The Orthodox Union’s Women’s Initiative Nach Yomi learning campaign has made a strong national impact, with 40 local groups and 15,000 women registered across the country. One local group that can serve as an inspiring model to promote daily learning and bring women together is the chapter organized by the Sisterhood of Congregation Ahavas Yisrael in Edison.

Two-and-a-half years ago, when the Nach Yomi cycle started again, Rebbetzin Rivka Jaffe of Ahavas Yisrael (AY) asked on the shul’s sisterhood WhatsApp chat if other women wanted to join her in participating. “Dozens signed up right away,” she said, and the AY Nach Yomi group was underway.

The Nach Yomi program consists of 15-20 minute recordings of presentations by noted women teachers on the daily perek of Nach, which are posted online on the OU website and the links are shared via a WhatsApp chat to group leaders. The local groups get together and celebrate a siyum whenever a sefer of Nach is completed.

The AY Nach Yomi team has distinguished itself by involving women from across the community, in different shuls. Rebbetzin Jaffe recalls enlisting one Nach Yomi group member, Dr. Chani Miller, at an eye doctor appointment and another, Marilyn Berger, when she was seeking a ride to a siyum in Teaneck. Both women were already participating in Nach Yomi on their own but were delighted to join in the group effort.

The AY Nach Yomi group, which now has 40 or more members, gets together whenever a sefer is completed, for a shalosh seuda or a Sunday night gathering. Rebbetzin Jaffe makes an effort to bring noted speakers to each siyum and was honored to feature Rebbetzin Adina Shmidman, director of the OU’s Women’s Initiative, at one of the siyums earlier this year. The AY Nach Yomi group also hosted noted international speaker Liat Mayerfeld at a shalosh seuda in January.

“I was honored to attend the Ahavas Yisroel Nach Yomi siyum with Rebbetzin Jaffe and the wonderful ladies of AY,” said Berger. “The speaker, Rebbetzin Dr. Shmidman delivered her message in a fun and exciting way that had us all participating.”

“I never had the opportunity to study Nach before, because I didn’t attend yeshiva as a kid,” said participant Sharon Glaser. “I really enjoy learning the Nach now and the way the OU Women’s initiative sets up the learning. It is so accessible. It’s often the first thing I do in the morning, when I get in my car to commute to work. With Rebbetzin Jaffe’s group, we have a whole community of women learning together and coming together to celebrate a siyum. This is a wonderfully enriching experience for me, and I encourage other women to join in.”

Rebbetzin Shmidman, commenting on the AY group, said, “The energy, passion and warmth of this group was palpable—both for the Navi they are learning together and for each other.”

To connect with the AY Nach Yomi group, please visit the Sisterhood’s page online, at https://www.ayedison.org/sisterhood.html

Harry Glazer is the Middlesex County Editor of The Jewish Link. He can be reached at [email protected] and he welcomes your feedback.