United Synagogue celebrates completion of its first-ever advanced Torah Learning Programme for Women
The United Synagogue celebrated the completion of the Ma’aleh Women’s Learning Programme with a Siyum (celebration) at South Hampstead Synagogue.
The two-year journey in advanced Torah study, run in partnership with the Office of the Chief Rabbi, was led by the dynamic Rebbetzen Lauren Levin of South Hampstead United Synagogue and Rabbanit Shani Taragin, a renowned teacher at multiple education institutions in Israel. The programme brought together over 20 committed women who immersed themselves in Jewish texts twice a week, along with dedicated Sunday sessions throughout the year.
The Ma’aleh Programme was designed to deepen Torah learning and empower women through serious engagement with Halachah, Tanach and Jewish thought. Participants came from diverse backgrounds but shared a common passion: a deep desire to grow in their Jewish learning and contribute to the community.
The United Synagogue is launching a new programme, ‘Women’s Bet Midrash’ in October, building on Ma’aleh’s success, led by Rebbetzin Lauren Levin. This year-long course will take place once a week and will focus on the Books of Ezra and Nechemia, exploring the lives of the Jewish people during the Second Temple era and the lasting legacy of that period on Jewish life today.
The programme will include textual analysis in Hebrew as well as a deeper understanding of the development of Jewish practice and Jewish history. For more information about the Women’s Bet Midrash, please be in touch with Laurie Maurer at [email protected].
Rebbetzen Lauren Levin said, “Ma’aleh started on 10 October, 2023, in the ‘shadow of death’ of the October 7 massacre. The course became our ‘tree of life’ and provided immense strength over the following two turbulent years. The passion and scholarship of the Ma’aleh participants will follow them wherever they go, imbuing our communities with rigorous and meaningful Torah study and connection.”
Aviva Kaufmann, one of the programme participants, shared: “I was looking for something that would really push me, to upskill my Jewish learning. The interview which I had to take part on the course with Rebbetzen Lauren was amazing as she even did some learning with me during it and I was hooked! The programme offered a real immersion in Jewish texts, and I loved the balance between Halachah and deeper conceptual learning. I’ve always been passionate about women’s education, and this course really filled that gap. I’m so excited for what’s coming next.”
Jo Grose, the United Synagogue’s chief executive, said : “To understand the commitment to learning that the Ma’aleh participants have made and to witness female scholarship in action is inspiring. I am excited to see how the graduates go on to impact community life in the UK through their teaching and leadership. Creating a new cadre of female religious leaders is critical to the United Synagogue and I can’t wait for the new Women’s Bet Midrash programme to start in October.”
