On Principle-11-with Rabbi Shmuel Skaist-Why Women's Seminaries aren't planting real Ahavas HaTorah

Rabbi Shmuel Skaist is the Rosh Yeshiva of the Yeshiva of Newark at IDT in Newark, New Jersey.He holds a Master’s Degree in Clinical Counseling from Bellevue University.He served as a Senior Lecturer at Ohr Naava Women’s Torah Center in Brooklyn, New York for seven years.He was employed as an adjunct professor for teaching women at both Yeshiva University Stern College for Women in New York and in Bar Ilan University in Eretz Yisroel.He has been a much sought after Scholar in Residence in venues across the country and delivered the keynote address at many prestigious Torah themed events.In addition to his administrative and teaching duties,Rabbi Skaist is a licensed therapist,employed by the Jewish Family Service of New Jersey.On the heels of various reporting indicating that countries led by women are faring better in the pandemic than men, Rabbi Kivelevitz suggests we should re-examine how the Orthodox world is educating its women members.Rabbi Skaist ,drawing on his rich experience in women's education,articulates what he sees as lacking in most of the higher education institutions dedicated to women's learning.Citing a number of instructive examples from his own teaching observations,as well as trends he has noticed in his daughters schooling ,he bemoans the lack of Ahavas HaTorah for its own sake.He eschews any feminist agenda,yet argues passionately for Talmudic learning to be offered to and encouraged for female students,especially women who are discovering Torah after years of immersion in high level secular education in the sciences.He also believes that most girls are receiving a strong secondary message alongside the Torah in the classrooms.That the main role of a good Jewish woman is to be a submissive housewife and enable her husband's Torah growth.Rabbi Kivelevitz,informed by the article by Rivka Press Schwartz,describing the approach of Rebbetzin Chayah Ausband A'h,wonders if her success in inculcating deep love of Torah learning,cannot be replicated even in institutions wary of introducing Talmud study for their female attendees.The episode ends with an important comment heard in the name of Rav Yisroel Chait that makes a claim for women's Torah study as a means to Ahavas Hashem as per the Rambam's formulation in Sefer HaMitzvos.Please leave us a review or email us at [email protected] out more about this podcast fromyeshivaofnewark.jewishpodcasts.org See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate