About Midreshet HaRova

 

Institutional Overview:

Midreshet HaRova is one of Israel's leading seminaries, with more than half a dozen programs serving hundreds of women of all ages from a variety of backgrounds and nationalities.  Located in the heart of the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem's Old City, Midreshet HaRova enjoys an enrollment of over 1,000 students in total.

The Midrasha offers an ideal setting for mature and motivated women from Israel and around the globe to achieve spiritual and intellectual growth in a religious Zionist framework in a unique blend of intimate settings and programs combined with the resources of a large educational institution.

 

Overseas Program:

Founded in 1990, Midreshet HaRova's one-year post-high-school Overseas Program has been providing a high level religious Zionist educational experience for young women from the Diaspora for nearly two decades.  Located in the historic Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem’s Old City, the Midrasha offers an unparalleled atmosphere for a challenging Judaic Studies curriculum integrated with a complete Israel experience.  Students come from all over the Jewish world.

The type of student who is generally attracted to the Midrasha is a highly motivated young woman who is looking for an intensive, high-level program in a strongly Zionist environment.  The international character of the student body, including students from the United Kingdom, Canada, America, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Australia, South Africa, and Israel, attracts young women who are interested in interacting with people from different backgrounds and are seeking a less homogeneous atmosphere.  The open intellectual environment, combined with the wide variety of faculty is particularly attractive to the creative student interested in exploring a range of ideas and approaches.  Owing to the international nature of the students, classes are offered in English, French and Hebrew, with overseas students encouraged in participating, to the best of their ability, in classes taught in Hebrew.

Students are encouraged to experience Israel to the fullest.  Overseas students often share rooms with Israeli students, and participate with Israelis in activities including weekly chevrutot and field trips.  Programs focusing on current events and the political situation in Israel are a regular part of the informal education program, as well as an annual Masa to Poland, which serves as the focal point of the Midrasha’s Holocaust education program.

The accredited Educational Leadership program for overseas students encourages motivated students to combine their personal educational exploration with the necessary skills to lead others in learning in both formal and informal settings.   At the completion of the 10-month course of study, students receive a certificate of “Teacher for the Diaspora” from the Israeli Ministry of Education.

The full Midrasha program includes volunteer work in the broader community of Jerusalem, special tiyulim, shabbatot and seminars, and various other communal projects geared toward encouraging students participation in and understanding of the contemporary social web of Israeli society.

Midreshet HaRova strives to treat all students as individuals in an environment in which each student can maximize her potential.  While we hope that the values of Torah and Israel will be central to our students’ lives, we aim to teach them not what to think but rather how to think.

 

One Year Program for Israeli Students

Participants are generally post-high school, post sherut leumi Israeli students looking to enrich their learning and personal exploration experience within a Midrasha framework.  While the Israeli student program follows a different course schedule than that of the overseas program, interactions with overseas students include study sessions, weekend retreats and field trips in keeping with the Midrasha philosophy that integration between the overseas students and the local Israeli population is an essential part of all students' personal and religious development.

B.Ed. – Teacher Training.

Midreshet HaRova runs a teacher training course in conjunction with the Efrata Teacher's Training College in Jerusalem. This is a 3-4 years full academic course earning students a B.Ed and teacher's certificate recognized by the Ministry of Education.  Average enrollment is around the 150 mark.

Yom Limmud Nashim

Each Wednesday women from all over Israel come to the Old City of Jerusalem to enjoy a day's study in English or Hebrew with educational staff of Midreshet HaRova.  Over 500 women attend this day of study, choosing from a selection of courses and instructors.

Ahavat Torah Educator's Program

Experienced educators participate in Ministry of Education recognized enrichment studies taught at Midreshet HaRova.  Participants receive credits and benefits through the Ministry for participation.  Twenty teachers participate in the program.

Bat Mitzva Program

Mothers and daughters participate in classes and workshops enriching their sense of what it means to reach the age of Bat Mitzva and what being a Jewish woman is all about.  The Midrasha operates three cycle of the program per year.

Alumnae Programming

Israeli alumni can participate in weekly classes at the Midrasha.  American alumni are encouraged to attend programming and shabbatonim in North America when Midrasha staff travel overseas.

Ellul Learning Program

Each Ellul, the Midrasha presents a full program of classes for preparation for the High Holy Days.

Video Shiurim

Each week, the Midrasha Shiur Klali, delivered on Monday to the overseas student body, is recorded and made available online for students, past and present, to enjoy.