Beyond the Basics
Parsha

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Beyond the Basics Parsha is for you and the hundreds of women around the world who asked for the Torah portion - and its lessons - in clear, accessible language. All with the depth and relevance you love.

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Beyond the Basics Parsha is taught by Chaya Epstein. Class time 40 minutes, followed by Q&A.

Scroll down to hear previous Back to Basics episodes with Itty Kay, and Beyond the Basics episodes with Chaya Epstein.

“This class is like a vitamin. I take it every Thursday and it gives me the fuel I need to get me through the next week.”

“If you're looking for the real deal, this is it.”

“Love the insights. I jot them down and post them on my fridge at the end of every class.”

"I'm new to studying Torah so Back-to-Basics is exactly what I need.”

"Ha! I became the smartest person at the dinner table. Love getting the recap every Friday!"

Chaya Epstein2

CHAYA EPSTEIN has been one of our favorite Bais Chana teachers since she first taught women's sessions in the 90s. We're thrilled to have her join us again for Back-to-Basics Parsha!

Chaya and her husband have served as the Rebbe’s emissaries to Chicago since 1990. She is the Rebbetzin of Bais Menachem Nusach Ari, the Assistant Principal of Lubavitch Girls High School, and founder of Women to Women, an organization that runs women’s educational programs for the local Chicago community. Don't miss her understated scholarship and brilliance each week in Beyond the Basics.

Please support the development of new online classes like these by making a donation. You're helping women all over the world. Every amount helps! Thank you so much!

Back to Basics Classes 3.0: The Book of Bamidbar

Bais Chana Women International · Back To Basics Bamidbar - 6/2/2022 - What does this have to do with the holiday of Shavuot?

Bais Chana Women International · Back To Basics Naso - 6/9/2022 - A Torah portion full of miscellaneous?

Back to Basics Classes 3.0: The Book of Vayikra

Bais Chana Women International · Back To Basics Emor - 5/12/2022 - Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never harm me

Bais Chana Women International · Back To Basics Bechukotai - 5/26/2022 - What does it mean to "walk with G-d"?

Bais Chana Women International · Back To Basics Metzorah - 4/7/2022 - What could be more foreign and baffling to a 21st century mind?

Bais Chana Women International · Back To Basics Acharei Mot - 4/28/2022 - What's the source of the expression "scapegoat"?

Bais Chana Women International · Back To Basics Kedoshim - 5/5/2022 - There's the dictionary definition...and there's Torah's.

Bais Chana Women International · Back To Basics Vayikra - 3/10/2022 - Incense, bulls and consuming fires.

Bais Chana Women International · Back To Basics Shemini - 3/24/2022 - A whole new look at kosher

Bais Chana Women International · Back To Basics Tazria - 3/31/2022 - Isn't this degrading to women?

Back to Basics Classes 3.0: The Book of Shemos

Bais Chana Women International · Back To Basics Vayakhel - 2/24/2022 - The most important factor in the success of our mission

Bais Chana Women International · Back To Basics Pekudei - 3/3/2022 - Clothes make the man, they say. How so?

Bais Chana Women International · Back To Basics Terumah - 2/3/2022 - What would you give away if you had gone from rags to riches?

Bais Chana Women International · Back To Basics Tetzaveh - 2/10/2022 - How do you create sacred space?

Bais Chana Women International · Back To Basics Ki Tisa - 2/17/2022 - How could we?! After everything G-d's done for us?

Bais Chana Women International · Back To Basics Beshalach - 1/13/2022 - We're finally out of Egypt! But there's more...

Bais Chana Women International · Back To Basics Yisro - 1/20/2022 - Are you in the right state of mind?

Bais Chana Women International · Back To Basics Mishpatim - 1/27/2022 - Attn social justice warriors! This is what makes a difference

Bais Chana Women International · Back To Basics Shemot - 12/23/2021 - These are the qualities you need to lead.

Bais Chana Women International · Back To Basics Va'era - 12/26/2021 - Is freedom something you get or something you achieve?

Bais Chana Women International · Back To Basics Bo - 1/6/2022 - What did it take to leave Egypt?

Back to Basics Classes 3.0: The Book of Bereishis

Bais Chana Women International · Back To Basics! Mikeitz - 12/02/2021 - Are we just trying to survive? Or is there something more?

