Nishmat’s groundbreaking Yoatzot Halacha program is among the leading halachic studies programs for women today. Nishmat’s flagship program is the Keren Ariel Yoatzot Halacha Fellows Program at Nishmat’s center in Jerusalem, and it is joined by Nishmat’s Miriam Glaubach Center U.S. Yoatzot Halacha Fellows Program in the United States and the Montefiore-Nishmat UK Yoatzot Halacha Programme in London. Each program extends over two years and provides in-depth study of hilchot niddah under the mentorship of outstanding scholars and poskim, as well as a full curriculum dedicated to women’s health and other fields related to the observance of Taharat HaMishpacha. Only Nishmat, under Rabbanit Henkin’s vision and with Rav Henkin ztz”l’s broad halachic shoulders, could create a rabbinic consensus around women’s leadership in this sensitive area.
Applicants are selected on the basis of their religious commitment, Torah scholarship, fluency in original halachic texts, and demonstrated leadership potential.
Students study the original sources of the laws of Taharat HaMishpacha, including the Talmudic sources and commentaries, the major halachic codes, and responsa literature. Weekly shiurim by our Rabbanim as well as Keren Ariel Director Rabbanit Noa Lau in our Jerusalem program, are supplemented by classes with prominent poskim. Rabbinic authorities are accessible to answer and discuss questions. In addition, a panel of visiting specialists and professionals teach classes and seminars on gynecology, fertility, women’s health, mental health, sexuality, psychology and counseling.
Throughout the course of study, each fellow must pass detailed written exams. At the end of the two-year program, the candidate is tested orally on the entire halachic subject matter by four leading rabbinic examiners. Upon passing this stage, each woman completes a training program to acquire practical tools for offering halachic counsel. At this point, the candidate becomes a certified Yoetzet Halacha.
Nishmat is committed to developing opportunities for the Yoatzot Halacha. Some graduates are employed by Nishmat’s Golda Koschitzky Women’s Halachic Hotline, which responds to tens of thousands of halachic inquiries each year. Nishmat also employs Yoatzot Halacha on Yoatzot.org to answer questions in English, Hebrew, French, and Spanish. In addition, Yoatzot Halacha are engaged in research and writing, both under the auspices of the Nishmat HaBayit Research Institute, and in leading Jewish journals. Many communities in North America now employ Yoatzot Halacha to serve the needs of their membership. In Israel and worldwide, Yoatzot answer questions and teach classes that draw on their extensive knowledge of both halacha and women’s health.
Classes take place on Mondays and Wednesdays from 8:30 AM–4:00 PM at Nishmat in Jerusalem (for those living far away, one learning day may be attended via Zoom, arranged individually). An additional day is required for independent study at home in order to keep up with the learning pace. Most of the learning days are dedicated to independent chavruta study, following sources in the Gemara, Rishonim, Shulchan Aruch, Acharonim, and contemporary poskim.
This is a unique, two-year program of Halacha study at an exceptionally high level, training women to serve as Yoatzot Halacha in the areas of family life and women’s health. Graduates of the program serve as a female halachic address for women’s halachic questions in the community, as well as through the website and the Golda Koschitzky Halachic Hotline.
Each learning day includes two or three classes taught by the head of the program, Rabbi Yaakov Warhaftig, Rabbi Assaf Bednarsh, and Yoetzet Halacha Rabbanit Noa Lau, the Program Director. The remainder of the time is dedicated to chavruta study based on assigned sources.
Learning begins with the sugyot in the Gemara, continues through the Tur / Beit Yosef, Shulchan Aruch and its commentaries, and extends to the Acharonim and contemporary poskim. The learning is deep and engaging, but requires commitment, perseverance, and adherence to the program schedule.
Halachic study takes place two days a week, between 8:30 AM and 4:00 PM (on Mondays and Wednesdays). In addition, supplementary classes on medical topics are held on Tuesday evenings once every two weeks via Zoom, and two to three intensive study days take place each year.
Students are required to devote an additional day to independent study and review at hours convenient for them, meaning that in practice this is a three-day-per-week learning program.
Keren Ariel accepts married women with prior fluidity and facility in Gemara and Halacha, a deep identification with the world of Halacha, a sense of mission, community involvement, and strong interpersonal communication skills.
Women accepted into the program receive both a tuition scholarship and a living stipend, contingent on meeting the program’s requirements.
