It’s been a month of inspirational and meaningful learning for participants in Emet Outreach’s TorahConnect for women. Now in its fourth year, the latest semester began right after the chagim, and the program is growing weekly. Held on Wednesdays at YCQ, Emet students of varying Jewish backgrounds are paired with members of the community to connect, share Torah thoughts, and elevate their learning. The result is a warm atmosphere and an energized kol Torah as women learn with their chavrusos.
Most importantly, TorahConnect has given participants a meaningful way to dedicate their learning to the z’chus of am Yisrael at this challenging time. “We were in shock when we met at the first session, but we channeled our pain into learning with a purpose,” Sara Grossman, Program Coordinator, explained. “Rather than feeling helpless, we said T’hilim and dedicated our learning to merit the soldiers. As am Yisrael, we may come from different backgrounds, but we are one soul. The soldiers are fighting to protect us physically, and we can protect them spiritually by davening and learning Torah.”
At the heart of TorahConnect is the special effort made by the Emet team to introduce mentors and students with the same care as setting up a shidduch. The goal is for the chavrusos to not only learn from each other but to also build meaningful relationships. “We’re so fortunate that there are devoted women in our community who have the ability, knowledge, and ahavas Yisrael to share Torah as mentors to our students,” said Ms. Adina Fendel Emet Women’s Director. “It’s inspiring to see the commitment from all the participants to make time for Torah in the midst of busy personal and professional lives. We’re currently looking for more mentors to match the growing interest in the program.”
Each session begins with a buffet dinner at 7:45, followed by learning from 8-9 p.m. At the start of the semester, chavrusos selected a topic of study from a variety of books that fit their areas of interest. Topics included Jewish Ethics, Jewish History, Weekly Parshah, T’hilim, and T’filah. While the learning is personalized, there is a sense of unity in studying Torah together.
The true measure of TorahConnect’s impact comes directly from the words of the students. “My entire week revolves around TorahConnect. I find so much joy learning in an environment filled with love and dedication,” Janet Izrailova said. “Given the current hardships in Israel, it’s been an extremely important to be connected with my holy Jewish sisters. It feels good to learn for the merit of our soldiers and success of am Yisrael. I’m very grateful to Emet for this program, and I hope many more women can join our special family.”
Irina Tamayev explained what she hoped to accomplish from joining the program. “I started TorahConnect with the goal of elevating the Shabbos experience for myself and women in my community who are participating in an afternoon T’hilim reading at our synagogue. By connecting with a knowledgeable Torah partner, I wanted to enhance my understanding of the weekly parshah, and make time for meaningful learning and education,” she said. “Through this program, I found a remarkable partner who not only shares profound insights into our Jewish history but also gives me a sense of belonging. The program has created a supportive community that allows us to stay connected and resilient in the face of adversity.”
Daniella Abraham touched upon the inspiration she gets from her fellow participants. “Joining Emet’s TorahConnect has been one of the most incredible experiences of my life. Wednesdays can’t come fast enough as I love learning with my chavrusa. It’s such an uplifting feeling to be surrounded by amazing and inspiring women – women whom I truly look up to,” she said. Daniella also shared a perspective from the Torah on the current situation. “My chavrusa and I have been learning about the weekly parshah and my heart and soul connect with the Torah so much more than ever before. I’ve seen so many examples that are relevant to the hardships that am Yisrael faces today. One thing I’ve learned is that we always remain victorious over our enemies as long as we have faith in Hashem. The unity we have now is stronger than ever before, and hopefully with Hashem’s help am Yisrael will succeed.”
TorahConnect has been meaningful for the mentors as well. “This is my third year being a mentor and I’ve really connected with all of my partners and benefited from the experience. The program encourages me to make time for learning Torah, and when we can’t meet in person, my chavrusos and I schedule time over the phone and even between semesters,” Miriam Finestone said. “This semester it’s been wonderful to see the program growing, and we recently switched to a larger room. I invite women in the community to join me in becoming mentors and sharing the beauty of Torah at this important time.”
Emet would like to thank YCQ for their support in hosting this program. TorahConnect continues every Wednesday. For those interested in becoming mentors or students, please contact Sara Grossman at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
