Hadar (educational institution)

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Hadar is an educational institution on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. [1] [2] The institute offers various programs to support the development of traditional egalitarian Judaism. [2] A major component of the institute is Yeshivat Hadar, which offers both summer and year-long fellowships for students to learn full-time in the yeshiva setting. Prominent rabbis associated with the Yeshiva include co-founders Rabbi Shai Held, Rabbi Elie Kaunfer, and Rabbi Ethan Tucker. [3] [4]

Contents

Though the main goal of the yeshiva is to teach future lay leaders, rather than to train rabbis, [5] in February 2019 it announced it would ordain rabbis. [6]

History

Founded in 2006 by Rabbis Shai Held, Elie Kaunfer, and Ethan Tucker as an institution for intense Torah study and as an advisory for congregations and minyanim looking to reinvigorate their prayer services, Hadar has since grown to include a unique array of offerings that reflect the true splendor—hadar in Hebrew—of Judaism. Hadar offers summer and year-long fellowship programs for young Jews wanting to expand their knowledge of Torah; it teaches core Jewish values, Jewish ideas, and communal music (Rising Song Institute with Joey Weisenberg) through three centers for learning; and it offers short-term seminars for Jewish leaders of all stripes, from teachers to rabbis (rabbinic yeshiva intensive) to Hillel professionals (Jewish Professionals Institute) to lay people who want to make a difference in their own communities (Executive Seminar). In March 2017, Hadar celebrated its first 10 years with a year-long, weekly podcast on Pirkei Avot, [7] a siyyum on Seder Nezikin, and a National Shabbaton, which drew more than 500 attendees.

Fellowships

Yeshivat Hadar offers year-long and summer fellowships for full time study. Mornings are devoted to Talmud and afternoon courses typically cover topics such as halakha , midrash , maḥshava , and tefilla . In addition to learning Torah, fellowships include communal prayer, service, and community building activities. [8]

Work with independent minyanim

Yeshivat Hadar's leadership assists congregations in reviving their services and invigorating independent prayer. Groups wishing to found or re-energize their own prayer communities have turned to Rabbi Kaunfer's book Empowered Judaism. Joey Weisenberg, a Yeshivat Hadar faculty member also wrote a book for independent minyanim, Building Singing Communities. Mechon Hadar’s website contains information and resources to help independent leaders enhance services. [9] Yeshivat Hadar has a longstanding relationship with Kehillat Hadar, an egalitarian prayer community on Upper West Side of Manhattan, though they operate as separate institutions. [10]

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References

  1. ↑ Sales, Ben (5 March 2017). "At 10, egalitarian yeshiva wants to expand learning among Jews in the pews". Times of Israel.
  2. 1 2 Hadar website "About Hadar". hadar.org.
  3. ↑ "People". Hadar Institute. Retrieved 2024-04-04.
  4. ↑ Rockland County Jewish Standard 'How is Mechon Hadar different than the Pardes Institute?' 26 Feb. 2011 http://jstandard.com/content/item/how_is_mechon_hadar_different_than_the_pardes_institute/17339
  5. ↑ "Hadar's Popular Egalitarian Yeshiva Grapples With Sex Before Marriage". The Forward. 2011-04-20. Retrieved 2024-04-04.
  6. ↑ JTA. "Traditional, egalitarian Yeshivat Hadar plans to ordain rabbis". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 2019-07-07.
  7. ↑ "Pirkei Avot | Hadar". Mechon Hadar. 2016-06-29. Retrieved 2017-05-22.
  8. ↑ "Jewish Journey Project - Mechon Hadar". 29 November 2014. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Mechon Hadar is an educational institution that seeks to empower a generation of Jews to create and sustain vibrant, practicing, egalitarian communities of Torah learning prayer and service. Mechon Hadar has two major initiatives: Yeshivat Hadar and the Minyan Project. Yeshivat Hadar is the first full-time egalitarian yeshiva in North America. In fall 2014, they will begin the sixth year of the year-round program offering fellows an intensive program in NYC anchored around empowerment, community and the search for meaning and purpose in Jewish life.
  9. ↑ "Independent Minyanim". Hadar Institute. Retrieved 2024-04-04.
  10. ↑ Jewish Week "Hadar Settles Down" January 11, 2011 http://www.thejewishweek.com:8080/news/short_takes/hadar_settles_down

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