Mayanot Women marks three Years

The Mayanot Women’s Program celebrated its third anniversary this week with a banquet for some 100 guests at the Mayanot Shul in Nachlaot, Jerusalem. The program opened its doors three years ago with the support of Mr. George Rohr.

Keeping with the theme of three, the focus of the evening was Torah, Avodah and Gemilut chasadim, values that underlie the Mayanot Women’s Program, which encompasses rigorous learning, spiritual growth and involvement with Israeli society through volunteer work. Presentations were created by current students to depict the women of Mayanot engaging in these areas.
“It is this unique combination of learning, spiritual growth and community involvement that has attracted students from all walks of life and all corners of the world to the Mayanot Women’s Program,” says Rabbi Kasriel Shemtov, Executive Director of Mayanot. “We encourage our students to see charitable acts as a natural extension of their learning at Mayanot.”

Mayanot offers its students a variety of subjects including Talmud and Chassidut, providing a program which is highly academic and intellectually challenging. “In modern times, we spend years getting secular degrees. Mayanot gives women the chance to bring their Jewish education up to par,” said Rucheli Manville, a student at Mayanot in her presentation on the night.
In the space of three years, Mayanot has managed to earn for itself a solid reputation and build a student body of 150 students per annum.

Nevertheless, those involved in the program are not surprised by what the Mayanot Women’s Program has accomplished in such a short period of time. “I knew from the first moment that Mayanot Women’s Program would be an outstanding success and that woman of good character from all over the world would flock to its hallowed halls of learning,” said Mr. Abe Erdynast, keynote speaker, member of the Mayanot Board of Directors and a supporter of the program since its inception three years ago. “I take off my yarmulke to you!” exclaimed Mr. Erdynast, who spoke on behalf of the board, also represented on the night by Mr. Andy and Mrs. Ruti Abraham.

During the banquet, Mayanot students took the opportunity to thank the many people who have made the last three years of Mayanot Women’s Program possible including Director of the Program, Rabbi Meir Levinger and his wife Chaya, as well as Assistant Director, Mrs. Rivka Marga Gestetner.

“Without the generosity of our supporters and dedication of the Mayanot faculty, we would not have been able to achieve what we have,” says Rabbi Shlomo Gestetner, Dean of Mayanot. “We are truly grateful.”