Graduates from 2025

History

Founded in 2009, Yeshivat Maharat is the first Orthodox institution to ordain women as clergy. Our milestones below mark significant moments in our journey.

Rabba Sara and R_Avi

2009

Maharat was founded as the first yeshiva to ordain women to serve as Orthodox clergy, following the ordination of Rabba Sara Hurwitz by Rabbi Avi Weiss and Rabbi Daniel Sperber.

First Graduating Class

2013

Maharat’s first three graduates from the Core Semikha program are ordained. The Advanced Kollel: Executive Ordination track launches in order to provide institutional support and semikha to women who are already Jewish leaders with many years of scholarship. ​

Beit Midrash Program

2019

The Beit Midrash program begins, offering a one-year immersive preparatory program for Core Semikha students. It has now educated over 70 students.

Tehila image 2 women learning

2024

Tehila: Ein Hanatziv-Maharat Advanced Semika, our Israel-based ordination program, begins and includes weekly in-person learning for women living in the north of Israel.

2025 Student Holding-klaf walking under banner

2025

We ordain our 100th graduate at Maharat’s 13th Annual Semikha Ceremony, and Maharat now has alumnae in eight countries throughout the world. The final Advanced Kollel class graduates, sunsetting after ordaining 41 women leaders.

Maharat is committed to elevating Orthodox women by educating the next generation of rabbis to be Torah-centric leaders grounded in Jewish law and sensitive and compassionate to the needs of today’s Jewish community.