Bais Chana Women International · Back To Basics Vayigash - 12/09/2021 - Unfathomable forgiveness - what do you learn?

Bais Chana Women International · Back To Basics Vayechi - 12/16/2021 - It's a delicate topic we shouldn't avoid.

Bais Chana Women International · Back To Basics! Vayeitzei - 11/11/2021 - How do you do right when you're surrounded by dishonesty?

Bais Chana Women International · Back To Basics! Vayishlach - 11/18/2021 - We're not fighting bad angels..but we are fighting evil.

Bais Chana Women International · Back To Basics! Vayeishev - 11/25/2021 - What's Mashiach doing here??

Bais Chana Women International · Back To Basics! Vayeira - 10/21/2021 - What you can and can't achieve on your own.

Bais Chana Women International · Back To Basics! Chayei Sarah - 10/28/2021 - Will your life's mission live on?

Bais Chana Women International · Back To Basics! Toldot - 11/4/2021 - Why are these 2 sons treated so differently?

Bais Chana Women International · Back to Basics! Bereishit - 9/30/2021 - Creation, Adam & Eve, Love, Jealousy, Sin, Passion & Murder

Bais Chana Women International · Back To Basics! Noach - 10/7/2021 - Noach means rest but this parsha seems far from that!

Bais Chana Women International · Back To Basics! Lech Lecha - 10/14/2021 - What's actually joyful about this parsha?

Back to Basics Classes 2.0: The Book of Bamidbar

Bais Chana Women International · Back to Basics 2! 4.3 - Behaalosecha: How to be an INVINCIBLE Jew today: 3 failproof steps!

Bais Chana Women International · Back to Basics 2! 4.4 - Shelach: The tale of the spies: how we're not that different - but could be!

Bais Chana Women International · Back to Basics 2! 4.5 - Korach: What was REALLY at the heart of the controversy?

Bais Chana Women International · Back to Basics 2! 4.1 - Bamidbar + Shavuot: Desert? Counting? The secret of how we're still here!

Bais Chana Women International · Back to Basics 2! 4.2 - Naso: Is there unconditional Love? Birkat Kohanim - No strings attached!

Bais Chana Women International · BONUS TRACK: Back to Basics 2! 4.2b - Naso: The Hiding Wife: A fascinating discussion about the Sota

Back to Basics Classes 2.0: The Book of Vayikra

Bais Chana Women International · Back to Basics 2! 3.6 + 3.7 - Acharei-Kedoshim: More willpower isn't always the answer.

Bais Chana Women International · Back to Basics 2! 3.8 - Emor: Stick and Stones...? Wait 'til you hear what words can do!

Bais Chana Women International · Back to Basics 2! 3.1 - Vayikra: Does the Almighty, All Powerful G-d really need my cow??

Bais Chana Women International · Back to Basics 2! 3.3 Shemini: Are you a spiritual person?

Bais Chana Women International · Back to Basics 2! 3.4 + 3.5 Tazria-Metzora: It looks painful but.. it is the beginning of new life?

Back to Basics Classes 2.0: The Book of Shemos

Bais Chana Women International · Back to Basics 2! 2.7 Terumah: When the going gets excruciating, what do YOU hold onto?

Bais Chana Women International · Back to Basics 2! 2.9 Ki Tisah: The Golden Calf, How could We??? But really... How?

Bais Chana Women International · Back to Basics 2! 2.10-2.11 - Vayakheil + Pikudei: What did the women donate that only they could?

Bais Chana Women International · Back to Basics 2! 2.4 Beshalach: What to do when overwhelming enemies are on our heels??

Bais Chana Women International · Back to Basics 2! 2.5 Yisro: Start characters at the giving of the Torah.. and in Jewish leadership

Bais Chana Women International · Back to Basics 2! 2.6 Mishpatim: Someone steals - Enslave him! Is this Jewish compassion?

Bais Chana Women International · Basics + Infusion 2! 2.1 Parshas Shmos: Can I truly turn worry into trust? What's at stake?

Bais Chana Women International · Back to Basics 2! 2.2 Va'era: Blood, Frogs, Lice, Wild animals - What does it all mean?

