Leah Fine
Leah Fine is a Jewish educator and has taught, administered, and innovated curriculum within a wide range of formal and informal settings. She holds an MA in Modern Jewish History from Yeshiva University and credentials in elementary and special education from California State University. Leah has studied at Pardes, Drisha, the Melton Senior Educators Fellowship at the Hebrew University, and most recently participated in the i-Center Fellowship. Leah is co-author of Where God Dwells: A Child’s History of the Synagogue with her husband, Steven Fine, with whom she loves to hike the world of Chazal.
It was near the end of the Bar Kochba revolt.
Roman authorities ordered that anyone who ordained rabbis be executed! Not only that, but the town where the semikha occurred would be destroyed.
Yehuda ben Bava defied this decree! He assembled his students in the no-man’s land between the towns of Usha and Shefaram in the western Galilee.
הָלַךְ וְיָשַׁב לוֹ בֵּין שְׁנֵי הָרִים גְּדוֹלִים וּבֵין שְׁתֵּי עֲיָירוֹת גְּדוֹלוֹת
There, he secretly ordained Rabbi Meir, Rabbi Yehuda, Rabbi Shimon, Rabbi Yose, and Rabbi Elazar ben Shammua.
Suddenly, the rabbis heard Roman soldiers approaching. Yehudah Ben Bava turned to his students: בָּנַיי רוּצוּ My sons, RUN & spread the Torah!!!!
Ben Bava saved the Torah at a critical moment.
I recently stood between Usha and Shefaram, at the Sabbath boundary that separated these two towns. There I thought about Ben Bava’s heroic resolve in an impossible situation, and the strength this story has given Jews across the generations.
Maharat has trained me to stand tall in our own moments of crisis— to lead and connect our people to Torah and to the land of Israel.
As I receive my not-so-secret ordination, I say to my colleagues: בָּנַותיי תרוּצוּ
Let us run and spread Torah. We have so much to accomplish.
Anat Sharbat
*$180.00
Mazal Tov to all the musmachot, and to Yeshivat Maharat.
We pray for the chatufim, the chayalim, and the Akurim.
Steven and Koby Fine
$180.00
Congratulations to all the musmakhot on your accomplishment!
Rabbi Jason Herman, Executive Director, International Rabbinic Fellowship
*$180.00
Mazel Tov to everyone at Yeshiva Maharat and Yasher Kochachot to all the musmakhot. May you go mechayil el chayil!
Sarit and Jonathan Gribetz
*$360.00
Mazal tov Meytal, Yedidah, Dena, Meira, Rivka, Talia, Leah, Adina, Tamar, Miriam, Naima, and Rabba Sara! So proud of you!!!
Judy Stieglitz
$50.00
Shay Pilnik, Yeshiva University
*$36.00
Bierman
$100.00
Margot Mann
*$180.00
Congratulations to all the musmakhot on your accomplishment!
Muriel Schwartzman
$54.00
Michael Schwartzman
$36.00
Rabba Wendy Amsellem and Rabbi Mike Moskowitz
*$360.00
We are so inspired by what you have accomplished and so excited for the wonderful transformative work that you will do!
Liz Shayne (and Family)
*$360.00
Mazal tov to all of you! It was such a zechut to learn with you and from you and to be part of your Maharat journey!
Jeannie Appleman
*$36.00
Carole Oshinsky
$54.00
Shira Billet & Steven Exler
*$360.00
Mazal tov to Naima, Leah and Dena and all the musmachot with special appreciation for Rabba Sara and Rav Jeff's leadership!
Howard Bierman
$180.00
Rabbanit Tamar Green Eisenstst and Abe Eisenstat
*$10,000.00
Mazal tov to our amazing friends, colleagues, chevrutot, teachers, care providers, leaders, guides, wise souls and just general all around superstars. The rabbinate is blessed to have y’all join the ranks!
Adina and Farryl Roth
*$180.00
Naima Hirsch Gelman
*$360.00
Mazal tov to Klal Yisrael on the semikha of my compassionate and erudite classmates!
Dr. Sarah Stemp
*$180.00
Rabbi Marianne Novak and Dr. Noam Stadlan
*$3,600.00
Congratulations to all the musmakhot on your accomplishment!
Rabbi Sharyn Perlman & Burt Falkenstein
$36.00
Diane and James Savitz
$180.00
Peter Justin Moon Schertz
$72.00
Elaine Machleder
$180.00
Mazal tov to Leah and all the graduates
None
$180.00
Mazal tov to everyone at Yeshivat Maharat!
Shira Gordon
*$180.00
Congratulations to all the musmakhot on your accomplishment!