Midrasha

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Midrasha (Hebrew: מדרשה‎; pl.: midrashot/midrashas) is a Hebrew term currently used for three types of educational institutions:[1]

  1. Torah study institutions for women of post-high-school age. Also called "seminaries".[1]
  2. Informal education colleges and institutions.[1]
  3. Israeli field schools focused on nature and ecology who hold seminars and organize field trips.[1]

The term is most commonly used for educational institutes for women involved in Torah study, usually located in Israel, but with examples elsewhere as well.

In the religious context, a midrasha is somewhat equivalent to the term yeshiva (for men). The midrasha is also somewhat parallel to a "women's seminary" (Hebrew סמינר‎ "seminar",[1] plural "seminaries" or sometimes "seminaria"), which functions in a similar form, though often associated with more traditionalist communities. While the terms may sometimes become interchangeable, "midrashot" are commonly linked to Religious Zionism, while the women's "seminaries" are usually associated with Haredi Judaism. Also, the term midrasha may sometimes be used to refer to pluralistic institutions.

Etymology; related terms

The word "midrasha" is based on the term

beit midrash, "house of study"; the root דרש means "to seek [knowledge]",[2] and is then generalized to mean "expound". It is cognate with the Arabic "madrasah
," which also refers to a place of learning.

A midrasha that offers degree studies is sometimes titled machon (מכון‎, institute) or michlalah (מכללה‎, college).

Religious

History

Founding Beit Yaakov Teachers' Seminary, Kraków, Poland, and plaque detail

Gateshead Seminary in the UK, was founded in 1944. The Rika Breuer Teachers Seminary – of the Breuers / Khal Adath Jeshurun community – was established in the 1960s and operated for over 40 years (see Bais Yaakov § History). Additionally, Bais Medrash L'Morim was established in 1864 by Seligman Baer Bamberger; and "Yavneh", a women's seminary established in 1930 in association with the Telshe Yeshiva
.

The

Midreshet Ein HaNetziv, Midreshet Lindenbaum, and Migdal Oz, sister school of Yeshivat Har Etzion. Precedent, are the Mizrachi Teachers Training College, today's Lifshitz College of Education, which was established in Jerusalem in 1921; the Talpiot Bet Medrash for Teachers in 1937; and Machon Gold in 1958. Lindenbaum, in 1976, was the first established independent of a teacher's college.[3] The largest Midrasha is at Bar-Ilan University, with 800 students in its various programs.[4]

Curriculum

Further information: Yeshiva § Curriculum

Midrashot and seminaries vary in curriculum and

Musar (character development);[1]
topics in
"laws of speech"
, are usually taught separately. The
Tefillah
, "prayer", is covered likewise. Depending on the institution's stance, the weight and role assigned to Talmud particularly, and in fact to textual-skills generally, will differ re men's yeshivot, and between schools.[6]

Midrashot

In Israel, young women attend Midrasha for one year, either before or following their

Halachah will generally be studied with practice in view, as opposed to the yeshiva approach, where the derivation is from Talmudic sources through codification. At Matan, Nishmat and Lindenbaum, the treatment is Talmud-based; see also Drisha Institute.[7]

Seminaries

Seminary programs usually span two years post high-school. Seminaries are typically more conservative in

Chinuch (education of one's children), and preparing students for the role of akeres habayis, or "household mainstay".[11][12] These classes often emphasize "values", as opposed to sources.[6][d] Hasidic-aligned institutions are positioned in line with the Seminaries; their curricula differ in that they emphasize the works of their respective Rebbe, and their exposure to text is often further limited. Note that some Chabad-affiliated institutions
, on the other hand, offer classes in Talmud and text-based Halacha.

Israel programs

Many diaspora-based women attend midrasha or "sem" in Israel, for a year or two ("shana bet"

Machon Roni; Machon Chana
is US based.

Certifications

Most Haredi and Hasidic seminaries offer certificates, and sometimes degrees, in Education.[8][9] In Israel, the two year certificates are jointly through the

Tzfat
and Jerusalem, offers a 2 year certificate.
The Haredi Campus – The Academic College Ono
.

