Midreshet Lindenbaum
Encyclopedia
Midreshet Lindenbaum originally named Michlelet Bruria, was one of the early leaders in the women's talmud study movement. Michlelet Bruria was founded in 1976 by Rabbi Chaim Brovender
, as the woman's component of Yeshivat Hamivtar
. At Bruria, as in a traditional men's yeshiva
, women studied in hevrutot (a traditional Jewish system of partner-based religious study) and learned Talmud
as well as advanced Tanach
.
In 1986, Bruria merged with Ohr Torah Stone Institutions and was renamed "Midreshet Lindenbaum" after Belda and Marcel Lindenbaum. It is currently located in Talpiot
, Jerusalem.
Midreshet Lindenbaum continues to be a leader in Jewish women's education. Many of the teachers at Matan, Nishmat
, Pardes and other women's and co-ed yeshivas have studied there at some point. One of their most notable students include Malka Binah, the founder of Matan
.
Midreshet Lindenbaum has also been a leader in developing women's role in rabbinical courts
in Israel
and in founding the first school dedicated to training women to serve as advocates in religious courts. known as to'anot in Hebrew. They also operate a legal aid center and hotline which has taken an active role in advocating for a resolution to the Agunah
problem (an agunah is a woman married according to Orthodox Jewish law who has been abandoned by her husband without receiving a Jewish divorce and as a result she may not remarry and is considered "chained" until such time as the husband delivers a kosher get divorce document.)
Midreshet Lindenbaum also runs a Torah study
program for the developmentally disabled
.
Chaim Brovender
Chaim Brovender is an Israeli Modern Orthodox and Religious Zionist rabbi. In October 2000, Brovender was beaten by Palestinian police while head of the Yeshivat Hamivtar yeshiva in the Israeli settlement of Efrat.-WebYeshiva:...
, as the woman's component of Yeshivat Hamivtar
Yeshivat HaMivtar
Yeshivat Torat Yosef - Hamivtar is a men's yeshiva located in Efrat in the West Bank. The Roshei Yeshiva are Rabbi Yonatan Rosensweig and Rabbi Shlomo Riskin. The institution is primarily focused on post college-aged students and is part of the Ohr Torah Stone educational institutions founded by...
. At Bruria, as in a traditional men's yeshiva
Yeshiva
Yeshiva is a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primarily the Talmud and Torah study. Study is usually done through daily shiurim and in study pairs called chavrutas...
, women studied in hevrutot (a traditional Jewish system of partner-based religious study) and learned Talmud
Talmud
The Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
as well as advanced Tanach
Tanakh
The Tanakh is a name used in Judaism for the canon of the Hebrew Bible. The Tanakh is also known as the Masoretic Text or the Miqra. The name is an acronym formed from the initial Hebrew letters of the Masoretic Text's three traditional subdivisions: The Torah , Nevi'im and Ketuvim —hence...
.
In 1986, Bruria merged with Ohr Torah Stone Institutions and was renamed "Midreshet Lindenbaum" after Belda and Marcel Lindenbaum. It is currently located in Talpiot
Talpiot
Talpiot , is a neighborhood in southeast Jerusalem, Israel, established in 1922 by Zionist pioneers.-Etymology:The name Talpiot derives from a verse in Song of Songs 4:4 – "Thy neck is like the tower of David, built with turrets." According to rabbinic sources, Talpiot refers to the Temple...
, Jerusalem.
Midreshet Lindenbaum continues to be a leader in Jewish women's education. Many of the teachers at Matan, Nishmat
Nishmat
Nishmat is a Jewish prayer that is recited following the Song of the Sea during Pesukei D'Zimrah but before Yishtabach on Shabbat and Yom Tov. It is also recited during the Passover seder in some traditions...
, Pardes and other women's and co-ed yeshivas have studied there at some point. One of their most notable students include Malka Binah, the founder of Matan
Matan
Mattan is a Hebrew name, mostly for boys, coming from the word 'gift' and literally means "giving". It is part of the title of the Jewish holiday of Shavuot that is also known as "Z'man Mattan Torah" meaning the "time [of the] giving [of the] Torah."...
.
Midreshet Lindenbaum has also been a leader in developing women's role in rabbinical courts
Beth din
A beth din, bet din, beit din or beis din is a rabbinical court of Judaism. In ancient times, it was the building block of the legal system in the Biblical Land of Israel...
in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
and in founding the first school dedicated to training women to serve as advocates in religious courts. known as to'anot in Hebrew. They also operate a legal aid center and hotline which has taken an active role in advocating for a resolution to the Agunah
Agunah
Agunah ; literally 'anchored or chained') is a halachic term for a Jewish woman who is "chained" to her marriage. The classic case of this, is a man who has left on a journey, and has not returned, or has gone into battle and is MIA...
problem (an agunah is a woman married according to Orthodox Jewish law who has been abandoned by her husband without receiving a Jewish divorce and as a result she may not remarry and is considered "chained" until such time as the husband delivers a kosher get divorce document.)
Midreshet Lindenbaum also runs a Torah study
Torah study
Torah study is the study by Jewish people of the Torah, Hebrew Bible, Talmud, responsa, rabbinic literature and similar works, all of which are Judaism's religious texts...
program for the developmentally disabled
Developmental disability
Developmental disability is a term used in the United States and Canada to describe lifelong disabilities attributable to mental or physical impairments, manifested prior to age 18. It is not synonymous with "developmental delay" which is often a consequence of a temporary illness or trauma during...
.
See also
- Jewish feminismJewish feminismJewish feminism is a movement that seeks to improve the religious, legal, and social status of women within Judaism and to open up new opportunities for religious experience and leadership for Jewish women...
- MidrashaMidrashaA refers to an institute of Jewish studies for women. In Israel, it is often an Orthodox institution that caters solely to women, and roughly the equivalent of a yeshiva for men. The term is often translated as 'seminary'. In the United States, the term has also been used to refer to...
- overview of higher Jewish learning institutions for women. - Role of women in JudaismRole of women in JudaismThe role of women in Judaism is determined by the Hebrew Bible, the Oral Law , by custom, and by non-religious cultural factors...
- discusses various views of woman's study, including HarediHaredi JudaismHaredi or Charedi/Chareidi Judaism is the most conservative form of Orthodox Judaism, often referred to as ultra-Orthodox. A follower of Haredi Judaism is called a Haredi ....
objections to Talmud study by women. - Torah studyTorah studyTorah study is the study by Jewish people of the Torah, Hebrew Bible, Talmud, responsa, rabbinic literature and similar works, all of which are Judaism's religious texts...
- discusses the mitzvahMitzvahThe primary meaning of the Hebrew word refers to precepts and commandments as commanded by God...
of learning.