Welcome to Midreshet Rachel V’Chaya – Darche Noam

Welcome to Midreshet Rachel V'Chaya

At Midreshet Rachel V’Chaya join a group of educated, intelligent women who are committed to personal and spiritual growth. Based in the heart of Jerusalem, this warm, open and mature environment, gives students the opportunity and tools to discover Jewish sources and integrate them into their lives. We focus on balancing the competing demands of family, study and career.

Student Life

Here you will find our academic calendar, daily schedule, and information about special trips and events.

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About

Learn about the midrasha's mission and vision. Meet the Midreshet Rachel V'Chaya faculty. Find answers to frequently asked questions.

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Married Couples Program

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Our Latest News

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To kick off Bein Hazmanim the women of Midreshet R

To kick off Bein Hazmanim the women of Midreshet Rachel v’Chaya were guided by Rav Shurin through the lulav and etrog shuk!

Rav Shurin told the women what to look for when purchasing the arba’a minim.

Elul Zman Class Photo 📸

Elul Zman Class Photo 📸

Meet Kayla Zucker, a current student at Midreshet

Meet Kayla Zucker, a current student at Midreshet Rachel v’Chaya!

Tell us a little about yourself:
I grew up in Great Neck, New York. I studied at Yeshiva University - Stern College for Women where I got my degree in Psychology. I was most recently working at Friends of the Israel Defense Forces before coming to Midreshet Rachel v’Chaya to learn full time with my husband Matan who is at Shapell’s.

What is your favorite class at MRC?
I would say Rabbi Lerner’s classes on Halacha. Whether it’s Hilchos Shabbos or Survey of Everyday Halacha - we love Halacha here at MRC!

What is one piece of advice that you’ve learned while at MRC that you’d like to pass on to others?
Women’s beaches are a thing 😉 don’t feel ashamed to go to the beach because you are tznius.

What are some technical skills you have gained during your time at MRC and how do you expect to utilize those once you leave MRC?
I am now able to read Tanach in Hebrew and break down the root of the words and comprehend the various meforshim which will allow me to continue my learning once I leave midrasha.

What has been a highlight for you during your time at MRC?
The Old City tiyul in Summer Zman was definitely a highlight! I was able to see first hand the significant places in our Jewish history. It made the idea of building the Beit Hamikdash so real for me in a way it never had in the past.

Our Midreshet Rachel v’Chaya women headed to Shi

Our Midreshet Rachel v’Chaya women headed to Shiloh yesterday for their Elul Zman tiyul!

The MRC women were joined by Rabbi Manning, Yaffa Moskowitz, Dana Margolis and Devora Duek to tour the ancient site of the Mishkan in Shiloh, make their own grape juice in the Bikurei Shiloh Farm, visit an outlook of Kever Yosef, practice basket weaving as they did in the times of the Mishkan and see para aduma in the land.

We warmly invite MRC Alumnae to join our Rabbi Ant

We warmly invite MRC Alumnae to join our Rabbi Anthony Manning, Rabbi Yitzchak Shurin, and Yaffa Moskowitz for a special Return & Learn on Tuesday, September 17.

Our fantastic lineup of speakers will engage you in thought-provoking ideas exploring Teshuva, Ahavat HaShem, and Unity with meaningful and relevant insights to help us prepare, this year, for the Yomim Tovim.

The learning program will take place outside on the chatzer at the Shapell’s building.

Reserve your spot now at http://www.darchenoam.org/Learn5784

We look forward to seeing you!

𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 (𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸) 𝘁𝗼 𝗥𝗮𝗯𝗯𝗶 𝗔𝗻𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗻𝘆 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴!

Midreshet Rachel v’Chaya (MRC) and Shapell’s/Darche Noam are thrilled to welcome Rabbi Anthony Manning, an accomplished and respected Torah teacher, author, administrator, and long-time educator at MRC, to his new position as Director/Rosh Midrasha. Rabbi Yitzchak Shurin, our esteemed Rosh Midrasha Emeritus, is continuing his teaching role at MRC, with additional availability for mentoring and teaching alumni.

