Yeshivat Maharat is a
Jewish
Jews ( he, יְהוּדִים, , ) or Jewish people are an ethnoreligious group and nation originating from the Israelites Israelite origins and kingdom: "The first act in the long drama of Jewish history is the age of the Israelites""The ...
educational institution
An educational institution is a place where people of different ages gain an education, including preschools, childcare, primary-elementary schools, secondary-high schools, and universities. They provide a large variety of learning environments a ...
in
The Bronx
The Bronx () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Bronx County, in the state of New York. It is south of Westchester County; north and east of the New York City borough of Manhattan, across the Harlem River; and north of the New Yo ...
,
New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
New York may also refer to:
Film and television
* ...
, which was the first
Open Orthodox
Open Orthodoxy is a Jewish religious movement with increased emphasis on intellectual openness and a more expansive role for women. The term was coined in 1997 by Avi Weiss, who views ''halakha'' (Jewish law) as permitting more flexibility than t ...
yeshiva
A yeshiva (; he, ישיבה, , sitting; pl. , or ) is a traditional Jewish education, Jewish educational institution focused on the study of Rabbinic literature, primarily the Talmud and halacha (Jewish law), while Torah and Jewish p ...
in
North America
North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the C ...
to
ordain women. The word ''Maharat'' () is a
Hebrew
Hebrew (; ; ) is a Northwest Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Historically, it is one of the spoken languages of the Israelites and their longest-surviving descendants, the Jews and Samaritans. It was largely preserved ...
acronym for phrase ''manhiga hilkhatit rukhanit Toranit'' (), denoting a female "leader of
Jewish law
''Halakha'' (; he, הֲלָכָה, ), also transliterated as ''halacha'', ''halakhah'', and ''halocho'' ( ), is the collective body of Jewish religious laws which is derived from the written and Oral Torah. Halakha is based on biblical commandm ...
spirituality and
Torah
The Torah (; hbo, ''Tōrā'', "Instruction", "Teaching" or "Law") is the compilation of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, namely the books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. In that sense, Torah means the ...
".
Semikha
Semikhah ( he, סמיכה) is the traditional Jewish name for rabbinic ordination.
The original ''semikhah'' was the formal "transmission of authority" from Moses through the generations. This form of ''semikhah'' ceased between 360 and 425 ...
and the title of Maharat are awarded to graduates after a 3- or 4-year-long program composed of intensive studies of Jewish law,
Talmud
The Talmud (; he, , Talmūḏ) is the central text of Rabbinic Judaism and the primary source of Jewish religious law (''halakha'') and Jewish theology. Until the advent of modernity, in nearly all Jewish communities, the Talmud was the center ...
,
Torah
The Torah (; hbo, ''Tōrā'', "Instruction", "Teaching" or "Law") is the compilation of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, namely the books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. In that sense, Torah means the ...
, Jewish thought,
leadership
Leadership, both as a research area and as a practical skill, encompasses the ability of an individual, group or organization to "lead", influence or guide other individuals, teams, or entire organizations. The word "leadership" often gets view ...
training, and
pastoral counseling Pastoral counseling is a branch of counseling in which psychologically trained ministers, rabbis
A rabbi () is a spiritual leader or religious teacher in Judaism. One becomes a rabbi by being ordained by another rabbi – known as ''semikha ...
. The ordination functions as a credentialed pathway for women in the Jewish community to serve as clergy members.
History
In 2009, Rabbi
Avi Weiss and Rabbi
Daniel Sperber
Daniel Sperber (Hebrew: דניאל שפרבר) is a British-born Israeli academic and centrist orthodox rabbi. He is a professor of Talmud at Bar-Ilan University in Israel, and an expert in classical philology, history of Jewish customs, Jewi ...
ordained Rabba
Sara Hurwitz
Sara Hurwitz is an Open Orthodox Jewish spiritual leader. She is considered by some to be the first female Orthodox rabbi. She serves as "Rabba" at the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale, and the president and co-founder of Yeshivat Maharat, both in ...
. She was the first woman to receive Open Orthodox
semikha
Semikhah ( he, סמיכה) is the traditional Jewish name for rabbinic ordination.
The original ''semikhah'' was the formal "transmission of authority" from Moses through the generations. This form of ''semikhah'' ceased between 360 and 425 ...
. That same year, Hurwitz and Weiss founded Yeshivat Maharat as an Open Orthodox
yeshiva
A yeshiva (; he, ישיבה, , sitting; pl. , or ) is a traditional Jewish education, Jewish educational institution focused on the study of Rabbinic literature, primarily the Talmud and halacha (Jewish law), while Torah and Jewish p ...
