Rav Moshe Lichtman at SFW

On Wednesday night we once again had the privilege once again to hear a shiur from Rav Moshe Lichtman, noted author (e.g. Eretz Yisrael in the Parsha) and translator (e.g. Rav Teictel's Eim Habanim Semeichah). For his final visit of the year, Rav Lichtman spoke about Eretz Yisrael and Mashiach.

Rav Lichtman is the father of Shira Lichtman, SFW '11, '12 and of SFW Madricha, Ayelet Lichtman, SFW '15. His shiur, entitled "The Gift and the Challenge of Modern Israel" discussed what our role is in the unfolding drama, excitement and opportunities of modern-day Israel.

The SFW Guest Speaker Program for 5776 is generously sponsored by an anonymous family.

Please click here to listen to the shiur.

Rav Ari Yablok at SFW

On Thursday night, we were privileged to welcome Rabbi Ari Yablok, Rav of the Anglo community at Bar Ilan University and Givat Shmuel (and a proud alumnu of Yeshivat Sha'alvim!). Rav Yablok delivered a shiur in preparation for Pesach entitled "Searching for the Redemption Within: Mindfulness in a Mindless World." 

Please click here to listen to the shiur.

The SFW Guest Speaker Program for 5776 is sponsored by an anonymous family

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

Rav Moshe Lichtman at SFW

On Wednesday night we had the privilege once again to hear a shiur from Rav Moshe Lichtman, noted author (e.g. Eretz Yisrael in the Parsha) and translator (e.g. Rav Teictel's Eim Habanim Semeichah). Rav Lichtman spoke about the various perspectives and opinion about Yishuv Eretz Yisrael.  

Rav Lichtman is the father of Shira Lichtman, SFW '11, '12 and of SFW Madricha, Ayelet Lichtman, SFW '15. His shiur, entitled "The Gift and the Challenge of Modern Israel" discussed what our role is in the unfolding drama, excitement and opportunities of modern-day Israel.

The SFW Guest Speaker Program for 5776 is generously sponsored by an anonymous family.

Please click here to listen to the shiur.

Rav Aryeh Leibowitz at SFW

We were privileged to welcome Rav Aryeh Leibowitz, S'gan Menahel and Ra"M at Yeshivat Sha'alvim as a guest speaker. Rav Leibowitz discussed the various opinions of the nature of Hashgacha Pratis (Divine Providence).

The SFW Guest Speaker Program for 5776 is generously sponsored by an anonymous family.

Please click here to listen to the shiur.


Rav Leibowitz attended Sha'alvim for two years before studying at Yeshiva University. At YU, he was a student of Rabbi Mayer Twersky, and earned semicha ordination from RIETS, a B.A. in Modern Jewish History and Philosophy from Yeshiva College, and an M.A. and Ph.D. from Yeshiva's Bernard Revel Graduate School. Following his marriage, Rav Leibowitz moved to Yerushalayim, and continued his learning at Yeshiva Ohalei Torah, under Rav Daniel Belsky. In 2007, he returned to Sha'alvim as a member of the kollel, and in 2011 he was appointed Assistant Dean of the Overseas Program. Rav Leibowitz has written a number of Torah and scholarly articles, and is the author of Hashgacha Pratis: An Exploration of Divine Providence and Free Will (Targum Press, 2009).

Rav Nachman Elsant at SFW

On Wednesday night, we were privileged to hear a guest sicha from Rav Nachman Elsant, Rebbe and lecturer at Jerusalem's Aish HaTorah. Rav Elsant's sicha, entitled "Someone Once Asked Me What It's Like To Be a Jew," focused on the importance of kiruv.  

Please click here to listen to the sicha.

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

Rav Binyamin Hutt at SFW

We were fortunate to hear a guest sicha from Rav Binyamin Hutt, Senior Kollel Fellow at Yeshivat Sha’alvim. 

Rav Hutt discussed the moment that Mordechai encourages Esther to approach Achashveirosh to save the Jewish People. 

Please click here to listen to the shiur.

