For most frum women preparing for their wedding, shopping for hair coverings is high on the list of things to do. Where to find the perfect wig? Scarves or snoods? How many of each? With all the chaos of wedding planning, there’s little time to pause and think about why they cover their hair in the first place. But once the whirlwind is over and married life settles in, many women want to dig deeper.
Batsheva Learning Center is excited to bring back its popular Kisui Rosh (hair covering) course this winter. This text-based course is all about uncovering the rich meaning and halachic foundations behind this mitzvah, helping women connect to it on a deeper level.
For women who have taken past BLC courses, the experience has been nothing short of transformative. “I felt a much deeper connection to Hashem through this mitzvah,” said Brochie Mishulovin, who took last year’s Pru Urvu Halacha course. “It shifted from feeling rigid to feeling Hashem’s love and privilege.”
Rozie Kleinman/Katz, another participant in the same course, added: “We all left every class feeling like there was so much more to explore. We were always in the middle of a great discussion when class ended, and I think that’s the best way to learn Torah — always wanting more.”
“As a newlywed, I craved more depth and understanding than the basic halachos I learned in Kallah classes,” said Gavi Globerman, a participant of the Hilchos Niddah course that BLC ran in 2022. “This course provided just that. We delved into the original sources for the laws of Niddah and traced it through Chumash, Gemara, Rambam, and Kabbalah. The text-based learning was a refreshing challenge and it gave me a whole new appreciation for the development of halacha in general and this important mitzvah in particular.”
But these courses are not only intended for married women. Many single women are excited to join as well, whether it’s to get a head start on the halachos they’ll be practicing in the future or simply to gain a richer appreciation for the halachic process. “Getting to learn the reasoning behind the complicated halachos of Niddah really gave me an appreciation for the day-to-day halachos that we keep.” said another course participant, Raizy Leitner. “It made me realize that they are not just random details, but the conclusion of a conversation that took place over thousands of years.”
This year, the course will be taught by two incredible educators. Zeldy Friedman, one of BLC’s founding members and a beloved teacher from Crown Heights, will be leading the Brooklyn class. With five years of teaching experience and a passion for women’s learning, Zeldy brings enthusiasm and depth to her classes. Rivky Kaplan, a seasoned Torah educator from Tzfat, Israel, will be teaching the online class. With over 20 years of experience, Rivky is known for making complex Torah concepts personal, relevant, and engaging.
This past summer, Batsheva Learning Center also launched an exciting podcast series featuring Menucha Schwartz who developed the Kisui Rosh course. In the series, Menucha traces the halachos of hair covering from the Torah through the Mishna, Gemara, Rishonim, and Acharonim. The podcast offers a fascinating glimpse into the sources that will be studied in-depth throughout the course, making it a perfect introduction for anyone eager to explore the origins and meaning of this mitzvah. You can listen to the series here!
Participants of the course will receive a sourcebook packed with original sources they will be studying and supplemental readings, along with a workbook that includes summaries, flowcharts, and background information to aid the students in studying the sources. Each class will include time for chavrusa learning followed by group discussions led by the instructor. The curriculum includes dozens of sources from Gemara, Rishonim, and Acharonim.
“This is the course I wish I had years ago,” says Rivky Kaplan. “Every woman deserves the chance to explore this mitzvah in depth.”
Ready to join the conversation? To learn more or to register, visit:
www.batshevalearningcenter.com/courses.
If you would like to teach this course in your community please reach out to admin@batshevalearningcenter.com.
