May 7, 1999

NEW SYNAGOGUE BASED PROGRAM
HAS WOMEN RETURNING TO THE TEXTS

New York, NY: Synagogues used to be only places of prayer. These days, they are increasingly becoming centers of study. And not just for men, for women too. On Sunday, May 16, hundreds of women will attend graduate level classes in synagogues throughout Brooklyn, Queens and the Five Towns. Some of the topics they will be studying include "Debunking Myths About Orthodoxy’s View of Women," "Social and Personal Challenges in the Book of Ruth" and "To Believe and Not to Believe: A Study of the First Commandment."

Sponsored by the Orthodox Union (OU), the classes, which are under the auspices of leading Roshei Yeshiva at Yeshiva University, are part of a new synagogue based women’s program entitled Torah Seminars for Women. 

"Torah Seminars for Women has one aim: to help bring synagogues into the forefront of adult women’s education," said Frank Buchweitz, OU Director of Special Projects. "By offering one-day intensive learning programs in synagogues throughout the city, hopefully, we can create the nuclei for ongoing synagogue based learning programs for women. Our hope is that at least one synagogue in every major Jewish community will join this educational endeavor," he added. 

Over the past few months, the OU coordinated one-day learning programs in numerous communities including Jacksonville, Florida and Fairfield, Connecticut. 

Geared for women with advanced Jewish knowledge, the one-day programs, which are free of charge, include:

• "Social and Personal Challenges: Survival in the Book of Ruth," with Rebbetzin Rookie Billet, 9:30 a.m., Young Israel of Far Rockaway, 716 Beach 9th Street, Far Rockaway. 

• "To Believe and Not to Believe: A Study of the First Commandment," with Mrs. Michelle Levine and "Mothers-in-law, Daughters-in-law; the Book of Ruth," with Professor Smadar Rosensweig, 9:45-11:00 a.m., Young Israel of Forest Hills, 7100 Yellowstone Blvd., Forest Hills.

• "By Force and By Choice: the Dynamics of Sinai," Mrs. Esther Wein, 8:00 p.m., Young Israel of Holliswood, Holliswood Jewish Center, 86-25 Frances Lewis Blvd, Holliswood. 

• "Women’s Obligation to Study Torah," Ms. Leora Bednarsh, and "Debunking Myths About Orthodoxy’s View of Women," Mrs. Esther Wein, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., Flatbush Park Jewish Center, 6363 Avenue U, Brooklyn.

• "Beyond the Call of Duty: Jewish Concepts of Responsibility," Ms. Dina Rabhan, and "Sefirat Ha’Omer Odyssey: Perspectives on Shavuot," Dr. Chaya Rapp, 11:00 a.m.-1 p.m., Sephardic Orthodox Union Kol Israel Congregation, 2504 Avenue K in Brooklyn.

The outreach program is under the direction of the OU’s Torah Seminars for Women, an institute of advanced  Torah learning for women. For more information about any of these programs, please call (212) 613-8300.

The Orthodox Union, celebrating 100 years of service to the Jewish community of the United States and other countries, is a foremost leader in youth work, advocacy for the disabled, synagogue services, adult education and political action. Its kosher supervision label, the OU, is the world’s most recognized kosher symbol and can be found on over 200,000 products in 62 countries around the globe.

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