Rebbetzin Heller is a senior lecturer at Neve Yerushalayim College in Jerusalem. Amongst her many areas of expertise are the role of women in Judaism and analysis of the lives of women in the Bible. Rebbetzin Heller herself is an example of a woman who has managed to balance her responsibilities as the mother of a large family with her roles as international speaker and author.
How possible is it to define what our ideal environment is seeing that we are all so different? After all, some are affected by the positive role models in their lives, while others thrive on adversity, and others by confronting the negative influences in their lives. Rebbetzin Heller helps to define which surroundings help us to grow, and how to deal with different groupings of people that are common in many communities.
How should we deal with the vast gentile world we come in contact with daily? Travel back to the creation of the world, when all of humans were part of a brotherhood meant to reveal G-d in the world â and find out why the split between Judaism and everyone else came about. Yet non-Jews have seven great moral directives they have been responsible for since the time of the flood. What are they?
The translation for tznius is modesty, which carries with it a connotation of shame. Rebbetzin Heller's definition broadens this topic far beyond mere laws of clothing and dress to a deep comprehension of who we are, and how we process our self concept. Only once we understand this can we proceed to the various parameters of the Jewish code of dress - which she does with great clarity.
"Feeling" modest is not quite enough - just as viewing yourself as a kind person but behaving cruelly does not make you caring and sweet. What are the guidelines for tznius, and why does it make sense for them to remain constant, even as our society becomes less and less refined? A bricks and mortar class on the actual laws of modesty, what they consist of, and most importantly - why.
The word 'purity' in English gives a vastly different connotation than the Hebrew. The Jewish view of ritual purity, as it relates to women exactly reflects the upper spiritual sphere. Hear how this applies to the eternity of the soul, the finiteness of the physical, and the lasting nature of marriage.
In this final segment of Spiritual First Aid, we are introduced to what the Moshiach will do, what his character traits are, and what circumstances need to be in place for him to redeem us. Rebbetzin Heller looks at a facet in our nature that brings us to easily become embittered, leaving us with a negative attitude that may prevent the Moshiach from redeeming us.
More than just the first female, Eve, a.k.a Chava, is in fact the ideal role model for all women. Join Rebbetzin Heller as she delves into the text to discover Chava's essential function and her unique qualities. Hear fascinating insights on the male/female dynamic, the woman's domestic inclination, and coping with the unavoidable process of aging.
Venture into a rarely discussed chapter of Torah to meet those influential personalities who set into play many societal norms we live by today. Hear penetrating insights on issues that continue plaguing us, such as the connection between a violent society and the exploitation of women, and how the life-choices made today will affect future generations. Rebbetzin Heller also probes other important concerns that society endlessly grapples with.
Even as a child Rivkah's trait of 'giving' transcended and protected her from the influences of her corrupt home and immoral society. Leah, the unwanted wife, teaches us the powerful lesson of 'loving', and Rachel, the paradigm of 'caring' shows us how much she sacrificed to spare another shame and embarrassment.
Sarah: a woman of extraordinary beauty, impeccable modesty and the unflinching willingness to give all she had, finds her faith heavily tested due to her morally depraved upbringing plus chronic infertility. Sounds like a soap opera? Come enter the mind and heart of our first matriarch as she makes some tough decisions, which keep the Jewish woman and the Jewish nation steadily on track.