supplied to certain families and to certain bomb shelters in the south. Unfortunately, these shelters are getting a lot of use these past few weeks and children - who are especially traumatized by the missile threats, have unique needs: these donations will go a long way in making their stays there (G-d willing there will be no more), much more bearable.

- Tzedakah: money is being raised via a "goods and services" auction to be sent to neighborhoods in the south to help them fix up bomb shelters and buy new toys and supplies for the shelters. 

There is much to be proud of in the way Klal Yisrael is banding together in such wonderful ways!

G-d willing, these measures will not be needed in the very near future! 

Brachot and Tefilot from the Rosh Yeshiva (in Hebrew) Regarding the Situation in Israel

Please click here to listen to words (in Hebrew) from the Rosh HaYeshiva, HaRav Yechezkel Yaakovson, shlit”a, of bracha and tefilla regarding the situation in Israel. 

Shiur on Parshat Toldot

Please click here to listen to a shiur on the Parsha (in Hebrew) from the Rosh HaYeshiva, HaRav Yechezkel Yaakovson, shlit”a

Scenes from SFW

For more "Scenes from SFW," please click here!

Dr. Marian Stoltz-Loike at SFW

On Tuesday night, Dr. Marian Stoltze-Loike, Dean of Lander College for Women came to SFW to deliver a sicha about interpersonal relationships and the lessons we can learn from the relationships of the avot. We enjoyed her insightful comments and thoughtful understanding of the narratives in Tanach.

Dr. Stoltz-Loike has been the dean of Lander College for Women/the Anna Ruth and Mark Hasten School (an undergraduate division of Touro College) since 2005. A professor of psychology and human resources management, she received her BA from Harvard University in psychology and social relations and her Ph.D. in developmental psychology from NYU. A former global corporate consultant with Fortune 100 companies, she has advised business leaders in the U.S. and North America, Europe, Asia, and South America. She has written two books and numerous articles relating to the maturing work force, cross-cultural management, and work/life issues and is on the board of directors of the OU, JCRC and AJC.

Rabbi Goldsmith at Stern College

On Tuesday night, SFW Menahel Rabbi Yamin Goldsmith delivered a shiur to alumni and other students at Stern College for Women. More than 70 girls from 5 different colleges came to Stern to hear a shiur entitled "Getting Your Hands Dirty: Our Responsibility to Be Involved in The World." The shiur included a discussion - based on the Talmud Bavli and later sources - of the job of a Jewish woman and Jewish leader to be an active participant in the goings-on of our community and country even (or especially) when those activities are unpleasant or complicated. 

At the end of the shiur, Rabbi Goldsmith offered divrei chizuk to the college students and practical ways to continue our growth in college and at work.

Scenes from SFW: Shana Bet in Shchem!

For more pictures, please click here!

Mazal Tov to Shira Lieman (SFW ‘10)!

Mazal Tov to Shira Lieman (SFW ‘10) on her engagement to Dani Schwalb!

שיזכו לבנות בית נאמן בישראל

For other announcements see the scrolling list on our homepage or click here

Mazal tov to Tamar Kleinberg (Gold) (SFW ’04)!

Mazal tov to Tamar Kleinberg (Gold) (SFW ’04) and her husband and family on the birth of a baby boy!

Mazel tov as well to aunt Eliana Kleinberg (SFW '13)!

שיזכו לגדלו לתורה לחופה ולמעשים טובים

For other announcements see the scrolling list on our homepage or click here

Shiur on Parshat Chayei Sarah

Please click here to listen to a shiur (in Hebrew) on the parsha by the S’gan Rosh HaYeshiva, HaRav Aryeh Hendler, shlit”a

For other shiurim at Sha’alvim, please click here

Sigd and Ethiopian Culture at SFW!

On Wednesday, we had an incredibly special and eye-opening activity during dinner. We learned and read about the upcoming Ethiopian holiday Sigd. The holiday, held on the 29^th of Cheshvan, celebrates the Ethiopian community’s acceptance of the Torah.

Our speaker, Shulamith, an Ethiopian student of one of our madrichot, came to SFW to tell us all about the holiday and about her family’s journey to Israel. We were fascinated by the stories of her challenges and the culture clashes that occurred when they got here. Of course, the story’s happy ending - her wonderful acclimation and integration into Israeli society - was heartwarming as well!

Thank you to Ruti and Elisheva for making this special event possible!

Click below for more information about this holiday.....