Following her colleague’s dismissal from the London School of Jewish Studies, Rabbi Eryn London speaks about the pain of a journey to ordination which, despite the in-depth textual study and practical readiness, is seen as a failure and a deviation from the norm. Despite individuals’ private support, the rift between open acceptance and fear of change is growing, despite the Yeshivat Maharat cohort’s rabbinic abilities and training.

Commentators across the millennia have sought to answer the question of Moshe’s sin, so grave he was sentenced to never enter Israel. In her essay, Dr. Tamar Marvin assesses the seismic shift in destiny through a close examination of the opinions of the Ibn Ezra and Ramban, Nahmanidies. Further, the author brings the modern principle of Process Thought to supplement the notion of a nation in the process of meeting a higher goal.

Earlier this week, Rabba Dr. Lindsey Taylor-Guthartz was ordained as an Orthodox rabbi through Yeshivat Maharat. However, since her semikha is not recognized by the Orthodox community in the UK, she has been fired from the London School of Jewish Studies. Rabba Dr. Lindsey Taylor-Guthartz talks about the positive role of women within Orthodox Judaism and why she thinks the view on female rabbis is starting to change. However, hers is by no means a position shared by all women within the community. Rachie Binstock explains why she is comfortable with the tradition of male-only rabbis when it comes to her faith.

A detailed essay follows the journey of Rabba Dr. Lindsey Taylor-Guthartz to rabbinic ordination and the responses to her graduation, both positive and negative. Jenni Frazer assesses everything from the first suggestion made by Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner to the dreams of Rabba Dr. Taylor-Guthartz to the decision and defense issued by Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis.

Rabbanit Lisa Schlaff discusses what it means to listen to all beliefs, despite what feels like a failure, and the holy beauty she has seen in the humble desire to learn Torah generously.

Rabbanit Dr. Liz Shayne discusses the teshuvah on wearing glasses and hearing aids on Shabbat as a way to show that, despite the year count, we are remarkably similar to our ancestors and work to find answers to the same questions, though we must open our eyes to find them.

The class of 2021 graduates in Yeshivat Maharat’s bat mitzvah year and speaks about the Torah close to their hearts, from pillars of Torah to personal journeys and from actively listening to many voices to the holidays of Torah study. As the faculty gives a warm, loving send-off, the community looks to a brighter future, together.

The Divine presence can be found in so many places, distant and nearby, with the masses or alone. Rabbi Jeffrey Fox introduces the members of the core semikha program and praises each woman’s unique efforts.

Chairwoman Abigail Tambour speaks from the heart about the renewal of Maharat’s work during the “bat mitzvah” year and blesses everyone involved with the ninth annual semikha ceremony.

Rabbi Daniel Sperber invites the graduates to walk through the gateways of Judaica and become Rabbinic personalities.