Women's Gallery: Showcasing Women in Jewish Leadership

(51) Work, Purpose, and Torah: Gvira Milworm's Vision for Haredi Women

Gvira Milworm has spent years helping transform economic opportunities for Haredi women in Israel, all while remaining firmly rooted in Torah values. As CEO of Temech, she has helped thousands of women build careers, launch businesses, and achieve financial stability without asking them to compromise their religious commitments. In this episode of Women's Gallery, Joanne Greenaway speaks with Gvira about her own journey from the world of technology to nonprofit leadership, the remarkable economic transformation taking place within the Haredi community, and how meaningful work, entrepreneurship, family, and faith can reinforce rather than compete with one another. Their conversation explores leadership, self-care, the future of Haredi women in Israel's workforce, and the powerful question Gvira believes everyone should ask: What does Hashem want from me now?

(50) From Consumers to Producers of Torah: Raising the Next Generation of Women Torah Scholars, with Dr. Raizi Chechik

What does the future of women's Torah scholarship look like? Dr. Raizi Chechik, the inaugural director of the Pava Center for Women's Torah Scholarship at Yeshiva University, joins Joanne Greenaway to discuss an inspiring new vision for cultivating women as Torah scholars, educators, and teachers of Torah. Drawing on decades of experience as an educator, mentor, and head of school, she reflects on the mentors who shaped her, the philosophy that has guided her work, and why authentic Torah learning is resonating so deeply with today's young women. Together, Joanne and Dr. Chechik explore how rigorous Torah scholarship, mentorship, and community engagement can prepare women to make meaningful contributions to Orthodox Jewish life while remaining deeply rooted in tradition. They discuss the remarkable response to the new program, the challenge of balancing innovation with continuity, and the importance of helping women see themselves not only as consumers of Torah, but also as producers and teachers of Torah. The conversation concludes with a moving reflection on hope, resilience, and the enduring wisdom of Torah in times of uncertainty.

(49) Leading with Laughter: Rachel Creeger on Comedy, Courage, and Jewish Visibility

For most Orthodox women, leadership does not begin with a microphone in a comedy club. But for award-winning comedian Rachel Creeger, humor has become a powerful way to represent Jewish life, challenge stereotypes, and create connection across communities. In this episode of Women's Gallery, Joanne Greenaway speaks with Rachel about forging a path where no roadmap existed, navigating life as an Orthodox woman in the performing arts, confronting antisemitism after October 7, and discovering that comedy can be a form of leadership. Rachel also reflects on being targeted and effectively canceled by venues because she is openly Jewish, and on her determination to respond not by retreating, but by speaking more boldly. Their conversation explores authenticity, resilience, public voice, and what happens when Jewish women refuse to be defined by other people's expectations.

(48) Strengthening Women Who Sustain Communities, with Aliza Bulow

What does it take to support the women who quietly sustain Jewish life? In this inspiring conversation, Joanne Greenaway speaks with Aliza Bulow, founder of Core, a global organization that equips and connects women who serve as spiritual guides, community builders, educators, rebbetzins, mentors, and caregivers. From a handful of participants to a worldwide network spanning more than 100 cities across six continents, Core has become a movement dedicated to strengthening the women who strengthen everyone else. Aliza shares her remarkable personal journey: from converting to Judaism as a teenager in Portland, Oregon, to studying in Israel, serving in the IDF, and ultimately creating an innovative model of leadership development rooted in connection, wisdom, and spiritual resilience. Along the way, she reflects on faith, loss, marriage, community responsibility, and why women's often-unseen leadership is indispensable to the future of Jewish life. Together, Joanne and Aliza explore what it means to be a community pillar, how leaders can avoid burnout, why women need stronger support networks, and how trust, hope, and faith are transmitted from one generation to the next. This is a conversation about leadership, purpose, and the extraordinary impact of women whose influence ripples far beyond what most people ever see. If you've ever wondered who supports the people everyone else turns to, this episode is for you. This LSJS podcast is powered by The Walder Foundation and a generous anonymous donor. Visit lsjs.ac.uk/learning [https://www.lsjs.ac.uk/learning] if you're looking to explore and strengthen your Jewish identity.

(47) Talmud for Everyone? Dr. Ayelet Hoffmann-Libson on Women, Learning, and Jewish Leadership

On this episode of Women's Gallery, Dr. Ayelet Hoffmann-Libson joins Joanne Greenaway for a wide-ranging conversation about women, Talmud, academia, and the future of Jewish learning. A senior lecturer in Talmud at Bar-Ilan University and a leading public-facing Torah scholar, Dr. Hoffmann-Libson reflects on her journey from studying at Pelech and Midreshet Lindenbaum to teaching at Harvard, Penn, and Yale. Together, she and Joanne explore how women entering the world of advanced Torah study are reshaping both the Beit Midrash and academia, why Talmud should not remain the domain of an elite few, and how learning Torah can become a profound framework for thinking about human existence, authority, individuality, and religious life. The conversation also examines the tensions between traditional and academic approaches to Talmud, the challenge of imposter syndrome for women in leadership, and why Dr. Hoffmann-Libson believes the next generation of Jewish women will fundamentally transform religious communities. This is a thoughtful and deeply personal discussion about Torah, truth, intellectual courage, and what it means to make the Talmud accessible to everyone. What does an observant life look like for spiritually aspirational women? Join the Women and Mitzvot course at LSJS with Joanne Greenaway, Dr. Lindsay Simmonds, and Rabbanit Rachel Weber Leshaw by signing up here. [https://www.lsjs.ac.uk/wm] For full information about Hadran's #SukkahChallenge starting June 1st, click here: https://bit.ly/42LdZzK [https://bit.ly/42LdZzK] To register for the masechet #SukkahChallenge, click here: https://bit.ly/4drIXli [https://bit.ly/4drIXli] Read Law and Self-Knowledge in the Talmud by Dr. Ayelet Hoffmann-Libson. Order your copy [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Self-Knowledge-Talmud-Ayelet-Hoffmann-Libson/dp/1108427499] today. This LSJS podcast is powered by The Walder Foundation and a generous anonymous donor. Visit lsjs.ac.uk/learning [https://www.lsjs.ac.uk/learning] if you're looking to explore and strengthen your Jewish identity.