(religious school) for women in New York, with Hurwitz as President. Four years later, the first three gradates received ordination and went on to take Orthodox leadership positions in Montreal and Washington, D.C. By 2021, 48 women had graduated from Yeshivat Maharat, and gone on to serve in clergy roles in Open Orthodox synagogues, schools, hospitals, universities, and Jewish communal institutions.
In 2015,
Lila Kagedan
Lila Kagedan ( years old) is a Canadian-born Jewish rabbi who in 2016 became the first woman with the title rabbi to be hired by an Orthodox synagogue. This occurred when Mount Freedom Jewish Center in New Jersey, which is open Modern Orthodox, h ...
became the organization's first graduate to adopt the title ''Rabbi'' (רבי). Other graduates of Maharat have adopted titles such as ''Maharat'','' Rabba'' (רבה, a neologism), and ''Rabbanit'' (רבנית, traditionally denoting a
rabbi's wife).
Response from the American Orthodox rabbinate
In 2015, the
Rabbinical Council of America
The Rabbinical Council of America (RCA) is one of the world's largest organizations of Orthodox rabbis; it is affiliated with The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, more commonly known as the Orthodox Union (OU). It is the main pr ...
passed a resolution stating that "RCA members with positions in Orthodox institutions may not ordain women into the Orthodox rabbinate, regardless of the title used; or hire or ratify the hiring of a woman into a rabbinic position at an Orthodox institution; or allow a title implying rabbinic ordination to be used by a teacher of Limudei Kodesh in an Orthodox institution." That same year,
Agudath Israel of America
Agudath Israel of America ( he, אגודת ישראל באמריקה) (also called Agudah) is an American organization that represents Haredi Orthodox Jews. It is loosely affiliated with the international World Agudath Israel. Agudah seeks to ...
denounced moves to ordain women, and went even further, declaring Yeshivat Maharat, Open Orthodoxy,
Yeshivat Chovevei Torah
Yeshivat Chovevei Torah Rabbinical School (YCT) is an Open Orthodox yeshiva, founded in 1999 by Rabbi Avi Weiss.
Currently located in the Riverdale neighborhood of the Bronx, New York, its mission is to educate and place rabbis who are "open, ...
, and other affiliated entities to be similar to other dissident movements throughout Jewish history in having rejected basic tenets of Judaism.
Avi Weiss has continuously tried to advocate for the right for female clergy to use the rabbi title. In protest of those denying this right to women, Weiss resigned from the
Rabbinical Council of America
The Rabbinical Council of America (RCA) is one of the world's largest organizations of Orthodox rabbis; it is affiliated with The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, more commonly known as the Orthodox Union (OU). It is the main pr ...
.. Rabbi
Asher Lopatin
Asher Lopatin (born September 1, 1964) is the executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council/AJC, a nonprofit Jewish community organization in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. He is an American Modern Orthodox rabbi and leader of Kehillat ...
also resigned in protest of the RCA resolution. Rabbi Seth Farber, an RCA member, called the RCA’s resolution a “PR stunt by the right-wing membership of the RCA in order to further deepen the dividing lines among orthodoxy,” and said that he believed the RCA leadership did not support the resolution.
Academics
The rabbinical students are divided into two tracks following a year of ''mekhina'' (preparation) through the ''Beit Midrash'' Program:
* Core ''Semikha'' Program
* Advanced ''Kollel'': Executive Ordination Track
Partnership programs outside of semikha include the Joint Educators Program with
Pardes for preparing day school or experimental educators, Mind the Gap with
Yeshivat Chovevei Torah
Yeshivat Chovevei Torah Rabbinical School (YCT) is an Open Orthodox yeshiva, founded in 1999 by Rabbi Avi Weiss.
Currently located in the Riverdale neighborhood of the Bronx, New York, its mission is to educate and place rabbis who are "open, ...
to prepare for communal roles and the Meorot fellowship with Yeshivat Chovevei Torah and
Hillel International
Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life, also known as Hillel International or Hillel, is the largest Jewish campus organization in the world, working with thousands of college students globally. Hillel is represented at more than 550 colle ...
.
History of Orthodox Women Rabbis
The word "Maharat" comes from the four core values of the institution, decided upon at the
semikhah
Semikhah ( he, סמיכה) is the traditional Jewish name for rabbinic ordination.
The original ''semikhah'' was the formal "transmission of authority" from Moses through the generations. This form of ''semikhah'' ceased between 360 and 425 C ...
(originally called "the conferral") of Rabba Sara Hurwitz. Hurwitz, whose title changed several months into her service at the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale, landed on her first title after discussions with
Blu Greenberg Blu Greenberg (born January 21, 1936, in Seattle, with the name Bluma Genauer, later legally changing her first name to Blu) is an American writer specializing in modern Judaism and women's issues. Her most noted books are ''On Women and Judaism: A ...
who had previously published a now-famous article titled “Will There Be Orthodox Women Rabbis?” (1984). Later, in 2010, Hurwitz and Weiss changed her title to "Rabba" when it became clear that many people did not understand the title.
