United Synagogue to launch ambitious women’s learning programme

The United Synagogue is launching an ambitious advanced Torah programme for women.

The two-year programme, called Ma’aleh, (meaning to ascend) has been designed by the Chief Rabbi and will begin in October, catering for women looking to learn Torah at an advanced level.

The course will be taught by the outstanding educators Rabbanit Shani Taragin, Rebbetzen and Yoetzet Halacha Lauren Levin and Rabbanit and Yoetzet Halacha Rachel Weinstein.

It will give participants the opportunity to learn Tanach (the Hebrew Bible), Halacha (Jewish law), Gemara (the Talmud) and Jewish thought in depth, acquiring a solid grounding in all of these areas. In addition, the programme will include high-level leadership and pedagogic training.

The programme is open to applications from any woman who would like to study Torah at a high level. The United Synagogue’s partners on Ma’aleh are LSJS, Matan and Mizrachi.

The Chief Rabbi said: “The Ma’aleh advanced Torah learning programme represents the next exciting stage in our journey towards ensuring that our community can benefit from many more women who are accomplished leaders and role models.

“We have assembled a group of exceptional teachers from around the world to guide and inspire the first cohort of students and our hope is that this programme will help us to realise our collective ambition for a more inclusive and more learned community.”

Jo Grose, the United Synagogue’s Chief Executive, said: “We’re excited to launch this ambitious advanced Torah programme for women. Our vision is to enable more women to become leaders in and beyond our communities and Ma’aleh will, please God, help us deliver this.

“There is a thirst for high-level Torah teaching and learning in the UK and we are delighted to be able to respond to this demand with the launch of this programme, along with our partners LSJS, Matan and Mizrachi. Please don’t hesitate to be in touch to find out more and discuss if the programme is right for you.”

The programme will run for two evenings each week (one in person and one online), with six whole day Sunday seminars each year.

Applications are now open and full details are available via: www.theus.org.uk/Maaleh