It’s a topic that impacts the lives of frum women so profoundly, yet so many feel that they don’t know enough about it. Embarking on the journey towards motherhood can be full of a lot of questions, hesitations and doubts. There are lots of resources out there to help women prepare for pregnancy and childbirth both physically and emotionally. But what would it look like to prepare spiritually? How would gaining an understanding of Torah perspectives on women’s fertility change the experience of motherhood?
This winter, Batsheva Learning Center is rerunning its innovative Pru Urvu course, which opens the door to exploring the halachic and hashkafic sources that discuss the mitzvah of having children and its meaning for women.
Over the span of 10 weeks, this course will dive into fundamental questions such as:
● What are the halachic guidelines regarding the mitzvah of having children? Do women share in this obligation? Why or why not?
● How does halacha and hashkafa view the concept of a large family?
● Under what circumstances does halacha permit or even recommend delaying pregnancy? What methods of contraception align with halachic principles? ● What is the Torah’s perspective on pregnancy and infant loss?
The goal of the course is for women to learn the original Torah sources inside for themselves, so they can feel empowered to embrace motherhood with more confidence.
Each class is divided into chavrusa study sessions, where participants explore the texts with a partner, followed by a teacher-led review and discussion. Students will receive a sourcebook with the texts they’ll study and a workbook offering summaries, context, and thought-provoking questions to guide their learning.
“This course is beautifully put together,” said Mrs. Sara Morozow, a renowned teacher, speaker and kallah teacher who advised on the development of the course. “It gives women a deeper appreciation for the Rebbe’s perspective on Pru Urvu and a rich appreciation for the value of the mitzvah. I highly recommend taking this course.”
This year’s Pru Urvu course will run from mid-January to mid-March, offering online options on Wednesday evenings with Mrs. Yitty Gniwisch and Tuesday evenings with Mrs. Hadassah Shemtov. An in-person option will also be available in Los Angeles with Mrs. Shemtov.
This course is part of Batsheva Learning Center’s ongoing series of text-based halacha classes that focus on topics particularly relevant to women. Previous courses have explored subjects such as niddah, kisui rosh, and mitzvos asei shehazman grama.
Past participants have praised the transformative nature of these courses. Brochie, reflecting on her experience in last year’s Pru Urvu course, shared the shift she experienced as a result of this course. “I went from feeling a sense of rigidity around this mitzvah, to a profound sense of privilege. This mitzvah (of having children) became a source of connection to Hashem’s love.”
Another student, Rozie, described her experience like this: “The topic of women’s fertility somehow felt relevant to all of us whether we were single, married, with or without kids… we slowly built the bigger picture of how torah views femininity, and the true significance of bringing children into the world. I, as a newlywed, felt that this was the best prep I could do at the beginning of my marriage, since I learned such foundational ideas about the purpose of having children and how special it is.”
Women interested in joining the Pru Urvu course can find more information and register at www.batshevalearningcenter.com/courses. Registration closes on December 29.
(The course has been reviewed by a Chabad rov.)
