What if Torah learning isn’t just about understanding, but about creating?

In this powerful conversation, Hadassah Shemtov sits down with Tonia Chazanow to explore the creative process of learning Torah in a way that is rooted, rigorous, and deeply personal. Tonia shares how she approaches texts like Tanya with honesty and imagination, staying true to the source while allowing her own voice, metaphors, and visual language to shape how she teaches and understands Torah.

They discuss the inner work of developing your own perspective, the courage it takes to innovate in the world of Torah, and how even struggle and discomfort can be invitations to deeper connection. Tonia reflects on how she learns through questions, tension, and artistic thinking, offering a model of Torah study that is vibrant, integrated, and uniquely her own.

This episode is an inspiring exploration of what it means to trust yourself in Torah learning, to bring your whole self to the text, and to see Torah not just as a tradition to uphold, but as a creative relationship to grow in.

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Tonia Chazanow is a writer, host of the Human & Holy podcast and Torah teacher. She is passionate about Torah study, gathering Jewish women, and the power of the arts as a way of better understanding ourselves and G-d.

Website: humanandholy.com

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1mo2kXBh03DA218ZmfBqRb?si=uDmGyySHQROnVTOnwwlnCw

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/human-holy/id1543330611

Instagram: @humanandholy

Email: info@humanandholy.com

Show Notes:

The introduction of Igros Moshe:

https://www.valleybeitmidrash.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/INTRI-IGROT-MOSHE-1.pdf

Article by R. Solovetchik:

https://www.bjpa.org/content/upload/bjpa/rupt/RuptureAndReconstruction.pdf

What’s the story behind the schools that shaped generations of frum girls—and what does that story mean for us today?

In this illuminating episode, we sit down with scholar and educator Leah-Perl Shollar to explore the history and evolution of Orthodox girls’ education. Drawing from her extensive doctoral research, Leah-Perl takes us on a journey through the origins of formal Jewish schooling for girls in Eastern Europe, long before Sara Schenirer stepped onto the scene.

We discuss what led Leah-Perl to this topic, how her own educational experiences shaped her questions, and why this history matters now more than ever. Together, we unpack the unique mission and legacy of Sara Schenirer's Bais Yaakov movement, why it succeeded where earlier efforts fell short, and how differing visions of its goals have shaped the way Bais Yaakov is remembered—and lived—today.

We also dive into the lesser-known story of Achos HaTemimim in Latvia, a bold and original approach to women’s Torah learning that offers powerful insights for today’s educators and learners alike.

From questions of secular education to the development of Torah curricula, Leah-Perl shares reflections on where we’ve succeeded, where we’ve adapted, and where there’s still room to grow. Whether you’re a student, teacher, parent, or lifelong learner, this episode offers a deeper understanding of how we got here—and what kind of future we might envision for the next generation of frum women.

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Leah-Perl Shollar is a doctoral candidate at the Azrieli Graduate School of Education (Yeshiva University) and has an M.S. Education; she attended seminaries in Israel and Brooklyn. Shollar has over 30 years of experience as an educator with students from preschool to adults; currently, she teaches Chumash and Jewish history in Yeshiva Girls' High School. Prior to joining Yeshiva’s administration, Shollar worked at the Jewish Learning Institute as an instructional designer and curriculum specialist in partnership with Touro College, and published award-winning books for children, as well as works for adults. In her capacity as principal, Shollar oversees all aspects of the student learning experience, paying particular attention to the scholastic and hashkafic requirements of their curriculum, as well as the individual needs of each student.

What does it mean for a woman to truly make Torah her own—and how can that connection evolve across generations?

In this thoughtful and nuanced conversation, Alex Fleksher reflects on her journey with Torah learning: from her own education growing up, to the experiences her daughter is having today, and the shifts she’s witnessed—and hopes to see—within her community.

