Mrs. Shira Smiles is a highly sought-after international lecturer, a popular seminary teacher, and an experienced curriculum developer. She is well-known for her unique teaching style, which seeks to bring understanding of Torah texts through analysis of relevant sources, while making the lessons learned from every verse relevant to her students' lives. Mrs. Smiles teaches at Darchei Bina Seminary. In addition, she leads a number of women's study group classes in Beit Shemesh, Yerushalayim, and Modiin. Mrs. Smiles also trains Torah teachers in special workshops all over the world. Mrs. Smiles gives a weekly shiur that is broadcast around the world via satellite hookup, has a direct teleconference shiur with students in LA, and has over 300 audio shiurim. Her first book is called Torah Tapestries. Photo courtesy Daryl Tempkin Photography
Shiur provided courtesy of Naaleh.com.
The mishna says we pass before Hashem (in judgement) like “bnei maron.” The Gemara gives three explanations of this phrase. Why do we need three different metaphors to explain the same idea? Shiur provided courtesy of Naaleh.com. Summary by Channie Koplowitz Stein One of the most striking images in the Rosh Hashanah liturgy is […]
The Gemara gives 6 reasons why Tu B’Av is celebrated. Many events have occurred that are greater than these. Why don’t these other events merit holidays as well? How can we make Tu B’Av meaningful for us today now that we don’t celebrate Tu B’Av the way that is described in the Gemara? Shiur provided courtesy of Naaleh.com
Shouldn’t the day of judgement be the last day of the year, not Rosh Hashana? If it’s judgement day, why do we focus on God’s kingship and make no mention of our own needs? How does the shofar fit into the theme of Rosh Hashana?
Shiur provided courtesy of Naaleh.com. Summary by Channie Koplowitz Stein The holiday we generally refer to as Shavuot has in fact several names each reflecting a different aspect of the holiday, either spiritual or agricultural. However, one common name seems to have no relevance today, Chag Habikurim/the holiday of the first fruit. Certainly Torah […]
Shiur provided courtesy of Naaleh.com. Summary by Channie Koplowitz Stein It was the ultimate moment of redemption. Hashem Himself came down and smote the Egyptian firstborn. The Torah says, “I shall go through Egypt…, I shall strike every firstborn…, I shall mete out punishment, I am Hashem” (Shemot 12:12). The Haggadah drives this point home: […]
Shiur provided courtesy of Naaleh.com. Summary by Channie Koplowitz Stein It is customary to set a beautiful table for the Pesach Seder, to adorn the table with silver vessels and any beautiful utensils and dishes one may have, gold, silver, crystal. What is unusual is that the Jews are not an ostentatious people. At no […]
Shiur provided courtesy of Naaleh.com. Purim is unique among the holidays, for, as Chazal tell us, while all the other holidays will be nullified after the arrival of Moshiach, Purim (and according to some Yom Kippur as well) will continue to be celebrated. Yet Purim is not even a Biblical holiday. Why does it deserve […]
Shiur provided courtesy of Naaleh.com. Summary by Channie Koplowitz Stein Most of us are familiar with the law that states, “A man should become intoxicated on Purim to the point of no longer being able to differentiate between ‘Cursed be Haman’ and ‘Blessed be Mordechai.’ ” The question arises as to why Purim is the […]
Shiur provided courtesy of Naaleh.com. Summary by Channie Koplowitz Stein We are all familiar with the miracle of Chanukah, how, after their victory over the Greeks, the Chashmonaim returned to find the devastation the Greeks had wrought on the Temple, how the Greeks had desecrated it and defiled and broken every jug of pure oil […]
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