Adina Roth
Adina Roth is a Jewish educator and Clinical Psychologist in Sydney, Australia. After spending a year in Jerusalem studying at Pardes and coordinating the Kol Isha women’s leadership programme, Adina returned to South Africa and completed a Masters in Contemporary Literature comparing Hassidic and Post-Modern readings of Bereishit. She then went on to do a second Masters at New York University on a Fulbright scholarship, where she did her thesis on post-colonial and psychoanalytic readings of Shemot. While in New York, Adina studied at Drisha and simultaneously discovered yoga and free-style dance classes. Since then she has remained interested in integrating intellectual experiences with the body. After her time in New York, Adina returned to South Africa and founded B’tocham Education, an after-school programme for B’nei Mitzvah. She has developed a full curriculum for her students and integrates art and poetry into her pedagogy. She also teaches girls as well as boys to leyn for their coming of age rituals. In addition to taking b’nei mitzvah through traditional rites of passage such as Torah chanting and d’var Torah, Adina’s bat mitzvah students spend a day in the mountains, creating innovative Jewish ritual to mark and welcome the changes taking place in their bodies.
When Rachel and Leah, two of our matriarchs finally speak to each other, their conversation revolves around a flower, the dudaim translated by Everett Fox as love apples. Rachel wants Leah’s dudaim for conception and Leah hopes the flowers will endear Yaakov to her. In Bereshit Rabba Rabbi Levi bestows on the dudaim a mysterious praise, ‘mah yafah hayta sarsarutun shel hadu’dai’m, how beautiful was the mediation of the loveapples.’
What did these dudaim mediate? Rabbi Levi intuits the love apples as negotiators of human longing. They propel Rachel and Leah to speak to each other of their yearnings for children and love. The dudaim are mediators of our souls’ longings.
For me, Yeshivat Maharat and the ordination of women in Judaism is about a conversation that extends from the longings of Rachel and Leah to the many longings of Jewish women, to be mothers and partners, yes, and also to be scholars, leaders, teachers, mystics. Shauli, translates du-daim as Du meaning Two in Aramaic and Daim, from , -da’-ah which means to glide. For him the loveapples transform into two lovers gliding around the skies in exaltation. Sounds like a good chevruta to me!
I come from a line of women whose longings are negotiated through a flower. Our longings are evolving and infinite: Isha, Imah, Talmidah….and now… Rabba, wife, mother, student… and now Rabbi. May the image of these dudaim and all the beauty of Torah be mediators and inspirers of longing for all of us.
It is no small feat for a woman born in an orthodox environment at the end of the 20th century to be able to receive semicha in 2024. It only happens because many people said the right things, did the right things, supported in the right way, had the courage and open heartedness to see things differently and perhaps also, in a personal way, because people saw me!
I have put off writing this because it feels so emotional. I am filled with gratitude to so many people. הודו לה׳ כי טוב כי לעולם חסדו
Firstly to my mother and father, Maurice and Rose. I have learned so much from both of you. You choose to make your lives filled with meaning and Torah. You are sincere about it. You love reading the Parsha on a Friday night. You have taught me to always seek to uplift the mundane into something conscious and filled with holiness, whether it’s a quiet meditation on the rocks at the Wilds or watching Rabbi Angela Buchdhal at Central Synagogue on Youtube or reading Rabbi Jonathan Sacks’ Covenant and Conversation. You have both supported my feminist journey. When I told you I was applying to Maharat dad you said,’ but I don’t see you as rabbinic, I see your Jewish work as more creative.’ Well, I hope to continue my work as a Rabba in creative ways. You had the courage and foresight to send me and Tali to a Chabad school where we would get the best grounding possible in Jewish education. And you also had the integrity to be yourselves which exposed us to Eastern philosophy, meditation, Plato, Botticelli and the Upanishads. Now I’m really outing you. Thank you for coming here today. This semicha belongs to you.
To Farryl. You are my spiritual and in real life chevruta this life time. Thank you for making dinner, putting the kids to sleep, tidying the kitchen, bringing me copious amounts of tea. Thank you for talking to me a million times over when I thought I couldn’t do this. Thank you for reminding me that I am worthy of this. Thank you for always showing me that spirituality is an ongoing journey and that this is significant but it is also a stepping stone. Thank you for your incredible irreverence and sense of humour. It is everything in the world of halacha! Thank you for showing me your own amazing religious and spiritual integrity and for being an incredible father and husband. I love you. This semicha is pretty much yours too. I owe you like 400 dinners.