In the Religious Zionist community, women often continue their studies at one of the midrasha-affiliated

B.Ed. degree; (master's level
) specializations are often offered in Tanakh or Machshavah. The year in Midrasha is sometimes integrated with the college program.
Machon Tal,[10] associated with JCT, the Jerusalem College of Technology, similarly offers degrees in engineering and management. Female faculty at Midrashot often hold Doctorates
, usually from Bar-Ilan.

Most Seminaries and midrashot for English-speaking students are accredited by American colleges;[12] (see Yeshiva § College credit). Some offer second-year programs with religious-studies classes in the morning and general-studies classes in the afternoons, allowing students to pursue a religious education with a college degree simultaneously. In the US, the Modern Orthodox

Lander College for Women similarly. Stern graduates often pursue Torah topics at the Masters level, through the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies
.

In recent years

religious courts for matters relating to divorce.[18]
Three programs mirror
ordination requirement for men: Ein Hanetziv trains students as "Teachers of Halacha",[19] Lindenbaum in "Halachik leadership"[20] and Matan as "Halachik Respondents".[21] Yeshiva University's "GPATS",[22] offers women graduate-students a Master's program
in advanced Talmud and Halacha, such that they are "credentialed" for communal leadership roles.

Other institutions

As above, the term "midrasha" is sometimes used for pluralistic, as opposed to orthodox, institutions for Torah study. These are usually structured around continuing / adult education, and accept both men and women. Examples in Israel are the Ein Prat Midrasha[23] and the Midrasha[24] at the Oranim Academic College; elsewhere, the Melton School's Midrasha in Cape Town.[25] Other non-orthodox programs for women (usually egalitarian) include those at "Pardes", which offers various learning formats worldwide, and Mechon Hadar a Conservative-aligned beth midrash in New York. Oranim, in partnership with the Shalom Hartman Institute,[26] in fact offers a pluralistic ordination to both men and women.[27]

Within the Orthodox community, continuing-education programs for women, similar to these, are also commonly offered.[28] In Israel, popular offerings are those of Matan[29] and Emunah,[30] while Midreshet Afikim[31] is a program for high-school students; Mizrachi's "Lapidot" program, [32] among others, comprises weekly training for teachers in Mishna, Gemara and Halacha, and Machshava. The London School of Jewish Studies' Women's Midrasha series[33] similarly provides regular text-based classes; other UK based programs include "Ma'ayan",[34] emphasizing Tahara, and "Bradfield",[35] preparing community educators and leaders. In South Africa, "Isha Bekia"[36] is a textual-skill centered program. Many diaspora synagogues host a "campus midrasha" or suchlike, [37] offering scheduled daily classes on various topics; many also host a "Community Kollel", which has a corresponding function, and offers adult education to both men and women (usually separately).

In the

bat mitzvah.[38]

Gallery

Midrashot
  • Dormitory accommodation – Midreshet Ein HaNatziv
    Dormitory accommodation – Midreshet Ein HaNatziv
  • Neve Yerushalayim
    Neve Yerushalayim
  • Yeshiva University Stern College for Women
    Yeshiva University Stern College for Women
  • Lander College for Women
    Lander College for Women
  • Chabad's Ohel Chana, Melbourne
    Chabad's Ohel Chana, Melbourne
  • Yavneh Seminary, Telz, Lithuania
    Yavneh Seminary, Telz, Lithuania
  • Chavruta-study, Midreshet Shilat [he] in the West Bank (Samaria)
    Chavruta-study, Midreshet Shilat [he] in the West Bank (Samaria
    )
  • Seminar Beit Yaakov, Haifa
    Seminar Beit Yaakov, Haifa
  • Lifshitz College of Education, Jerusalem (orig. Mizrachi Teachers Seminary)
    Lifshitz College of Education, Jerusalem (orig. Mizrachi Teachers Seminary)
  • Beth Jacob Jerusalem
    Beth Jacob Jerusalem
  • Machon HaGavoah LeTorah housing the Bar-Ilan University Midrasha
    Machon HaGavoah LeTorah housing the Bar-Ilan University Midrasha
  • Beit Midrash of Migdal Oz
    Beit Midrash of Migdal Oz

Jewish identity and Zionism

''Eshkolot'' [he], an umbrella organization for regional educational tour centers focused on Jewish-Israeli identity awareness, operates "midrashot" aimed at knowledge of the Land of Israel.

beit midrash with religious and secular participants, and Madrassa/Midrasha pursues Arab–Jewish coexistence in the Galilee through education.[41]

Secular

Midreshet Ben-Gurion – also known as Midreshet Sde Boker – is an educational center and boarding school in the south.

