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AMidrasha (Hebrew:מדרשה;pl.:midrashot/midrashas), typically, is an institute ofTorah study for women of post-high-school age,[1]somewhat equivalent to a men'syeshiva; most are located inIsrael.The midrasha is also somewhat parallel to a "women'sseminary" (Hebrewסמינר "seminar", sometimes "seminaria"[2]), which functions in a similar form. While the terms may sometimes become interchangeable, "midrashot" are commonly linked toReligious Zionism, while the women's "seminaries" are usually associated withHaredi Judaism.
The term "midrasha" may sometimes be used to refer topluralistic Torah-institutions; and particularly in Israel, also referenced are a selection of secular (non-Torah)[2] institutions includingInformal education colleges and[2]field schools focused on nature and ecology.[2]To distinguish, then, the religious focused institutions may be termed "Midrasha Toranit" (Torah Midrasha) or "Midrasha l'Banot" (Girls' Midrasha).[1][3]
The word "midrasha" is based on the termbeit midrash, "house of study"; theroot דרש means "to seek [knowledge]",[4] and is then generalized to mean "expound". It iscognate with theArabic "madrasah," which also refers to a place of learning.
Amidrasha that offersdegree studies is sometimes titledmachon (מכון, institute) ormichlalah (מכללה, college).
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Haredi aligned seminaries, such asBeth Jacob Jerusalem andGateshead Jewish Academy for Girls, are modeled on theBais Yaakov movement'steacher-training seminary established bySarah Schenirer in 1923;today, "Beis Yaakov" will typically refer to high school, while "seminary" is a term used for a post-high school institution. Outside of Europe, theBeis Yaakov Seminary, Tel Aviv was founded in 1933, and Jerusalem'sBeis Yaakov Institute for Teachers in 1939; the first Seminary in the USA was established byVichna Kaplan inWilliamsburg, Brooklyn in 1941;Gateshead Seminary in theUK, was founded in 1944. TheRika Breuer Teachers Seminary – of theBreuers /Khal Adath Jeshurun community – was established in the 1960s and operated for over 40 years. Additionally, see:Bais Medrash L'Morim (orILBA), established in 1864 bySeligman Baer Bamberger; and"Yavneh", a women's seminary established in 1930 in association with theTelshe Yeshiva.
TheReligious Zionist andModern Orthodoxmidrashot began to be established in the late 1970s,[1] parallel to theHesder yeshivot;[5] these include theReligious Kibbutz Movement'sMidreshet Ein HaNetziv,Midreshet Lindenbaum, andMigdal Oz, sister school ofYeshivat Har Etzion. Precedent, are theMizrachi Teachers Training College, today'sLifshitz College of Education, which was established in Jerusalem in 1921; theTalpiot Bet Medrash for Teachers in 1937; andMachon Gold in 1958. Lindenbaum, in 1976, was the first established independent of a teacher's college.[5] The largest Midrasha is atBar-Ilan University, with 800 students in its various programs.[6]
Midrashot and seminaries vary in curriculum andhashkafah, or outlook.[7][8] All cover theTanakh (Bible),Jewish philosophy (often called"Machshavah"),practicalHalacha (Jewish law; "Halacha LeMaaseh"), andHasidic philosophy /Musar (character development);[2] topics inapplied Jewish ethics, such as the"laws of speech", are usually taught separately. TheJewish holidays are similarly often studied as a separate topic, "Ma'agal Hashana", in terms of both philosophy andHalacha; andTefillah, "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.[8]
In Israel, young women attendMidrasha for one year, either before or following theirSherut Leumi (national civic service); a second year is sometimes offered. Programs often emphasizeMachshavah, deepening their students' religious identity at this life-stage;[a] this may include specific study of the writings ofRav Kook, and/orTorat Eretz Yisrael in general. AtMidrashot, the treatment of the Tanakh andMachshavah, is typically text-focused, built aroundchavruta-based studyas at yeshivot.[8] This entails paired-study where assigned sources ("marei mekomot") are prepared for ashiur, a lecture delivered as a discursive-review. At some institutions, theTalmud is directly studied, as at men'syeshivot, if less intensively;[b] others treat Talmud similar to seminaries, as below. Regardless,Halachah will generally be studied withpractice in view, as opposed tothe yeshiva approach, where the derivation is from Talmudic sources throughcodification. AtMatan,Nishmat and Lindenbaum, the treatment is Talmud-based; see alsoDrisha Institute.[9]
