Learners’ Tapestry
The kallah who makes a siyum at her wedding.
The executive who does the Daf on her commute.
The retiree who revels in the new time she has for Torah.
The woman who lives in Teaneck. In Jerusalem. In Berlin. In Honolulu.
They’re all here. If you have the drive to learn, you belong.
Connect with the stories of other Hadran women like you. And share your own here.
Leah Herzog
Givat Zev, Israel
I began daf yomi in January 2020 with Brachot. I had made aliya 6 months before, and one of my post-aliya goals was to complete a full cycle. As a life-long Tanach teacher, I wanted to swim from one side of the Yam shel Torah to the other. Daf yomi was also my sanity through COVID. It was the way to marking the progression of time, and feel that I could grow and accomplish while time stopped.
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Caroline Graham-Ofstein
Bet Shemesh, Israel
After being so inspired by the siyum shas two years ago, I began tentatively learning daf yomi, like Rabbanut Michelle kept saying – taking one daf at a time. I’m still taking it one daf at a time, one masechet at a time, but I’m loving it and am still so inspired by Rabbanit Michelle and the Hadran community, and yes – I am proud to be finishing Seder Mo’ed.
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שרה פוּקס
כפר אדומים, ישראל
“התחלתי ללמוד דף יומי במחזור הזה, בח’ בטבת תש””ף. לקחתי על עצמי את הלימוד כדי ליצור תחום של התמדה יומיומית בחיים, והצטרפתי לקבוצת הלומדים בבית הכנסת בכפר אדומים. המשפחה והסביבה מתפעלים ותומכים.
בלימוד שלי אני מתפעלת בעיקר מכך שכדי ללמוד גמרא יש לדעת ולהכיר את כל הגמרא. זו מעין צבת בצבת עשויה שהיא עצומה בהיקפה.”
דבר אחר, שמרוה את הארץ ומשקה עד תהום, שנאמר תלמיה רוה נחת גדודיה, ברביבים תמוגגנה צמחה תברך צִמְחָהּ תְּבָרֵךְ
תענית
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Linda Brownstein
Mitspe, Israel
I started my journey on the day I realized that the Siyum was happening in Yerushalayim and I was missing out. What? I told myself. How could I have not known about this? How can I have missed out on this opportunity? I decided that moment, I would start Daf Yomi and Nach Yomi the very next day. I am so grateful to Hadran. I am changed forever because I learn Gemara with women. Thank you.
I love all the things that were created at the period of time of hashmashot, I don’t have the quote handy. I love that piece
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Caroline Ben-Ari
Karmiel, Israel
I never thought I’d be able to do Daf Yomi till I saw the video of Hadran’s Siyum HaShas. Now, 2 years later, I’m about to participate in Siyum Seder Mo’ed with my Hadran community. It has been an incredible privilege to learn with Rabbanit Michelle and to get to know so many caring, talented and knowledgeable women. I look forward with great anticipation and excitement to learning Seder Nashim.
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Meira Shapiro
NJ, United States
I started learning Daf in Jan 2020 with Brachot b/c I had never seen the Jewish people united around something so positive, and I wanted to be a part of it. Also, I wanted to broaden my background in Torah Shebal Peh- Maayanot gave me a great gemara education, but I knew that I could hold a conversation in most parts of tanach but almost no TSB. I’m so thankful for Daf and have gained immensely.
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Medinah Korn
בית שמש, Israel
I started learning Daf Yomi inspired by תָּפַסְתָּ מְרוּבֶּה לֹא תָּפַסְתָּ, תָּפַסְתָּ מוּעָט תָּפַסְתָּ. I thought I’d start the first page, and then see. I was swept up into the enthusiasm of the Hadran Siyum, and from there the momentum kept building. Rabbanit Michelle’s shiur gives me an anchor, a connection to an incredible virtual community, and an energy to face whatever the day brings.
אָמַר רַבִּי חִיָּיא בַּר אַבָּא: לְעוֹלָם יִתְפַּלֵּל אָדָם בְּבַיִת שֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ חַלּוֹנוֹת
Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba said: One should always pray in a house with windows. The imagery here is of a person connecting with God through prayer, growing spiritually through a lens looking in, while at the same time maintaining a lens looking out, an awareness of the world around us, of where we have come from and where we are going, and perhaps most importantly, of where we choose to go. Our own personal connection with God is not enough; without the support and the perspective of the view outside the window, the community and beyond, we would remain stagnant. This is what Daf Yomi learning has been for me over these past two years: a window (even on zoom!) to bring perspective from all over the world, to listen to what other people hear in the words of the Talmud, and to strive toward an integrated context of learning and experience in our day to day lives. Rabbanit Michelle teaches with a focus on the human side of the text: the varieties of personalities we encounter, the world they live in, and how that can find reflection in our world today and our interactions with each other. As we learn with respect and appreciation the wide variety of viewpoints expressed in the Talmud, we learn to give the same respect and find ways to connect with each other.
Berakhot
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רעות אברהמי
בית שמש, ישראל
התחלתי בתחילת הסבב, והתמכרתי. זה נותן משמעות נוספת ליומיום ומאוד מחזק לתת לזה מקום בתוך כל שגרת הבית-עבודה השוטפת.
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Gitta Jaroslawicz-Neufeld
Far Rockaway, United States
I began learning the daf in January 2022. I initially “flew under the radar,” sharing my journey with my husband and a few close friends. I was apprehensive – who, me? Gemara? Now, 2 years in, I feel changed. The rigor of a daily commitment frames my days. The intellectual engagement enhances my knowledge. And the virtual community of learners has become a new family, weaving a glorious tapestry.
אִי אֶפְשָׁר לְבֵית הַמִּדְרָשׁ בְּלֹא חִידּוּשׁ there cannot be a study hall without a novelty.
Chagigah
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Lisa S. Malik
Wynnewood, United States
Shortly after the death of my father, David Malik z”l, I made the commitment to Daf Yomi. While riding to Ben Gurion airport in January, Siyum HaShas was playing on the radio; that was the nudge I needed to get started. The “everyday-ness” of the Daf has been a meaningful spiritual practice, especial after COVID began & I was temporarily unable to say Kaddish at daily in-person minyanim.
Berakhot
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אילנית ווייל
קיבוץ מגדל עוז, ישראל
התחלתי ללמוד דף יומי בסבב הקודם. זכיתי לסיים אותו במעמד המרגש של הדרן. בסבב הראשון ליווה אותי הספק, שאולי לא אצליח לעמוד בקצב ולהתמיד. בסבב השני אני לומדת ברוגע, מתוך אמונה ביכולתי ללמוד ולסיים. בסבב הלימוד הראשון ליוותה אותי חוויה מסויימת של בדידות. הדרן העניקה לי קהילת לימוד ואחוות נשים. החוויה של סיום הש”ס במעמד כה גדול כשנשים שאינן מכירות אותי, שמחות ומתרגשות עבורי , היתה חוויה מרוממת נפש
“רבונו של עולם הודע שיש לך אהובים בעולמך”
תענית, כ’ ע”א
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יעל אשר
יהוד, ישראל
התחלתי ללמוד בסבב הנוכחי לפני כשנתיים .הסביבה מתפעלת ותומכת מאוד. אני משתדלת ללמוד מכל ההסכתים הנוספים שיש באתר הדרן. אני עורכת כל סיום מסכת שיעור בביתי לכ20 נשים שמחכות בקוצר רוח למפגשים האלו.
וילכו מחיל אל חיל
מועד קטן
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