Bais Chana Women International · Back to Basics 2! 2.3 Bo: When the night splits! Wild details of the tenth and final plague

Back to Basics Classes 2.0: The Book of Beraishis

Bais Chana Women International · [2] Back to Basics 2! Class 1.12b - VaYechi: "Binyamin... a preying wolf" [text and clarification]

Bais Chana Women International · Back to Basics 2! Class 1.9 - VaYeshev: How do rightous of men sell their own brother, Joseph?!

Bais Chana Women International · Back to Basics 2! Class 1.10 - Miketz: What do these dreams mean? Chanuka Bonus

Bais Chana Women International · Back to Basics 2! Class 1.11 - Vayigash: Need a good cry? The power of tears, the danger of tears..

Bais Chana Women International · [1] Back to Basics 2! Class 1.12 - VaYechi: "Binyamin... a preying wolf" What kind of blessing?!

Bais Chana Women International · Back to Basics 2! Class 1.5 - Chayei Sarah: The first Jewish matchmaking story!

Bais Chana Women International · Back to Basics 2! Class 1.6 - Toldos: The case of the stolen blessings

Bais Chana Women International · Back to Basics 2! Class 1.7 - Vayeitzei: Yaakov, Rachel and Leah - A Love story for the ages.

Bais Chana Women International · Back to Basics 2! Class 1.8 - Vayishlach: Leah's daughter, Dina, ventures out... Her great impact

Bais Chana Women International · Back to Basics 2! Class 1.1 - Bereishis: So many firsts!

Bais Chana Women International · Back to Basics 2! Class 1.2 - Noach: The flood, the aftermath, rising above and raising others

Bais Chana Women International · Back to Basics 2! Class 1.3 - Lech Lecha: Sarah - Queen of Egypt?!

Bais Chana Women International · Back to Basics 2! Class 1.4 - Vayeira: What kind of test is it to sacrifice one's beloved son?!

Back to Basics Classes

Bais Chana Women International · Back to Basics 5.11 - Vezos Haberacha: Moshe's final blesings and passing

Bais Chana Women International · Back to Basics 5.7 - Ki Tavo with Chani Zirkind

Bais Chana Women International · Back to Basics 5.8, 5.9 - Nitzavim and Vayelech: When to stand, when to go

Bais Chana Women International · Back to Basics 5.10a - Rosh Hashana: The Cry of the Shofar

Bais Chana Women International · Back to Basics 5.10b - Ha'azinu with Chani Zirkind

Bais Chana Women International · Back to Basics 5.1 - Devarim and Chazon: The Torah and the Third Redemption, making them personal

Bais Chana Women International · Back to Basics 5.3 - Eikev

Bais Chana Women International · Back to Basics 5.4 - Re'ei: Look! I present before you today a blessing and a curse...

Bais Chana Women International · Back to Basics 5.5 - Shoftim + Elul: 4 kinds of Jewish leaders + The reason a Jew is not afraid

Bais Chana Women International · Back to Basics 4.4 - Shelach: The hidden good of the spies

Bais Chana Women International · Back to Basics 4.5 - Korach: Equality that divides and Divisions that Unite

Bais Chana Women International · Back to Basics 4.6, 4.7 - Chukas and Balak with Chanie Zirkind

Bais Chana Women International · Back to Basics 4.9, 4.10 - Matos and Maasei: G-d conspiring for your success!

Bais Chana Women International · Back to Basics 4.1 - Bamidbar: Counting and being counted

Bais Chana Women International · Back to Basics 4.2 - Naso: Sotah, Nazir, Teshuva

Bais Chana Women International · Back to Basics 4.2b - Naso: Obligations vs rights, gifts of the Nesiim

Bais Chana Women International · Back to Basics 4.3 - Beha'alosecha: Settling in and Setting up even if just for one day

Bais Chana Women International · Back to Basics 3.3 - Shemini: Signs of a Kosher Animal: Keeping our animal in check

Bais Chana Women International · Back to Basics 3.4, 3.5 - Tazriah and Metzorah: Laws of childbirth and ritual purity and impurity

Bais Chana Women International · Back to Basics 3.6, 3.7 - Acharei-Kedoshim: The holiest of holy places in Judaism

Bais Chana Women International · Back to Basics 3.8 - Emor: The Jewish holidays, our water wells in the desert