Seminary programs usually span two years post high-school. Seminaries are typically more conservative intheir approach thanMidrashot: selections from the Talmud – usually the non-legalisticaggadah – may be studied, but only in the context of other classes, especially philosophy and Musar;[c] the onlysection of Talmud studied directly isPirkei Avot, comprising ethical teachingsand maxims. These institutions relatedly assign less weight to textual skills,[8] with content delivered primarily via lecture. As appropriate to the program in question, formalteacher training and certification is often provided.[10][11] Parallel to their academic content, most Seminaries also focus onthe role of women in Torah[8] (severalMidrashot similarly),[12] covering topics such as[10]Tzniut (modesty),Shalom Bayit ("domestic harmony") andChinuch (education of one's children), and preparing students for the role ofakeres habayis, or "household mainstay".[13][14] These classes often emphasize "values", as opposed to sources.[8][d]Hasidic-aligned institutions are positioned in line with the Seminaries; their curricula differ in that they emphasizethe works of their respectiveRebbe, and their exposure to text is often further limited. Note that someChabad-affiliated institutions, on the other hand, offer classes in Talmud and text-based Halacha.
Many diaspora-based women attendmidrasha or "sem" in Israel, for a year or two ("shana bet"[14]) following high school; severalmidrashot and seminaries offer specific programs here, for exampleShana Ba'aretz at Nishmat, or the "Overseas Program" atMidreshet HaRova. Additional to Torah study, as above, these programs often include an element ofyediat ha'aretz ("knowledge of the Land") comprisingtouring of Israel,Shabbatons in various communities, seminars with journalists and politicians, and typically[8] volunteer work in local schools and hospitals; often a trip to Poland is scheduled tomemorealize the Holocaust. Some institutions accommodatethe newly observant with similar year-programs, designed to build foundational knowledge and skills; well known areNeve Yerushalayim,Mayanot, andMachon Roni;Machon Chana is US based.
Most Haredi and Hasidic seminaries offer certificates, and sometimes degrees, in Education.[10][11]In Israel, the two year certificates are jointly through theSzold Institute, and are recognized by theIsrael Ministry of Education as equivalent to thenational matriculation.[15]Chabad's Beth Rivkah offers aB.A. andM.A. jointly with theShaanan Religious College of Education; "Beth Chanah", its affiliated program inTzfat and Jerusalem, offers a 2-year certificate.JCT's Lustig Campus inRamat Gan hosts degree programs for Haredi and Hasidic women; see alsoThe Haredi Campus – The Academic College Ono.
In the Religious Zionist community, women often continue their studies at one of the midrasha-affiliatedteacher training colleges, which offer an intensive Torah-program in conjunction with theB.Ed. degree; (master's level) specializations are often offered inTanakh orMachshavah.The year inMidrasha is sometimes integrated with the college program.[5]Bar-Ilan University operates amidrasha, and students in all disciplines may then continue Torah study in parallel with their academic studies (with a requirement of at least ten courses in Judaism[16][17]).Machon Tal,[12] associated with JCT, theJerusalem College of Technology, similarly offers degrees in engineering and management. Female faculty at Midrashot often holdDoctorates, usually from Bar-Ilan.
Most Seminaries andmidrashot for English-speaking students are accredited by American colleges;[14] (seeYeshiva § 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 OrthodoxStern College for Women (Yeshiva University) combines Torah and University studies, as at Bar-Ilan; the HarediLander College for Women similarly. Stern graduates often pursue Torah topics at the Masters level, through theBernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies.
