More than 300 Jewish women from Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania will gather in Baltimore tomorrow to reflect on what the Torah teaches about "Women as Architects of Peace," the theme of the second annual Women's Day of Torah, Inspiration and Growth.
The event, sponsored by the Upper Park Heights-based Women's Institute of Torah, will feature 22 workshops in three sessions that will explore ways of building peace in global politics, in local communities, in the home and in the person.
"It's a challenging time, and we're trying to deal with how to develop a sense of peace in these challenging times," said Rivkie Segal, director of the Women's Institute of Torah.
Individual sessions will tackle Torah texts that deal with peace, and will look to Jewish sages for their wisdom. A clinical social worker will address "Building a Home of Peace," and a spiritual writer will tell participants about "Living From Our Inner Core: The Profound Place of Peace."
Courses aimed at women are a growing niche in the expanding movement for adult Jewish education, and Baltimore's Women's Day of Torah seeks to capitalize on that trend.
"This kind of a program is at the forefront of Jewish education for women throughout the United States," said Rebecca Mark, a board member of the institute. "This is Jewish education on a fairly sophisticated level. It's not that women haven't learned - it's just as adult women, there are only so many opportunities.
"Women look forward to this opportunity as a change of pace in their busy lives," she said. "They run out of emotional steam, spiritual steam. It's a time to recharge their batteries."
The Women's Institute of Torah was founded 13 years ago as part of the Etz Chaim Center for Jewish Studies, a well-known Baltimore-based outreach organization. As the institute grew, it became independent and has its offices at Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion, an Orthodox synagogue on Park Heights Avenue.
The Women's Day of Torah will begin at 8:45 a.m. at the Wyndham Baltimore-Inner Harbor hotel, 101 W. Fayette St. General admission is $65 and half-day admission is $25. Information: 410-358-2545.