Rabbi Manning brings a wealth of expertise and a proven track record of excellence to his new role including 20 years as a Senior Lecturer at MRC and former Director of Pathways Israel. He has taught at many other educational institutions in Jerusalem including the OU - Israel Center and most recently served as Co-Director of Midreshet Tehillah. Rabbi Manning has recently gained acclaim through his groundbreaking book: Reclaiming Dignity – A Guide to Tzniut for Men and Women. He has Semicha from Rabbi Yitzchok Berkovits and Rabbi Zalman Nechemia Goldberg zt’l, an MA in Law from Oxford University, and is currently pursuing a doctorate in Jewish Philosophy at Yeshiva University.

We are excited to have Rabbi Manning lead Midreshet Rachel v’Chaya, b’ezrat Hashem, into an even brighter future for the next generation of its students, and for the benefit of all of Klal Yisrael.

We ended Summer Zman with an ice cream party🥳🍦

Wishing all the Midreshet Rachel v’Chaya women that are leaving much hatzlacha!

Meet Shira Cohn, a current student at Midreshet Ra

Meet Shira Cohn, a current student at Midreshet Rachel v’Chaya!

Tell us a little about yourself:
I am originally from Los Angeles. I have been working my way to the holy land, and when the time was right I found MRC. BzH I’ll have made Aliyah in the coming year!

What is your favorite class at MRC?
Definitely Rabbi Yitzchak Lerner’s Netivot Shalom. The spirituality and depth of the sefer not only reaches the depths of my soul, but it is extremely practical and applicable to my growing relationship with Hashem. It’s also incredible to have a Rav delivering the information in such a heartfelt manner.

What is one piece of Torah that you’ve learned while at MRC that you’d like to pass on to others?
Hashem is always there and you can always reach out to Him for big or little asks. It can take work just as any important relationship does, but at the end of the day He is our Abba. Just speak to Him.

What are some technical skills you have gained during your time at MRC so far?
The improvement in my text based skills have been incredible. Not only has my biblical vocabulary improved, but now I’m much more capable at looking at a commentator and really understanding the bigger picture of what they are trying to convey.

What has been a highlight for you during your time at MRC:
The warm and vibrant energy of walking into class and being greeted so genuinely by amazing teachers and classmates. The community and culture MRC creates is a a Torah environment filled with love, laughter, and true joy for the sake of Torah.

“One thing I ask of HaShem, that I seek - that I

“One thing I ask of HaShem, that I seek - that I may dwell in the house of HaShem all the days of my life, to see the pleasantness of HaShem and to visit His Temple all the days of my life.”

In light of the 9 Days and in preparation for Tisha B’Av the women of Midreshet Rachel v’Chaya traveled to the Old City for a tiyul. They were led by all-star guide, Alon Rogoff. Alon guided the women through the ancient history of the Southern Wall excavations, introducing them to the residents of the Ateret Cohanim homes, to Cotton Gate - the closest point Jews can be to the Kodesh HaKodashim and to daven by the Kotel Hakatan. The girls wrapped up the day at the Temple Institute.

BzH may we merit to see the Beis HaMikdash built in our lifetime.

Looking for a meaningful learning opportunity this

Looking for a meaningful learning opportunity this Tisha b’Av? Please join Midreshet Rachel v’Chaya (MRC) live via Zoom or plan to listen to the recordings throughout the day.

The Kinnot is for women, but the rest of the program is perfect for men and women!

To sign up to receive the recordings and the live Zoom link please visit: www.darchenoam.org/9Av

We are deeply appreciative of Rebz for graciously

We are deeply appreciative of Rebz for graciously hosting a beautiful evening to conclude MRC’s Summer Zman. Thank you, Rebz, for making the night truly exceptional.

A special thank you to Rav Karlinsky for imparting insightful Divrei Torah on Tisha B’Av as we enter the Nine Days.

