emerging scholars cohort
Yeshivat Maharat is excited to announce the 2024-2025 Emerging Scholars Cohort! The cohort brings together post-high school young women learning in different seminaries and gap year programs for monthly sessions plus a Shabbaton.
Application Deadline: April 1, 2024
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The cohort will meet monthly in Jerusalem to explore the themes of women, leadership, and access in Israeli contexts. The year may include learning and conversations with female leaders and change-makers in the religious, social, and educational spheres; field trips to art exhibits and cultural events; opportunities to participate in volunteer projects; and a Shabbaton. There is no cost to participate, and we ask that fellows must commit to attending the Shabbaton plus all or most of the monthly sessions.
The deadline for applications has passed. Please contact admissions@yeshivatmaharat.org for more information.
2023-2024 Program Coordinator
Rabbanit Michal Kohane ('20)
Now back in Israel where she grew up, Rabbanit Michal Kohane continues to be a teacher of Torah and Talmud in Israel and abroad, while completing her chaplaincy certification. Prior to that, she was a long-time leader and educator in Northern California, serving as rabbi, Federation executive director and more. Most recently she was the Rosh Kehila of the Prospect Heights Shul in Brooklyn. Rabbanit Michal holds a BA in Studies of Israel and Education, an MS in Jewish Studies, an MA in Clinical Psychology, and holds a PsyD in organizational psychology. Rabbanit Michal’s first novel, Hachug ("Extracurricular") was published in Israel by Steimatzky and she writes a weekly Torah blog.
2023-2024 Fellows
Adina Gerwin is from the Upper West Side in New York City and is incredibly grateful to be studying at Yeshivat Drisha. She is a graduate of the Abraham Joshua Heschel school and an alumnus of the Bronfman Fellowship. She is also a proud participant of the Congress Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) Fellowship and spent her Junior year living in Hamburg, Germany. In her spare time, Adina loves listening to music and going on long walks, often simultaneously.
Sarit Greenwood is a recent graduate of Yeshivat Frisch from West Orange, New Jersey. She enjoys learning everything but especially Jewish History and Tanakh; her favorite Sefer is Shmuel II because of the drama and emotionally complex characters. I also love theatre, journalism, politics, and playing piano. After her gap year, she will be studying at Barnard College.
Netta Haas is from Beachwood, Ohio. She loves exploring new ideas, perspectives, and modes of logic (or deepening familiar ones) through learning. Netta loves the conversations that interesting texts spark.
Ayelet Lederman is from Silver Spring, MD. She loves learning new things for many reasons, including being able to connect with different people from different backgrounds than me and being able to play all forms of trivia games! Ayelet is very excited to be learning at Nativ next year, and to have the chance to experience more of the land of Israel, including the food, culture, and history. She plans to attend Binghamton University after her gap year.
Charlotte Naar is from Sydney, Australia. She loves learning because it opens my mind up to new ideas and ways of thinking that impact who she is as a person. Following her gap year, she plans to return to Sydney and study psychology and education.
Nava Oberstein is from Riverdale, New York. She loves learning Talmud and the satisfaction of all the complicated components falling into place to reveal an extremely clever thought, even when it is later disputed. Nava loves Israel because it is such an important country and holy land. After her gap year Nava plans to attend New York University.
Hannah Plotkin, a Beachwood High School graduate, feels eternally appreciative to be learning Torah in Eretz Yisrael at Midreshet Amudim. Hannah, who will have just returned from a summer of teaching Torah at Camp Ramah Darom, is a long-time leyner, lover of learning (both Jewish and secular), and feels passionate about empowering everyone to engage with Jewish community. In high school, Hannah spent her time writing Divrei Torah for USY, volunteering at Friendship Circle of Cleveland, and running a weekly minyan for public high school students to build an inclusive community steeped tradition, meditation, and Jewish spirituality. Hannah is looking forward to the opportunities Hashem has in store for her.
Shalva Rosenfeld has lived in Oxford, England for over 10 years after moving from Israel. She loves to challenge herself when she learns, specifically trying to find answers for difficult questions. This year she is attending Midrashet Lindenbaum in Jerusalem. She is excited to spend the year in Israel, giving back to the community around her and exploring the country. Shalva is planning to attend the University of Bristol after her gap year.
Tamar Rosenfeld is from Stamford, Connecticut and graduated from Yeshivat Frisch. In high school, Tamar was editor-in-chief of the weekly Dvar Torah publication, captain of the cross country and track team, and head of the Chidon HaTanach club. She loves figure skating, cooking, and crocheting stuffed animals. After her year at Migdal Oz, she is excited to attend Columbia University.
Nurit Schlosberg is from Teaneck, NJ and is graduating from the Idea School in Tenafly, NJ, which is the first Jewish high school in the US that fully uses project-based learning. This year, she will be studying at Midreshet Ein Hanatziv in the Beit Shaan Valley, and she is excited for the opportunity to study Torah in Israel and in Hebrew. In the last two summers, Nurit studied at the Dr. Beth Samuels Drisha high school program in the US and at the Lamdeini program at Midreshet Lindenbaum in Jerusalem. Nurit plans to attend Binghamton University in New York.