When women learn with women

Beit Knesset Hanassi is privileged to have many fine members who have much to offer the shul and, indeed, the wider community. One such member is Gitta Neufeld. If you have yet to meet Gitta, let us introduce her to you.

Gitta (right) has over 40 years of experience in educational leadership, teacher training and special education in both general and Judaic studies.  She has served as Program Coordinator of the Touro University Masters in Jewish Education and Special Education program, and Director of Education and Pedagogy for the Sephardic Rabbinical College and the Allegra Franco School of Educational Leadership, and worked with Herzog College in Alon Shvut to create and then coordinate a Tanach teaching program.  She is currently an educational consultant for a variety of Jewish educational institutions.  The recipient of multiple awards for teaching and adult education, including the Covenant Foundation Award for Excellence in Education for her work in the Syrian community, Gitta is a Jeopardy! champion, whose Final Jeopardy! question was on Tanach.

Gitta is keen to encourage women-for-women learning here at Hanassi. This is what she says on the topic:

In the Rechavia community, we are blessed with a plethora of women’s shiurim of all types, some of which are hosted in our own Beit Knesset.  Most of these shiurim are frontal, with a learned teacher explaining material and sharing insights. The Hanassi community has many learned women who, though they may not be giving formal shiurim, have much to share.

Collaboratively learning – women learning with women – adds another dimension to the process.  There is an opportunity for deeper engagement in a shared, collaborative and supportive environment.  At the heart of traditional Torah study is chavruta, whose sounds echo in every bet medrash.  By learning collaboratively, we can discuss, debate and analyze the texts together.  Each learner can bring her own unique perspective, knowledge base and background to the process. Collaborative learning also fosters a greater sense of community, strengthening connections and creating a shared purpose as participants delve into texts, share insights and experiences, and arrive at rich and meaningful conclusions. Learning together also models the importance of learning for our families and friends.

If you’d like to know more about Gitta’s ideas, email bkhanassi@gmail.com and we will pass your message on.