Yeshivat Maharat
Organization·academic·AI Enriched
Relationships:1
Events:5
Library:3
Confidence:
95%
Key Facts
Type
Organization
Sector
academic
Industry
Not specified
Status
Draft
Country
United States
Headquarters
{"address":"3700 Henry Hudson Parkway, Bronx, NY 10463, United States","confidence":1}
Founded
1/1/2009
Dissolved
Active
Phone
+1-718-796-****
Also Known As
Yeshivat Maharat Inc.Maharat
Tags
Orthodox JudaismOpen OrthodoxyWomen Clergy OrdinationYeshivaReligious Education
Overall Confidence
95%
Internal Notes
No notes
Key Information
Leadership
Rabba Sara Hurwitz
President and Co-Founder
2009 - Present
Rabbi Jeffrey Fox
Rosh HaYeshiva and Dean of Faculty
- Present
Liz Offenbach
Executive Vice President
- Present
Rabbanit Dr. Liz Shayne
Dean of Academics
- Present
Dr. Esther Altmann
Director of Pastoral Education
- Present
Rabba Wendy Amsellem
Director of Beit Midrash Program and Halakha Faculty
- Present
Liba Berger
Director of Recruitment and Admissions
- Present
Maya Bernstein
Director of Leadership Education
- Present
Aaron Billig
Director of Finance and Administration
- Present
Rabbanit Avital Engelberg
Director of Maharat BaAretz and Tehila
- Present
Rabbi Dr. Erin Leib Smokler
Director of Spiritual Development
- Present
Dr. Rachel Rosenthal
Director of Learning Initiatives
- Present
Rachel Zorbaron
Director of Alumnae and Community Engagement
- Present
Amanda Shechter
Director of Foundation and Donor Relations
- Present
Rabbanit Dr. Daniel Sperber
Posek Emeritus
- Present
Ariel Groveman Weiner
Board Chair
- Present
Daniela Bellows Schreiber
Board Member
- Present
Deborah Berkowitz
Board Member
- Present
Rabba Abby Brown Scheier
Board Member
- Present
Rabbi Ethan Daniel Davidson
Board Member
- Present
Rabbanit Tamar Green Eisenstat
Board Member
- Present
Leah Krakinowski
Board Member
- Present
Chani Laufer
Board Member
- Present
Adina Poupko
Board Member
- Present
Rabba Daniella Pressner
Board Member
- Present
Erica Schwartz
Board Member
- Present
Robyn Shapiro
Board Member
- Present
Chanchkie Slavin
Student Representative
- Present
Rabbi Dr. Daniel Smokler
Board Member
- Present
Zelda R. Stern
Board Member
- Present
Abigail Tambor
Board Member
- Present
Dr. Chaim Trachtman
Board Member
- Present
Jeffery Wechselblatt
Board Member
- Present
Positions
No positions added
About
Pioneering Orthodox yeshiva founded in 2009 by Rabbi Avi Weiss and Rabba Sara Hurwitz as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit to train and ordain women as Maharats (manhiga hilkhatit rukhanit Toranit: spiritual leaders in Jewish law, Torah, and guidance). Offers a four-year semikha program covering Talmud, halakha, Torah, Jewish thought, pastoral counseling, and leadership. By 2025, has ordained 100 women serving as clergy in Orthodox synagogues, schools, hospitals, universities, and communal organizations worldwide. Notable milestones: first three graduates ordained circa 2013; Lila Kagedan first to use 'Rabbi' title (2015). Operates a branch in Israel (Maharat BaAretz).
Key Relationships
Avi Weiss
founded
In 2009, Weiss announced the opening of Yeshivat Maharat, a school to train women for religious leadership. He created the title 'Maharat' (an acronym) for its graduates. The school represents Weiss's most significant institutional challenge to Orthodox gender norms.
Since 2009
Recent Events
Ordained 100 women
By 2025, has ordained 100 women serving as clergy in Orthodox synagogues, schools, hospitals, universities, and communal organizations worldwide
1/1/2025
Lila Kagedan first to use 'Rabbi' title
Lila Kagedan first to use 'Rabbi' title
1/1/2015
First three graduates ordained
First three graduates ordained circa 2013
1/1/2013
Appointed President and Co-Founder of Yeshivat Maharat
Rabba Sara Hurwitz became President and Co-Founder of Yeshivat Maharat
1/1/2009
Founded Yeshivat Maharat
Pioneering Orthodox yeshiva founded by Rabbi Avi Weiss and Rabba Sara Hurwitz as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit to train and ordain women as Maharats
1/1/2009