HerTorah
HerTorah gathers together a diverse community of Jewish women to connect over our shared heritage, explore our collective wisdom, and elevate our communal experience in learning with and from one another.
HerTorah, a program of SVIVAH, under the inspired direction of Rabbanit Aliza Sperling, is an investment in a space dedicated to amplifying women's voices and perspectives around our shared foundational texts. Torah taught by women, in an environment built for women, explored together with a multigenerational, diversely inclusive community of Jewish women from across the greater DC area. We are ecstatic about gathering to learn from and with each other, together with outstanding Jewish women educators.
HerTorah is dedicated to creating a comfortable space for women to meet and share ideas with other Jewish women they might not otherwise have the opportunity to engage with deeply. Our goal is to use our foundational Torah text as a medium for true community and connection building. This is a room that will be incomplete without your presence.
SVIVAH is grateful to the Aviv Foundation and Maharat for their partnership in launching HerTorah, this inclusive initiative directed by Rabbanit Aliza Sperling. We are also incredibly proud that HerTorah was chosen as a recipient of a 2021 Ignition Grant from The Covenant Foundation. We look forward to monthly gatherings with outstanding Jewish women scholars to share with our beautifully diverse, multigenerational audience.
*A reminder, SVIVAH defines a “Jewish woman” as anyone wishing to be part of a circle of Jewish women.
For information about HerTorah gatherings, please visit the SVIVAH “Happenings” page.
Our audiences aren’t consumers of Torah, they are engagers with Torah.
Our scholars aren’t transmitters of Torah, together with SVIVAH they are co-creators of Torah.
This. This is what “HerTorah” means.
Here is what to expect from HerTorah:
1. The room will be filled with women you’ve never met, from all corners of our city. Open your hearts and minds to prepare to learn from one another. Every one of us brings something of unique value to the room. It’s your job to find it.
2. Creating a space to amplify the human stories and unique perspectives of women in relation to our foundational Jewish texts is downright amazing! This experience is precious. Every woman in the room is your teacher and you, theirs.
3. Hebrew fluency, Judaic background, details of practice – these are irrelevant forHerTorah. We know you’re here to learn, you’ve come to share, you have unique ideas and a unique story. If – at any point – you feel uncomfortable with an element of the program, we expect you to let the SVIVAH team know so we can make it right.
4. Please don’t consider yourself an observer or recipient of what’s happening at our gathering. We expect you to be a builder, a creator, a founder of this collective of powerful Jewish womanhood. You determine if it feels welcoming and genuine. If it’s sincere and inclusive. If it’s spiritual and intellectual and warm. It’s you who decides how the party turns out. We trust you.
Rabbanit
Aliza Sperling, HerTorah Director
Rabbanit Aliza Sperling is a member of the faculty at Yeshivat Maharat and teaches Talmud at the Maharat-Yeshivat Chovevei Torah Beit Midrash Program. In addition to being the director of HerTorah, she serves as a Hartman research fellow and a Wexner faculty member. She received her ordination from Yeshivat Maharat and a JD from NYU Law School. She also authored a halachic analysis of whether a blind person may read Torah for the collective in Braille. She lives with her husband and four children in Riverdale, NY. You can reach Rabbanit Sperling here.
SVIVAH is dependent on the generosity of those who believe in the value of investing in Jewish womanhood. Please consider supporting HerTorah and this space for women's perspectives and voices. Your contribution means so much! We are grateful for a contribution of any amount and -- as always -- we believe there should never be a financial barrier to being part of SVIVAH. We also welcome opportunities to dedicate this beautiful evening in honor/memory of an important woman in your life. We look forward to celebrating her together! Thank you for your generosity!