2008 Woodie Awards
Midreshet Yom Rishon
Yeshiva Launches Sunday Morning Program For Women
Alan Kleinerman
Issue date: 3/8/05 Section: News
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Beginning on February 6, women of all ages from New York and New Jersey arrived at the Schottenstein Center at Yeshiva's Wilf Campus in Washington Heights to inaugurate the newest program of the Max Stern Division of Communal Services, Midreshet Yom Rishon. The day started with a breakfast cordially sponsored by Revaya, and followed with a morning of intensive study for women. Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Herschel Schachter launched the program with the first shiur of the morning, a discussion on the topic of the laws of Shabbat as they pertain to time differences between Israel and the United States. Following Rabbi Schachter was Dr. Michelle Levine, assistant professor of Bible at Stern College for Women, who explored the creation of woman as described in the Book of Genesis. The opening event attracted over 170 women.
Midreshet Yom Rishon was created in light of the colossal success of its counterpart for men, Kollel Yom Rishon. "Midreshet Yom Rishon was originally created as a response to the popularity of the Kollel," MSDCS Program Coordinator Robert Shur.
After watching the program develop over the last few weeks though, he acknowledges that, "the original crowd was much more then we expected. It started out with a large number of women, but has continued growing and the attendance has reached over two hundred."
With an ever-expanding curriculum, and the seemingly endless sea of educational resources afforded by Yeshiva, Midreshet Yom Rishon is a program that can truly be called unique. It is the only one of its kind, providing women and girls of all ages and backgrounds the opportunity to study torah and discuss pertinent halakhic issues with esteemed rabbis, as well as respected female scholars. More importantly, the program takes place at a time that is convenient enough for such a large group to be able to attend. Sunday mornings are a most agreeable time for such an endeavor, providing a more relaxed atmosphere to aid attentiveness, and giving participants the opportunity to start the week off on a high spiritual note.
Midreshet Yom Rishon was created in light of the colossal success of its counterpart for men, Kollel Yom Rishon. "Midreshet Yom Rishon was originally created as a response to the popularity of the Kollel," MSDCS Program Coordinator Robert Shur.
After watching the program develop over the last few weeks though, he acknowledges that, "the original crowd was much more then we expected. It started out with a large number of women, but has continued growing and the attendance has reached over two hundred."
With an ever-expanding curriculum, and the seemingly endless sea of educational resources afforded by Yeshiva, Midreshet Yom Rishon is a program that can truly be called unique. It is the only one of its kind, providing women and girls of all ages and backgrounds the opportunity to study torah and discuss pertinent halakhic issues with esteemed rabbis, as well as respected female scholars. More importantly, the program takes place at a time that is convenient enough for such a large group to be able to attend. Sunday mornings are a most agreeable time for such an endeavor, providing a more relaxed atmosphere to aid attentiveness, and giving participants the opportunity to start the week off on a high spiritual note.