x Rabbanit Shani Taragin Rabbanit Shani Taragin received her B.A. and M.A. in Tanakh and Talmud from Bar-Ilan University and is a graduate of Nishmat’s Keren Ariel Program for certification as a halachic advisor (yoetzet halacha) in issues of family purity law. She is the educational director of Matan Eshkolot – Tanakh teachers’ education program and of the Morot l’Halacha program in Matan Renana. Shani serves on the advisory committee for the Mizrachi Olami Shalhevet program for shlichim and lectures throughout Israel and North America on topics of Tanakh, Jewish Education, and Jewish Law. She is a senior lecturer in Matan and is the curriculum coordinator for the Matan – Bnei Akiva program (MTVA). In addition, Shani is a Ra’mit Tanakh in Midreshet Lindenbaum and teaches at Migdal Oz, the Women’s Beit Medrash of Efrat and Gush Etzion and in Matan Ramat Shiloh. Shani has presented many shiurim at the OU Women's Initiative, including, introduction shiurim to each sefer of the Torat Imecha Nach Yomi Program, Weekend of Inspiration and Selichos Night Shiurim, ALIT Summer Learning Program courses in Israel and in the USA, and Rosh Chodesh shiurim. Together with her husband, Reuven, she serves as Rosh Beit Medrash for the Beit Medrash Program in Machaneh Moshava Pennsylvania during the summer and as Educational Director of Mizrachi Olami-RZA. Shani lives with her family in Alon Shvut, Gush Etzion-Israel.

x Mrs. Michal Horowitz Mrs. Michal Horowitz holds a Bachelor of Science from combined studies at York University, Toronto, and Brooklyn College, and she holds a Master of Science from Brooklyn College, NY. She offers weekly shiurim in her home community of the Five Towns, NY, and in the greater NY area. Michal is a speaker at Yeshiva University's Midreshet Yom Rishon and has been a featured speaker for the last four years at the RIETS Shavuos Yarchei Kallah program. At the OU, she is a featured speaker on the Speakers Bureau of the OU, and most notably, taught Sefer Yehoshua to over 4000 women across the globe as part of the Torat Imecha Nach Yomi program of the OU Women’s Initiative. Michal presented Rosh Chodesh and Nach Yomi Siyum shiurim and taught a new interactive in-depth course at the Women’s Initiative ALIT Virtual Summer Learning Program. She has been a guest lecturer and scholar in residence in schools and communities, both nationally and internationally. A selection of her recorded shiurim are posted on YUTorah.org and TorahAnyTime.com. Michal lives in Woodmere, NY with her husband and children.

x Professor Smadar Rosensweig Smadar Rosensweig is a world renowned Jewish Educator and Lecturer in Tanach. She lectures extensively throughout the United States and internationally. She is a Clinical Associate Professor of Bible and Judaic Studies at Stern College for Women, Yeshiva University. Professor Rosensweig received her B.A from Barnard College in history and her M.A. and M. Phil from Columbia University in Jewish history. Previously, she was a Professor of Judaic Studies at Lander College for Women, Touro College and a Senior Lecturer of Tanakh at the Allegra Franco Teachers College.

x Rabbanit Rookie Billet Rabbanit Rookie Billet is the Principal of Shulamith School for Girls, Middle Division, the oldest Zionist all-girls school in the US, having previously served as Principal of Ma’ayanot Yeshiva High School, at Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls, and at Yeshiva University’s Central High School. A seasoned Jewish Studies, Hebrew Literature teacher and adult education lecturer, Rookie has been an active Rebbetzin at Young Israel of Woodmere since 1980. She was certified as a Yoetzet Halacha by Nishmat in 2015. She earned her B.A. from Brooklyn College, a B.Ed. and Hebrew Teacher's Diploma from Yeshiva University, an M.A. from the NYU and studied in Israel for several years, including in the Senior Educators Program at the Hebrew University.

x Rebbetzin Dr. Adina Shmidman Rebbetzin Dr. Adina Shmidman is the director of the OU Women’s Initiative. She and her husband, Rabbi Avraham Shmidman, are Rabbi and Rebbetzin at the Lower Merion Synagogue in Bala Cynwyd, PA. Prior to her position at the OU, she taught Advanced Placement Psychology as well as Judaic classes in addition to directing the staff professional development program at Kosloff Torah Academy Girls High School in Bala Cynwyd, PA. She previously taught at Hebrew Academy of Nassau County, Hebrew Academy of Long Beach and the Manhattan High School for Girls. While living in Birmingham, AL, she was the director of the Knesseth Israel Synagogue Sunday School. Rebbetzin Dr. Shmidman earned a Teacher’s Certificate from Beth Jacob Seminary (BJJ) in Jerusalem. She graduated from Queens College in NY with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in psychology and later received a Master of Science in school psychology from the same institution. She also has a Master of Arts in Jewish education as well as a Certificate in Educational Technology from Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration at Yeshiva University. She received a doctorate in educational psychology with a concentration in "Learning and Instruction in the area of Literacy" from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. She and her husband are the proud parents of four sons.