We discuss how women’s access to Torah learning has expanded, and how that expansion can continue in ways that honor each community’s unique hashkafa. We explore the importance of creating meaningful opportunities for women to engage deeply with Torah, even in places where the desire or demand may not yet be visible. Sometimes, change begins not by waiting for a need to be voiced, but by planting seeds that open new doors.

Alex also shares her reflections on the transition many women experience after seminary, the value of women's Torah leadership, and how subtle changes in language, visibility, and access can make a profound impact on how women see themselves within the world of Torah.

This episode is an invitation to think about what continuity and growth in Torah learning can look like—not only for ourselves, but for our daughters and the future of our communities.

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Alexandra Fleksher is an educator, speaker, op-ed columnist for Mishpacha Magazine, and co-host of the Deep Meaningful Conversations podcast. She holds a Masters degree in secondary Jewish education from Azrieli Graduate School and an undergraduate degree in English/Communications from Stern College for Women. She has 15 years experience teaching middle and high school English and Judaic Studies, in schools spanning the Orthodox spectrum. She has also spoken for shuls, schools and organizations around the country. Alexandra is an active member of her local Cleveland community and has a passion for community activism. She’s a former chair of the Shabbos Project Cleveland, a founding board member of Chaviva High School for Girls and a co-founder of The Chizuk Retreat Cleveland. She was behind the #myorthodoxlife social media movement and is currently the creative director of the Faces of Orthodoxy social media account.

Links:

Creative Director -- Faces of Orthodoxy

Podcast co-host -- Deep Meaningful Conversations

Columnist -- Mishpacha Magazine

Learning Suggestions:

https://outorah.org/series/4046/

What happens when the Torah we learn doesn’t sit well with us — when it challenges our instincts, values, or sense of self?

In this honest and moving episode, we speak with a woman whose relationship with Torah is marked by both fierce passion and radical openness. We explore how she’s cultivated the ability to engage with complex, sometimes uncomfortable Torah concepts without cynicism or fear — and how she believes that real growth happens not in avoiding those teachings, but in leaning into them with curiosity and humility.

We discuss what it means to truly own your Torah learning — not just as support for others, but as a vital part of your personal identity. We also explore the fears some people have around giving women access to halachic texts: Will it distance them from halacha? Create confusion? Or might it do the opposite — draw them closer?

This episode is a fascinating exploration of how to stay open-hearted and open-minded in your learning, and how women can claim a seat at the table not just as spectators, but as active participants in the world of Torah.

What does it look like to move from dabbling in Torah to making it your identity? What does it mean to move from an interested layperson to a ‘professional’ of Torah learning?

In this powerful episode, Rebbetzin Golshevsky shares about her journey doing just that. From her early education to the pivotal shifts that shaped her learning, we trace the journey of one frum woman who turned her deep personal connection to Torah into a lifelong mission.

She explores the challenges she faced along the way, the birth of Shiviti, and how Torah learning continues to shape her as a teacher, mother, friend, and leader. We also take a deep dive into one of Rebbetzin Golshevsky’s personal passions: pnimiyus haTorah. We explore practical suggestions for engaging with the deeper parts of Torah in a meaningful way and how we can integrate its messages into our lives.

This episode is a fascinating exploration of what it means to build a life around Torah — not just as a source of inspiration, but as a core identity.

Rebbetzin Golshevsky is the director of SHIVITI. She holds primary and secondary teaching certification from Yavne Teachers College in Cleveland, as well as a BA from SUNY Buffalo in Classics-Judaic Studies. Rebbetzin Golshevsky has been a well-known Torah educator in Jerusalem and abroad for twenty-five years, with students all over the world. She is a published author, editor, and translator… but teaching Torah is her first love.