Beit Berl College's school of art is called "HaMidrasha".

See also

Religious views, education

Educational institutions

Woman ordination

Jewish identity & Zionism

  • Midrasha Zionit, international Jewish community of Russian-speaking Jews with Religious Zionist orientation and educational activities
  • Oranim Academic College: the HaMidrasha Educational Center for the Renewal of Jewish Life in Israel

Secular institutions

Arab and Islamic

  • Madrasa, inside Arab world: any type of educational institution; outside it: religious Islamic school

Notes

  1. ^ See the corresponding Hebrew article: He: מדרשה תורני לנשים
  2. ^ See Women in Judaism § Joseph Soloveitchik
  3. ^ See Bais Yaakov § Curriculum, Women in Judaism § Yisrael Meir Kagan
  4. ^ See Bais Yaakov § Educational approach.
  5. ^ For further discussion, see Women rabbis and Torah scholars § Orthodox Judaism.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Midrashot at science.co.il. Re-accessed 16 April 2024.
  2. ^ Lev. 10:16
  3. ^ a b c See the corresponding Hebrew article: He: מדרשה תורנית לנשים
  4. ^ “The Midrasha at Bar-Ilan University”
  5. ^ See the Yeshivot and Midrashot guide at toravoda.org.il
  6. ^ a b c d e f g A Modest Year in Israel: When Young Women go to “Seminary”. Lilith, 2014
  7. ^ drisha.co.il: "ישיבה לנשים המבקשות להעמיק ולגדול בתורה"
  8. ^ a b c For example, Seminary Bnos Chaim (Student Catalog)
  9. ^ a b For example, Bnos Zion of Bobov Seminary (Catalog)
  10. ^ a b מדרשת-טל, jct.ac.il
  11. ^ tiferesbaisyaakov.com
  12. ^ a b c See for example, Shana Bais Program, Havineini Bais Yaakov Seminary
  13. ^ discussion, theyeshivaworld.com
  14. ^ Midrasha, biu.ac.il
  15. ^ לימודי יסוד ביהדות, biu.ac.il
  16. ^ תוכנית להכשרת יועצות הלכה, nishmat.co.il
  17. ^ הכשרת טוענות רבניות
  18. ^ See the Hebrew Wikipedia article he: יד לאישה
  19. ^ מורות הלכה, midrasha.co.il
  20. ^ המכון-למנהיגות-הלכתית , lind.org.il
  21. ^ Hilkhata: a program for the advanced study of Halakha, matan.org.il
  22. ^ "Graduate Program in Advanced Talmudic Studies, yu.edu
  23. ^ Ein Prat Midrasha, beitprat.org
  24. ^ Midrasha at Oranim
  25. ^ Midrasha Adult Education Institute, meltoncapetown.org
  26. ^ Beit Midrash for Israeli Rabbis, hartman.org.il
  27. ^ רבנות ישראלית, oranim.ac.il
  28. Jerusalem Post
    , 2022)
  29. ^ Classes, matan.org.il
  30. ^ בתי-מדרש, emunah.org.il; with international branches: Midrashot, worldemunah.org
  31. ^ midreshetafikim.org
  32. ^ Lapidot, mizrachi.org
  33. ^ Midrasha courses, lsjs.ac.uk
  34. ^ "Ma’ayan" programme, chiefrabbi.org
  35. ^ The training course that gave Orthodox women a platform, thejc.com
  36. ^ Isha Bekia
  37. ^ For example, Beit Mordechai Campus Midrasha, yeshivamizrachi.org.za
  38. ^ Examples: Berkeley-Oakland Midrasha, Midrasha Hebrew High School; Contra Costa Midrasha
  39. ^ Oranim College: Who We Are, accessed 16 April 2024.
  40. ^ HaMidrasha: About Us, accessed 16 April 2024.
  41. ^ Oranim International: Staff, accessed 16 April 2024.
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