In November 2019, in anticipation of the Daf Yomi cycle, Rebbetzin Dr. Adina Shmidman realized that Nach Yomi was starting the same week in January 2020. “It was a unique opportunity to introduce a new Nach Yomi program titled Torah Imecha Nach Yomi,” shared Rebbetzin Shmidman, director of the OU Women’s Initiative. “This would be a learning program with women educators, for women to learn with other women. At the time, the Shoshana Grossman, a’h, Nach Yomi program was already in place, started by Rabbi Jack Abramowitz with male educators. Launching the Torat Imecha Nach Yomi would expand the reach and scope with a new audience.
Unique in concept, the Torat Imecha Nach Yomi created a community of learners, women who are passionate and committed to learning. Women share ideas, thoughts, messages, and impact of the program with other women. “This is the largest classroom of women’s learning—as we are all listening to the same podcasts, listening and learning together, even as we are separated by space and tim,” Rebbetzin Shmidman explained.
Geared to women of all ages and religious backgrounds, the program has been a tremendous success. To date, more than 8,500 women are subscribed to the daily learning modules, which total 742 shiurim, presented by an impressive array of eminent women scholars. Since its inception, more than 1,000 women have completed the full series.
“The program prides itself on participation by women of diverse backgrounds with various levels of learning skills, geography, and age and learning, all learning together,” said Rebbetzin Shmidman. “The dedication of participants and educators is extraordinary and speaks to the remarkable impact of this program.”
Participants are from more than 27 countries, including Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Panama, Peru, Poland, Russia, Scotland, Serbia, South Africa, South Korea, United Kingdom, United States, and Uruguay.
Since the beginning of this month, the OU Women’s Initiative has been celebrating the culmination of its second two-year Nach Yomi cycle with community Nach Shabbat events throughout the United States and siyumim in both the United States and Israel. From Milwaukee to Pittsburgh, Teaneck to Texas, noted female educators are speaking, delivering, elucidating, and inspiring shiurim at each celebratory event.
In celebration of this milestone event, the Teaneck Siyum will take place on Sunday, February 4, beginning at 12 p.m. Featuring a stellar array of exemplary presenters, the siyum will feature Jen Airley as guest speaker. Originally from the United States, the Airleys made aliyah in 2006. Their son, Binyamin, Hy’d, a heroic IDF soldier, was brutally murdered in Gaza. Binyamin had attended yeshiva, spent time in Eilat, and worked on his family’s farm. Binyamin joined the frontlines of the battle against Hamas to secure the land of Israel and protect Am Yisrael.
Exemplars of emunah and bitachon, the Airleys’ implicit and unwavering trust in Hashem has been on full display since the loss of their beloved son. Inspiring people to open the gates of Shamayim with tefillah b’simcha. Jennifer Airley teaches by example how to persevere through pain and sorrow, leading the way for others to follow.
Preceding the program, Mrs. Michal Horowitz and Mrs. Stacey Goldman, both of whom are dynamic and inspiring scholars, will each present a shiur. Additionally, in celebration of this milestone, Torat Imeinu Nach Yomi is also running Shabbat programs across the United States. For additional information regarding siyum programming, please visit ouwomen.org/siyum24.
The program has been a tremendous success. With the objective of completing 742 perakim of Nev’im and Kesuvim in two years, the Torat Imecha Nach Yomi program offers a daily podcast covering one perek per day. At the conclusion of the first cycle in 2022, more than 1,000 women completed the entire series, intended for women of all ages and religious and educational backgrounds to learn according to their individual schedules. Over 2,500 women are anticipated to complete the second cycle concluding next week.
Following their completion of the Torat Imecha Nach Yomi series, participants are invited to add their names to the online Siyum Scroll at ou.org/women/nachsiyum.
A distinguished scholar, Rebbetzin Shmidman was hired by the Orthodox Union at the launch of its Women’s Initiative in November 2017. Since its inception six years ago, the department has experienced an evolution, creating a plethora of programs, including Torah knowledge and networks for educational enrichment and engagement, educational programs, leadership conferences, professional advancement fellowships and scholars-in-residence programs. Further, it has created two acclaimed cohorts of Orthodox Jewish women leaders of all ages who are impacting their respective communities in more than 40 cities across the United States and Israel.
Rebbetzin Shmidman grew up in Kew Gardens and received her first set of degrees—a bachelor’s in psychology and a master’s in school psychology—from Queens College, followed by a master’s in Jewish Education from Yeshiva University’s Azrieli School. Not content to rest on her impressive laurels, she began studying for a doctorate in educational psychology. While working on her dissertation, she accompanied her husband, Rabbi Avraham Shmidman, to the 120-family community of Birmingham, Alabama, for nine years. Subsequently they traveled to Lower Merion, Pennsylvania in the Philadelphia suburbs, where he has been the mara d’asra of the Lower Merion Synagogue, serving with distinction since 2007. In addition to her role at the OU since 2017, Rebbetzin Shmidman is a “Working Rebbetzin” as well as co-chair of the community mikvah and a kallah teacher. Additionally, she spent 20 years in the classroom, primarily teaching high school girls. Rabbi and Rebbetzin Shmidman are the parents of four sons.
For Rebbetzin Dr. Adina Shmidman, sharing her passion for studying Tanach with a global community of Jewish women is a labor of love. “What Nach affords you, as a learner, is to be part of the journey and history of the Jewish people and to be an audience to the sacred words of our prophets,” she explained.
“Knowing that there are so many women connected to the sacred words of our holy texts is very powerful. Especially during these challenging times, knowing that we can be anchored in our history, that we have a destiny and purpose provides strength.”
She added, “Women across the globe reach out to me, sharing how impacted they are, particularly during times of crisis. The last cycle was during Covid and the consistency of the daily messages was enormous at a time when we all felt so disconnected. Now, during the war in Israel, we are listening to the words of Ezra and Nechamia, coming back from the Holy Land.”
Maintaining the consistency of daily learning is challenging, as Rebbetzin Shmidman noted. “Day after day, the consistency is very hard. Sometimes the words of the Navi are hard to hear. It is painful to hear about the Jewish people sinning once again and recognizing that we are still in exile. Finding talented teachers is not hard—we have a deep talent bank. One of the unique opportunities is to give super-star teachers a platform to teach and share their Torah knowledge. Participants from countries across the globe are learning together, connected through the words of Nach. The relevance of words written thousands of years ago resonates deeply for each woman who listens daily. But the program is more than just about learning—women share the perek and messages they hear with others, creating a community of growth and purpose. Many take the time to write to me, sharing the profound impact this initiative has had on their lives. It is moving to see how the words of the Neviim resonate so powerfully today.
Hashem has sent us a text—we need to take a look and listen,” Rebbetzin Shmidman declared. “Invest 15 minutes a day—and it will change your life.”
Rochelle Maruch Miller is a contributing editor for the Five Towns Jewish Times. She is a journalist, creative media consultant, lecturer, educator, and writes for magazines, newspapers, websites, and private clients. She welcomes your comments at 5TJT.com. Read more of Rochelle Maruch Miller’s articles at 5TJT.com.