To Maya and Adam: You guys have been pulled along on a journey you didn’t really ask for. You have been understanding, and adapted well to a very busy mama. I know it hasn’t always been easy for you guys. You’re amazing kids who have had to put up with a lot of change in a short amount of time. I am going to make you lots of breakfasts, help get the laundry right and try a few Master chef type meals. To you, I will always just be your mama and hope to have lots more fun fun times together. Love you both more than you can imagine and I want to support you both to just be yourselves and fly fly fly.
To Granny Wendy and Grandpa Tony, thank you for your incredible support. I am pretty sure you never expected Farryl to marry a Rabbi, but here we are! You have always been full of love and acceptance, thank you for all the care given to our family. To Connie, thank you for being our granny in Australia!
To my dearest sister Tali and brother in law (cousin) Steven and Joshi and Jesse, thank you for taking me into your home last year and trying to make me comfortable in every single way, from fashion, to food to frummy! Thank you for looking after us in Sydney. We love being able to live so nearby, to spend Shabbat with you, we cherish our time with you. Elise, Oren, Larry, Geraldine, Daniella, David, Eliav and Ariel, we love you and appreciate all the times we spend together. Larry thanks for all the kashrut advice.
To my grandparents z’l: Zeida Louis and Granny Gerty, I know you would have kvelled at this moment. And Zeida Myer and Granny Tilly, you would have loved this too. YOu were all supportive of the beginning of my Jewish feminist journey. Zeida Louis listened secretly behind the door at our first ever women’s Megillah reading, Zeida Myer had to face the bully boys who wanted to know why I was trying to read from a Torah. Zeida Myer taught me to lein haftarah and I have used his trope till today. Zeida Myer almost became a Rabbi and had to abandon it because of his eyesight. I got a love and respect for Yiddishkeit from all four of you and a commitment to being a mensch. This semicha is yours.
To my aunts and uncles: To my dearest Aunty Ailene z’l, I wish you could be here for this. You told me I should be a Rabbi before Maharat even existed. You always believed in me and saw me. We spent special times together and I miss you so much.
To Pammy and Russell, you have always been so supportive of everything I do.
To Aunty Annette and Uncle Ian, thank you for coming to this- you have also been the biggest champions, always supporting and cheering me on- telling me about the Maharat at your shule and really just making me feel as if my choices are special to you.
To Uncle Selwyn and Aunty Laura, you have also always said I should be a Rabbi. You saw what I couldn’t see. I’ve always loved talking with you about Judaism and about life. I feel so so supported by you, it makes me feel I can fly.
To Bev and Russ, Bev you came with me to Drisha many moons ago. YOu are both incredible people, Russell your journey to Judaism came with such integrity and commitment which made such an impression on all of us. You and Bev made orthodox Judaism so cool. Kosher in Kensington- who knew! You have combined your love of tradition with a deep commitment to social justice and show you can really bring these things together- you have to. Bev you’ve championed me deeply- you’ve seen me. You’ve appreciated my Torah teaching and wanted me to teach even when on a relaxing trip in St Louis. Let’s never under estimate what it is to see the potential in someone. Because you have all seen me before I saw myself.
To Dodi, my older first cousin who has also just supported with a sense of humour, coolness, warmth, generosity and relaxedness.
To my cousins who all came for my semicha, Allan, Alan and Adele, Tammy, Jonah, Jonathan and Mandee, Jonah and Liza, Dodi and Jonathan, Ava, Micah and Eliana, Akiva, Eitie, Ben and Kat and Elaine and Lucy, Zoe, Helen, I adore you all.
To Julie, Noa, Alyssa, Sam, each one of you has been a deep part of my life. I have cherished our friendships even though we are not living near each other. You are each women who are journeying what it means to be a Jewish woman with your own integrity, courage, humour, depth and intelligence and I am grateful to count on you as friends and sistas.
To Chaya Medalie, my bat mitzvah teacher. You said something amazing to me. You said leaders in the Jewish community should be super educated. Getting semichah doesn’t mean you are spiritually perfect- or have ‘arrived’ it just means you have learned a bunch of important stuff and are more qualified to lead in your community. This line gave me permission to get over the ‘who the hell am I to deserve this’ and to go ahead and grasp it. You have been encouraging me since I was 12 years old Chaya. You are a wise woman with large, broad, brave perspectives. This is your Semicha too.