In recent years[e] somemidrashot offer specialized programs in Halacha, comprising Talmud-intensive source study, with certifying examinations on the relevant sections ofcodified law in theShulchan Aruch. Nishmat trains women asYoatzot Halacha, advisors in the laws ofTahara, orFamily purity;[18] Lindenbaum, through a joint program,[19] prepares women asto'anot, advocates inreligious courts formatters relating to divorce.[20]Three programs mirrorthe Rabbinate'sordination requirement for men: Ein Hanetziv trains students as "Teachers of Halacha",[21] Lindenbaum in "Halachik leadership"[22] and Matan as "HalachikRespondents".[23] Yeshiva University's "GPATS",[24] offers women graduate-students aMaster's program in advanced Talmud and Halacha, such that they are "credentialed" for communal leadership roles.
As above, the term "midrasha" is sometimes used forpluralistic, as opposed toorthodox, institutions forTorah study. These are usually structured around continuing /adult education, and accept both men and women. Examples in Israel are theEin Prat Midrasha[25] and the Midrasha[26] at theOranim Academic College (see below re other programs there); elsewhere, theMelton School'sMidrasha inCape Town.[27] Other non-orthodox programs for women (usually egalitarian) include those at "Pardes", which offers various learning formats worldwide, andMechon Hadar aConservative-alignedbeth midrash in New York. Oranim, in partnership with theShalom Hartman Institute,[28] in fact offers apluralistic ordination to both men and women.[29]In theUnited States, the termMidrasha is relatedly used for programs where high school students can continue theirJewish education postbar /bat mitzvah.[30]
Within the Orthodox community, continuing-education programs for women, similar to these, are also commonly offered.Many (diaspora) synagogues host a "campus midrasha" or suchlike,[31] 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).[32]In Israel, popular offerings are those ofMatan[33] andEmunah,[34] whileMidreshet Afikim[35] is a program for high-school students;Mizrachi's "Lapidot" program,[36] among others, comprises weekly training for teachers in Mishna, Gemara and Halacha, andMachshava.TheLondon School of Jewish Studies' Women's Midrasha series[37] similarly provides regular text-based classes; otherUK based programs include "Ma'ayan",[38] emphasizingTahara, and "Bradfield",[39] preparing community educators and leaders.In South Africa, "Isha Bekia"[40] is a textual-skill centered program.
Various other institutions, as outlined, are also titled "Midrasha", here referring to their focus onseeking knowledge.''Eshkolot'' [he], an umbrella organization for regional educational tour centers focused on Jewish-Israeli identity awareness, operates "midrashot" aimed at knowledge of theLand of Israel.Midreshet Ben-Gurion – also known as Midreshet Sde Boker – is an educational center and boarding school in the south, offering nature-focused seminars and field trips.Beit Berl College's school of art is called "HaMidrasha".TheIsrael Institute for Advanced Studies' Advanced School inMathematics, is known as theMidrasha Mathematicae, and provides top-level lectures on recent developments and innovations in various mathematical topics.[41]
ReOranim Academic College of Education: Established in 1951 as Seminar Oranim, it was part of theKibbutz Movement and trained educators for every level, with a focus on kibbutz schools, and including for work withnew immigrants; since the mid-1990's it has been accredited as an academic college of education by theIsraeli "Council for Higher Education", expanding and partly refocusing its activities.[42] Oranim operates several programs called Midrasha. TheHaMidrasha educational center for the renewal of Jewish life in Israel was established in 1989 for non-orthodox Jewish Israelis and promotes an Israeli-Zionist approach to Jewish identity.[43]Midreshet Natur is a collaborativebeit midrash with religious and secular participants, andMadrassa/Midrasha pursues Arab–Jewish coexistence in theGalilee through education.[44]
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