Website: https://shiviti.org.il/about/

Book Recommendations:

https://www.sefaria.org/Bnei_Machshava_Tova?tab=contents

https://www.amazon.com/BNEI-MACHSHAVA-TOVA-Hebrew-Feldheim/dp/B001EUJTB6

https://www.sefaria.org/Likutei_Halakhot?tab=contents

https://moznaim.com/products/likutey-halachos-volume-1?variant=34693487591584&country=US¤cy=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=&utm_campaign=pm_all_products_prime&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22559123263&gbraid=0AAAAAC7EWIin-2Q4Op8QZgHhcn_gYPRJB&gclid=CjwKCAjw6NrBBhB6EiwAvnT_ruDxtLKsRVhfx035lz7CPWPa4xpeNVBBzGeU3SdCxpag4dngurPGQRoC6RcQAvD_BwE

In this episode, Dr. Chava Green explores how uncovering a genuine curiosity about our Judaism can ignite a lifelong passion for Torah study. Chava shares about her own journey of seeking out a community that would give her access directly to the texts of Torah and why that was a deal breaker for her. We dive into how firsthand engagement with Torah sources has shaped her understanding of Jewish womanhood, how she’s adapted to the changes that came with motherhood, and why direct access to learning at the various seasons of her life can take on different forms.

We talk about the research she did while writing her dissertation on Chassidic feminism, focusing specifically on the impact of the Rebbe speaking directly to women, and how a direct relationship with Torah contributes to a sense of spiritual belonging.

What does it mean to truly feel that Torah is ours? Where do gaps remain in women’s connection to Jewish learning—and how might we begin to close them? This episode is an invitation to ask: What’s your question? And what might open up if you followed it into the text?

Dr. Chava Green is an educator, writer, and public speaker. She has a PhD in Religion from Emory University where she wrote a dissertation on Hasidic Feminism. Her academic and popular work explore the role of gender in Chabad society and its mystical texts. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband and three children.

Website: https://thehasidicfeminist.wordpress.com/

Monthly newsletter: https://the-hasidic-feminist.kit.com/16d7257907

Podcasts:

18forty: https://18forty.org/podcast/what-is-chabads-feminist-vision/

The TrailBLAZER Pod: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9EH2164Bjw&t=91s

Book Recommendation:

https://korenpub.com/collections/the-noe-edition-koren-talmud-bavli-1?srsltid=AfmBOopiSHgzxAbXF5gU395ed7Lkd5nCC7udQxfZZgw8DIsBqugYYSfU

References

Study Guide

Sicha

As Shavuos approaches, we're excited to introduce a brand-new summer podcast series: Finding Myself in Torah — a journey into the hearts and minds of ten frum women from across the Jewish world, each sharing how they’ve discovered their voice and place within the world of Torah.

In this special trailer episode, host Hadassah Shemtov shares the inspiration behind the series and offers two powerful Torah insights that explore how women can fully connect to Torah and claim it as their own. Though the formal obligation of Torah study may differ for women, the depth, breadth, and spiritual richness of Torah are equally available to all.

Join us as we begin this heartfelt series — one that aims to uplift, challenge, and reimagine what it means for women to say: “Torah is mine.”

Sources Referenced in this episode:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uH7dkHM6_voLR6_IuxAf84_ZcmYtZh5z/view

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xpjYtRktThIoMBMr3XF0Kulxh1s-CjPT/view

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hL2XeIF6J_CRb2OQ5Xj6XWKQ9ygz4Esn/view?usp=sharing

For a full exploration of this topic, pre-order our new book on women’s Torah study: a compilation halachic, hashkafic and historical sources on the topic:

https://www.batshevalearningcenter.com/product-page/women-s-torah-learning-book

Dive into an intricate legal discussion on the laws of removing chametz before Pesach.

Both searching for chametz (and burning it) and disowning it are valid ways to fulfill this mitzvah—so why are both necessary?

As we explore this discussion in the Gemara, we’ll uncover a profound lesson on self-growth and perfectionism. How do the halachic parameters of purging our homes of physical chametz reflect the way we approach ridding ourselves of our spiritual chametz within?

Tune in to discover the deeper connection between Pesach preparation and personal transformation. Follow along in the sources here.