To Rabba Dina Brawer, when I told you why I thought I wasn’t appropriate for Maharat, you could have walked away. You didn’t. For this I will forever be grateful. Thank you for believing in me.
To Maureen Kender z’l, when I tried running away from my self, you found me and told me that I was a Jewish educator. You mentored me with love, humour, authenticity, irreverence, wisdom, such intelligence, such wit and kindness and creativity. I remember all your classes, all our conversations, all our emails. I feel so lucky that I got to know you. I see your name popping up everywhere, you have been a mentor to so many. We all remember you and miss you. There are many times during these 4 years I longed to have a conversation with you. In fact, I did! You told me to keep on keeping on and to believe in myself. Thank you!
To Avivah Zornberg your writing and teaching has given me a kind of creative permission to play, fall in love with and think widely, deeply and alternatively about Jewish texts. I am deeply grateful to your voice and writing in our Jewish world today.
To the people in South Africa who asked me about 10 years ago to teach a text class. Tammy, Tami, Caryn, Greg, you helped me wet my feet as a teacher of Tanach and Midrash. And then Sally, Joan, Irit, my mother Rose, Shikey, Eitan Kaplan, Ishvara. Those days of learning Torah with you made me feel alive and filled with joy and confirmed for me what I hope to do with my life.
To Beth, I love learning with you and walking with you and hope to do more of both. When i panicked about becoming a Rabbi, you calmly and level headedly told me to do it and to be my self at the same time. Best advice ever.
To Shelley - I love walking with you and talking with you and hope to do more. YOu have held me through the hard times. And happy times. Let’s do more happy times!
To Etti- when I told me I was going to be a Rabbi you said to me, it had been heading to this for a long time. You were excited and supportive, exactly what a best friend should be. Thank you.
To everyone at Limmud SA- thank you. To the Shundas (Wayne, Daniel, Brett, Honda), if you know, you know. To Sarit and Gavi, thank you for everything and Gavi a special thank you for teaching me Gemara to prepare me for Maharat. What a gift you gave me. To Jocelyn and Gavin, you too have been an incredible support and part of this community. I am grateful for all the time we had together.
To everyone at the JPM, and to Avi and Nadia and Eliana and Leanne, Rafi, Gal and Liya, Ilanit and Marc, thank you for your friendship and your love and for our wonderful, community journey together.
To all my bat and bar mitzvah students and their families in South Africa. You took me on the most incredible journey. You saw what at first I didn’t see in myself and have made me who I am today. You made me into a teacher and a Rabbi.
To our new people and friends in Sydney, to the warm, beautiful Ohr Chadash community, thank you for welcoming us and giving me a space. I look forward to our continued friendship and journey.
To Emanuel school, you supported me through the last two years of my study. Stacey, you ensured I kept to my study hours. Michelle, you’ve been the best PR a girl could hope for, and a friend and a mentor. The Jewish Life team, Adam Carpenter, Garry Case, Hagit Bar On, Kobi Bloom, Natali Tchelet, Ophira, Sidney, Eli, Becky, Bec, Erika, Jenny, Martine, Orli, Shirli, Jacqui, Jenni Senator, Aaron, Chloe, Jessie, Daniel, Noah, Olvyea, and our new arrival Britt Grundy! You’ve been amazing, kind, patient, welcoming, warm, engaged and open. I am excited for our continued journey together. To Adam, Margaret, Mario, Tany and Andrew. You have held me through one of the hardest times of my life- it’s been a joy getting to know you. To all the staff, you’ve engaged, welcomed, smiled, challenged, supported, laughed and even shed a tear or two. Special people, thank you! To ALL the students- you have challenged me and taught me and you have welcomed me with love. Thank you.
To Rabbi Erin Leib Smokler, your Hassidut classes are a balm and an inspiration. I love your sensitivity to the language of the text, the ways in which the shiur can develop from three words, or one word! I love the way you read. Thank you also for all the conversations.
Dr Altman you have been a huge support and every conversation has just held me and comforted me exactly where I was.
Reb Jeff, I wasn’t in enough of your classes. But I quote you, think about your approach to halacha and Judaism- and appreciate your reading of Torah and the world so much. I look forward to learning so much more from you. I appreciate your kindness in relation to halacha, and your humanity.
Rabba Sarah- who knew!!!! I remember your visit to South Africa in 2009 and I remember learning with you in Drisha in 2003. Thank you for your vision. I don’t know how you hold this all together and how you have built what you have built.