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

Holocaust Survivor Martha Weiss Speaks at SFW

Holocaust survivor Mrs. Martha Weiss came to SFW on Purim Kattan to describe the Amalek she saw in the Shoah with her very own eyes. Mrs. Weiss told us the tragic story about her pre-war childhood and her nightmare experiences in Auschwitz/Birkenau. Mrs. Weiss volunteers at Yad Vashem and her story has been recounted in the press several times (click here for example) and, last month, she represented Israel in the United Nations on the UN's International Holocaust Day.
SFW’s Guest Speaker Program for 5776 is generously sponsored by an anonymous family.
Please click here to listen to her talk

Dr. Smadar Rosensweig at SFW

Rebbetzin Smadar Rosensweig, Judaic studies professor at Stern College for Women, came to SFW to deliver a moving and meaningful guest sicha entitled “Shevet Levi's Journey to Spiritual Leadership.” We were - as with every time she visits - riveted by her tremendous breadth of knowledge of Tanach and of history! 

To listen to the shiur, please click here.

Rebbetzin Smadar Rosensweig is a professor of Bible at Stern College for Women at Yeshiva University, as well as a professor of biblical studies at Allegra Franco Sephardic Women’s Teachers College. Previously, she was a professor of Judaic studies and history at Touro College. Rebbetzin Rosensweig received a master’s degree in philosophy and a master’s degree in arts from Columbia University. 

Rabbi Neal Turk on הוכח תוכיח את עמיתך

On Wednesday night we were privileged to hear a shiur from guest speaker, Rabbi Neal Turk, father of current SFW student Rikki Turk and former student Dina Turk (10',11'). Rabbi Turk's shiur focused on rebuking a friend, when it is appropriate and when it is not and the underlying principle behind the mitzvah: caring for each others spiritual well being.

To listen to the shiur please click here.

The SFW Guest Speaker Program for 5776 is generously sponsored by an anonymous family.

Mrs. Shira Smiles on the Power of Speech

On Thursday, we at SFW were privileged to hear a shiur from Mrs. Shira Smiles, world renowned lecturer and popular seminary teacher. Mrs. Shira Smile's shiur was engaging and thought provoking. Mrs. Smiles shiur focused on the power of speech and the ability it has to build up others just as Hashem created us through the power of speech. 

To listen to the shiur, please click here

Rabbi Robby Charnoff at SFW

On Wednesday, we at SFW were privileged to hear a shiur from Rabbi Robby Charnoff, the OU-JLIC Rabbi at Queens College in New York. Rabbi Charnoff, a dynamic speaker and energetic personality, delivered an engaging shiur untitled "The Meaning and Method of Emunah."

To listen to the shiur, please click here  

To listen to other guest speakers at SFW, please click here. 

To listen to other shiurim at SFW, please click here


SFW’s Guest Speaker Program for 5776 is generously sponsored by an anonymous family

Rabbi Robby Charnoff is the first ever OU-JLIC Rabbi at Queens College. He was born and raised in New York. He spent two years studying at Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh in the Old City of Jerusalem. He subsequently attended Yeshiva University where he graduated summa cum laude with a BA in psychology. Rabbi Charnoff received semikah from Yeshiva University’s RIETS rabbinic program as well as from R. Zalman Nechemia Goldberg of the Rabbinical High Court in Jerusalem. He obtained a Master’s Degree from the Azrieli School of Jewish Education and Administration and is currently in YU’s certificate program in Experiential Jewish Education. Rabbi Charnoff served as the rabbinic intern at Congregation Ohab Zedek’s on the Upper West Side of Manhattan and has been a guest lecturer at many synagogues throughout the New York area, including the Young Israel of Woodmere, Lincoln Square Synagogue, the Manhattan Jewish Center, the Irving Place Minyan, and the Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills. Rabbi Charnoff coined the phrase “turning a commuter campus into a Queens College Jewish community” and he and his wife have accomplished just that. They have been instrumental in establishing consistent Shabbat and holiday programming, daily learning opportunities, exciting events, and a warm home on campus for the 1,000+ Orthodox students at Queens College. Rabbi Charnoff is also the driving force behind the new daily women’s Torah learning program on campus, HaMidrasha @ QC.