In response to the controversy, many articles were written in support of women taking Judaic positions of leadership. The authors include Rabbi Dr.
Daniel Sperber
Daniel Sperber (Hebrew: דניאל שפרבר) is a British-born Israeli academic and centrist orthodox rabbi. He is a professor of Talmud at Bar-Ilan University in Israel, and an expert in classical philology, history of Jewish customs, Jewi ...
, Rabbi Dr.
Yoel Bin-Nun
Yoel Bin-Nun (Hebrew: יואל בן נון; born May 9, 1946, 8 Iyar 5766) is an Israeli religious Zionist rabbi and one of the founders of Yeshivat Har Etzion, Gush Emunim, Michlelet Herzog and the settlements of Alon Shevut and Ofra. He is a ...
, and Rabbi
Nahum Rabinovitch
Nachum Eliezer Rabinovitch ( he, נַחוּם אֱלִיעֶזֶר רָבִּינוֹבִיץּ׳; 30 April 1928 – 6 May 2020), born Norman Louis Rabinovitch, was a Canadian-Israeli Religious Zionist rabbi and ''posek''. He headed the London ...
among others.
Publications
Students have been published in th
Keren Journal The Times of Israel
''The Times of Israel'' is an Israeli multi-language online newspaper that was launched in 2012. It was co-founded by Israeli journalist David Horovitz, who is also the founding editor, and American billionaire investor Seth Klarman. ,
BBC Sounds
BBC Sounds is a walled garden streaming media and audio download service from the BBC that includes live radio broadcasts, audio on demand, and podcasts. The service is available on a wide range of devices, including mobile phones and tablet ...
,
Tablet Magazine
''Tablet'' is an online magazine focused on Jewish news and culture. The magazine was founded in 2009 and is supported by the Nextbook foundation. Its editor-in-chief is Alana Newhouse.
History
''Tablet'' was founded in 2009 with the supp ...
,
The Wall Street Journal
''The Wall Street Journal'' is an American business-focused, international daily newspaper based in New York City, with international editions also available in Chinese and Japanese. The ''Journal'', along with its Asian editions, is published ...
and many more newspapers and journals, religious and secular.
See also
*
Beit Midrash Har'el
*
*
*
Midrasha
A ' (Hebrew: , pl. ') is an institute of Torah study for women, usually in Israel, and roughly the equivalent of a yeshiva for men.
A " seminary" (Hebrew ''seminar'', sometimes ''seminaria'') / Seminary -
Orthodox
Orthodox, Orthodoxy, or Orthodoxism may refer to:
Religion
* Orthodoxy, adherence to accepted norms, more specifically adherence to creeds, especially within Christianity and Judaism, but also less commonly in non-Abrahamic religions like Neo-pa ...
institution for women's Torah study
* Midrashot offering certifications in Rabbinic-level Halacha:
**
Matan Women's Institute for Torah Studies
**
Midreshet Lindenbaum
**
Midreshet Ein HaNetziv
Ein HaNetziv ( he, עֵין הַנְּצִי"ב, ''lit.'' Spring of the Netziv) is a kibbutz in the Beit She'an Valley in northern Israel. Belonging to the Religious Kibbutz Movement, it is located about three kilometers south of the ancient city o ...
*
WebYeshiva - advanced course-based Torah study for men and women, including the 3 year
"Halacha Mastery Program"
*
Women in Judaism
The role of women in Judaism is determined by the Hebrew Bible, the Oral Law (the corpus of rabbinic literature), by custom, and by cultural factors. Although the Hebrew Bible and rabbinic literature mention various female role models, relig ...
and esp.
#Views on the education of women
*
Women rabbis
Women rabbis are individual Jewish women who have studied Jewish Law and received rabbinical ordination. Women rabbis are prominent in Progressive Jewish denominations, however, the subject of women rabbis in Orthodox Judaism is more complex. Alt ...
*
*
Yeshivat Chovevei Torah
Yeshivat Chovevei Torah Rabbinical School (YCT) is an Open Orthodox yeshiva, founded in 1999 by Rabbi Avi Weiss.
Currently located in the Riverdale neighborhood of the Bronx, New York, its mission is to educate and place rabbis who are "open, ...
- the Open Orthodox men's Yeshiva
References
External links
Yeshivat Maharat Semikha Program
{{Authority control
Women rabbis
Female religious leaders
Orthodox Jewish feminism
Open Orthodox Judaism
Orthodox yeshivas in New York City
Jewish women's organizations
Jews and Judaism in the Bronx