For years, I believed that serious Torah learning was for other people – the ones who could open a sefer without panic and read Hebrew without flinching. I didn’t think I could start this journey where I was in life, juggling family, work, and the ordinary demands of adulthood.

My background was fairly typical for an Orthodox woman. I had a solid Jewish education, enjoyed a good shiur, and felt comfortable discussing Torah at the Shabbat table. But my learning felt limited to what I already knew. The books of Tanach I had studied were familiar; the ones I hadn’t remained intimidating. I assumed that this was simply the extent of my Torah education – not because I didn’t care, but because this was the level of engagement my life could realistically sustain at the time.

My earliest attempts at teaching came much earlier, in my late teens and early twenties, and they were not successful. I lacked training, confidence, and the tools to manage a classroom or build a meaningful shiur. Those experiences convinced me that teaching wasn’t for me. Instead, I built a career in Jewish nonprofit leadership, staying close to Torah and educators while focusing on family and community........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)