To my gorgeous halacha teacher Rabba Wendy. Your clarity and your kindness. And your always remembering to mention my name. I love the way you interpret halacha. It has taught me so so much - you have given me a kind of permission!!!! And a grounding to use it. I am so so grateful and hope to learn more from you.
To Rabbanit Devorah Zlochower, from Mesechet Sukkah to Niddah. I feel I received the gift of your heart and your mind in all the classes you taught. I loved them.
To you both- you opened the world of halacha for me and that is saying a lot.
To Rabbi Mintz - your gemara class is just the best. That’s all I need to say. A work of art, carefully crafted. At first, your class made me think that I could probably do four years of Talmud. Now- I want to keep going (especially the aggadata bits, but not only).
Reb Tanya, I met you in Drisha and have loved and cherished your contributions to my journey and learning at Maharat, both as a student and as a teacher. Rabbanit Liz, your attention to detail with style, grace and care really helped me through the asynchronous learning and I hope to learn more Dirshuni and other things with you.
To everyone at Maharat, Amanda, Rachel, Jenn and all the other staff, each one of you did something really significant to get me to where I am. Thank you. To all the women in the Maharat classes, I appreciate our conversations and your support, collegiality and friendship.
To the class of 2024, I didn’t realize I’d be acquiring friends and teachers among my classmates. I love and respect you all hugely. Not only have you been a source of support but I have learned from you, listened to you, appreciated your huge and interesting personalities and really hope to learn more and more from you in years to come. I think you are all amazing. Mostly, we have laughed a lot together.
Finally, to my Chevrutot: Miriam Lorie. How lucky did I get? You are a learning and spiritual chevruta to me. You have held me when I felt I didn’t deserve this. You have challenged me, laughed with me,inspired me, teased me, shown so much wisdom, compassion and together we have grown. I feel so lucky. Thank you. You are going to be a beautiful Rabbi.
To Chanah Ruimy, what a special Chevruta! How lucky I was. I loved learning with you. Your knowledge is so vast, only matched by your huge heart. I love your approach to Judaism and to human beings. You are so real. I am here to support you in your fourth year.
To Rabbanit Miriam Sommer- we had the best year of Niddah together, didn’t we! I loved learning with you. Even when you thought my blowout was a sheitel! Especially then!!!
Adene, thank you my friend for every conversation, every bit of learning, every way in which you keep it so real and so authentic. I hope we have many more opportunities to learn together.
To Guy and Naami- I love you both. Naami, we have had so many Jewish adventures together (and cake adventures) and then, the four (now 9) of us have had so many general adventures. You both have such beautiful spiritual and soulful integrity and I feel you supported me in this all along, even before it had a name. Love you both!
To the great Almighty, who is behind all of this and in front of all of this- thank You God for this day and this life. My hope is to bring Your glory and beauty wherever I find myself, and in some small way to offer healing, holding, comfort and meaning to all our hopeful and broken hearts and places in these times.
Allan Stillerman
$500.00
Mazal tov to everyone at Yeshivat Maharat!
Selwyn and Laura Oskowitz
$180.00
Mazal tov to everyone at Yeshivat Maharat!
Accountant
$27.00
Anat Sharbat
*$180.00
Mazal Tov to all the musmachot, and to Yeshivat Maharat.
We pray for the chatufim, the chayalim, and the Akurim.
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!!!
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!
Nicky Segerman
$180.00
Mazal tov to Adina Roth and all the musmachot. Kol haKavod.
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!
Tamar Rabinowitz
$180.00
Congratulations to all the musmakhot on your accomplishment!
Adele and Alan Farber
$360.00
Congratulations to all the musmakhot on your accomplishment!
Samantha Kur and Evan Hochberg
$180.00
Mazal tov,Adins! No doubt your spiritual guidance and wisdom will infuse many neshamot with a love of Judaism.
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!
Polonsky-Vaang Family
$180.00
Adina, we have so much love and admiration for you! Mazel tov to you and all the women at Maharat!
Rabbi Marianne Novak and Dr. Noam Stadlan
*$3,600.00
Congratulations to all the musmakhot on your accomplishment!
Ian and Annette Kavin
$30.00
Julie Sissman and Phil Richter
$360.00
Mazal tov, Adina! We are thrilled to celebrate you at this milestone. The world is so lucky to have you in this role! We love you!
Pamela Gelman
$200.00
Lydia and Kenneth Polonsky
$180.00
Shelley Einfeld
*$36.00
Dodi and Jonathan Spielman and Family
$180.00
Mazal tov to everyone at Yeshivat Maharat!