The OU is launching its ALIT Summer Virtual Beit Midrash for women through the OU Women’s Initiative, and will take place on several consecutive Monday/Wednesdays and Tuesday/Thursdays; July 25, 27 and August 1 and 3, as well as July 26, 28 and August 2 and 4. Live tracks will be offered in the morning and evening. The program offers a space for women across North America and around the globe to participate in learning, with interactive discussions with high level instructors.
The annual program, also known as the Max and Yetty Monderer a”h ALIT Virtual Summer Beit Midrash and dedicated by the Emanuel and Helen Adler Foundation, offers in-depth text-based shiurim on subjects of halacha, tanach, tikkun hamidot, and Jewish history. It is run through the OU Women’s Initiative, which implements programming for women of all ages that trains them to take on community leadership roles, educates them in Torah subjects with regular group learning programs, and provides them with online forums and courses to encourage them to take care of their physical and mental health.
This summer, the ALIT program will offer courses by teachers such as Rabbanit Shani Taragin, Mrs. Moriah Weiss, Mrs. Rivka Maron, Mrs. Sarah Lipman, Mrs. Michal Horowitz and Professor Shoshana Schechter, and the courses offered include, respectively: “Sitting Down to Your Meal, Halachically: An In-Depth Study of Hilchot Se’udah,” “Demystifying Korbanot: A Glimpse into the Beit Hamikdash,” “Implications and Ramifications of the Spanish Expulsion: How Did We Rebuild?,” “The Infinite Value of the Individual: Themes of Sefer Bereshit Through the Commentary of Rav SR Hirsch,” “Lessons in Self-Improvement and Betterment Through the Wisdom of Torah and Insights of the Sages” “Moshe’s Last Lecture: Profound and Lasting Messages from Sefer Devarim,” and several more courses, which can be found on the ALIT program’s site. OU Executive Vice President Rabbi Moshe Hauer said, “The ALIT program provides a wonderful opportunity for the women in our community to experience a focused period of learning with some of the leading female scholars in our community.”
Founding Director of the OU Women’s Initiative Rebbetzin Dr. Adina Schmidman expressed her appreciation to Helen and Manny Adler for dedicating the ALIT program in memory of Helen’s parents, Max and Yetty Monderer A”H, describing them as being “dedicated to continuing Torah education, including for women.” She continued, “This program continues to provide high-level learning opportunities for women around the world who connect over their love of Torah.”
“Our Women’s Initiative has been steadily raising the bar of female scholarship and learning opportunities in our community since its inception,” explained OU President Moishe Bane. “The ALIT program is yet another example of its innovative programming delivered in a way that is convenient and easy to access.” The courses cost $18 each for the first 2 courses, and $45 total for 3 or more), subsidies are available for those who need them.
To learn more about the program and the courses offered, please visit www.ou.org/women/alit2021/.
