United Synagogue rebbetzen receives top halachic qualification

The community rebbetzen of Golders Green synagogue has become the first woman in the UK to hold both a doctorate in psychology and an advanced halachic qualification.

Rebbetzen Dr. Hadassah Fromson has qualified as a yoetzet halacha (“halachic advisor”) through Nishmat’s Miriam Glaubach Center, one of the highest-level female Jewish learning programmes in the world.

Nishmat, a school in Jerusalem for advanced Torah study for women, created the programme in response to the growing need for female halachic, or religious law, advisers.

Fromson spent the last three years studying and being tested on the Jewish laws specific to female health and family law, alongside pastoral training and practical experience.

She said: “As a yoetzet halacha I can help individuals navigate issues related to reproductive health, fertility, sexuality and halacha. I believe that our communities need empathetic, expert leaders who can deal sensitively with complex halachic issues. Our families need support with the challenging emotional and psychological pressures of contemporary society. And our children need to see that woman can strive for and achieve a depth and sophistication of Jewish learning.”

Rabbi Dr Harvey Belovski, senior rabbi of Golders Green Synagogue, said Fromson’s achievement “reflects years of intense study at the highest level and the development of superlative skills in a combination of technical, pastoral and practical areas.”

Jo Grose, the incoming Chief Executive of the United Synagogue, said it’s a “major step forward for the UK Jewish community” and that  “qualifications like Hadassah’s are an essential strand in our vision for female leadership and educators in our communities.”