Rav Tzvi Flaum at SFW

We were privileged this week to hear an outstanding 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 Dov 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.

Rabbi Dr. Jacob J. Schacter at SFW!

We were privileged to host a guest shiur from Rabbi Dr. Jacob J. Schacter, University Professor of Jewish Thought at Yeshiva University and Senior Scholar at YU's Center for the Jewish Future.

Rabbi Schacter delivered a fascinating and engaging shiur entitled "Rashi: His Life and Work"

SFW’s Guest Speaker Program for 5776 is generously sponsored by an anonymous family

To listen to the shiur please click here.

Guest Speaker: Mrs. Shoshana Schechter on Birkat Kohanim

On Wednesday night, we were privileged to hear a sicha from Mrs. Shoshana Schechter, on the faculty at Stern College for Women and the Director of their Mechina Program. Mrs. Schechter sicha focused on a deep, thorough analysis of Birkat Kohanim.  To listen to the Shiur click here. 

SFW’s Guest Speaker Program for 5776 is generously sponsored by an anonymous family.

Guest Sicha: Rabbi Ari Israel

On Thursday night we were treated to a sicha from Rabbi Ari Israel, Executive Director of the Hillel at University of Maryland and father of Adina Israel (SFW ’16). Rabbi Israel, that night, had finished the year-long aveilut for his father and dedicated his shiur to his memory.  Rabbi Israel spoke about Yerushalayim throughout Tanach as a city of promise and hope but also, if we do not appreciate and understand its value, a city of tension and strain. Click here to listen to the shiur. After the shiur, the Israels sponsored a special mishmar in memory of their father and grandfather. Y’hi zichro baruch. 

Yavan and Chanukah, by Rav Dovid'l Weinberg

Please click here to listen to a shiur from SFW Guest Speaker Rav Dovidl Weinberg on " Yavan and Chanukah."

Rav Dovid'l is a Rebbe in Yeshivat Orayta, is the Rosh Kollel at Camp HASC's Kollel Toras Chesed and is the co-founder of The Mishna Project an educational tool which aids the memorization of mishnayot through music. Rav Dovid’l spoke about the powerful, poetic messages in Chanukah.

The SFW Guest Speaker Program for 5776 is generously sponsored by an anonymous family.

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

Rav Hershel Shachter Shlit”a at SFW

On Monday, Shaalvim for Women had the special zechut to hear a shiur from HaRav Hershel Schachter, Shlit"a, Rosh Yeshiva and Rosh Kollel at Yeshiva University. Rav Schachter spoke about the relationship between Masorah and P'sak Halacha and the effect on contemporary women's issues. After the shiur the Shana Bet program had a private Q & A session with Rav Schachter. 

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. 

To hear the sicha, 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.

Guest Speaker: Rav Binyamin Zimerman

 

On Wednesday, we were privileged to host Rav Binyamin Zimerman who gave a shiur on the practical messages that we can learn from Avraham Avinu. To listen to the shiur click here. Rav Zimmerman is a Rebbe at Yeshivat Har Etzion and is the Educational Director of the Halacha Education Center in Alon Shvut. 

The SFW Guest Speaker Program for 5776 is generously sponsored by an anonymous family.

For more guest shiurim at SFW please click here

Rav Moshe Lichtman at SFW

On Wednesday night we had the privilege to hear a shiur from Rav Moshe Lichtman, noted author (e.g. Eretz Yisrael in the Parsha), translator (e.g. Rav Teictel's Eim Habanim Semeichah). 

Rav Lichtman is the father of Shira Lichtman, SFW '11, '12 and of SFW Madricha, Ayelet Lichtman, SFW '15. His shiur, entitled "The Gift and the Challenge of Modern Israel" discussed what our role is in the unfolding drama, excitement and opportunities of modern-day Israel.

This shiur was Part I in a 4 part series. 

The SFW Guest Speaker Program for 5776 is generously sponsored by an anonymous family.

Please click here to listen to the shiur.