Midreshet Rachel v’Chaya Summer Zman, 5784 📸

Midreshet Rachel v’Chaya Summer Zman, 5784 📸

In honor of the Seventeenth of Tammuz Midreshet Ra

In honor of the Seventeenth of Tammuz Midreshet Rachel v’Chaya was privileged to host Shoah survivor, Adele Judas. Adele shared both her story and the story of her husband, Kurt Judas.

Adele was born in Antwerp, Belguim. In 1940 her family ended up in the south of France, where they were imprisoned. Later Adele and her siblings escaped to Switzerland on their own. Following the war her family was reunited, miraculously all surviving the war. Eventually she met her husband in America.

MRC is wishing everyone a meaningful and easy rest of their fast. 🙏🏻

We are overwhelmed by the outpouring of generosity

We are overwhelmed by the outpouring of generosity and kindness during this week's incredible campaign.

Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of our donors and the tireless efforts of our staff, alumni, students, friends, and family, we came together to make this campaign a resounding success. Your contributions of time, resources, and spirit have made a profound impact on behalf of the students at Shapell's and Midreshet Rachel v'Chaya – today's Jewish heroes.

Thank you for standing with us and empowering the next generation of Jewish leaders. If you haven't had a chance to donate, it is not too late! Please visit www.darchenoam.org/jewish-heroes

At Shapell’s/Darche Noam and Midreshet Rachel v

At Shapell’s/Darche Noam and Midreshet Rachel v’Chaya, we empower our students to become today’s Jewish heroes. Armed with knowledge, fueled by values, they are shaping our future.

In the face of rising antisemitism, we provide them with the resilience to stand strong, using their education and values as a foundation for courage and confidence. We equip them with skills for learning and skills for life to build a vibrant Jewish future—not just for themselves, but for future generations, too.

Please donate now and empower our students to embrace their potential, build resilience through knowledge, and pave their paths to a bright Jewish future - not just for themselves, but for all of Am Yisrael!

🔗darchenoam.org/jewish-heroes

It has been a long night in the Batei Midrash of S

It has been a long night in the Batei Midrash of Shapell’s and Midreshet Rachel v’Chaya with our students working diligently late into the night to get us 45% of the way to reaching our goal of $720,000 - our highest campaign goal EVER!

The students and staff in Jerusalem have gone to sleep, and now it’s time for our alumni and friends outside of Israel to take over and help with the rest.

Please take advantage of this unique matching opportunity and donate generously today. We only have one day left to reach our goal!

With your investment, we can provide our students with the resilience to stand strong, using their education and values as a foundation for courage and confidence to build a vibrant Jewish future for themselves and future generations.

www.darchenoam.org/jewish-heroes

Empower Jewish Heroes Like Gabrielle Weiss - 36 H

Empower Jewish Heroes Like Gabrielle Weiss - 36 HOURS to DOUBLE your donation: www.darchenoam.org/jewish-heroes

Gabrielle grew up in a Conservative family in Wyndmoor, PA, but her Jewish identity faded by the time she started college in New York City. A Birthright program reignited her motivation to seek out Jewish community, and she became passionately involved in Israel advocacy on campus.

As her involvement and passion for Israel grew, her “friends” began to show their true colors – verbally harassing members of the campus Israel club, dropping their friendships with her, and posting on social media to call out the “dirty Zionists.” She was tagged online and flooded with antisemitic messages.

This only fueled her desire to fight for Israel. After graduation, she worked for Hasbara Fellowships and Club Z but with time felt she needed a stronger foundation in Judaism to be an effective mentor, leading her to seek out Midreshet Rachel v’Chaya.

At MRC, Gabs thrived.

“I am the Jewish woman I am today because of my rabbeim, teachers, and classmates,” she says. “MRC allowed me to find my path in Judaism that has given me the space to fit in the Torah community while still being an advocate for Am Yisrael.”

Gabs is wrapping up her full-time studies at MRC, and is using the skills and knowledge she gained there in her new role as Program Director at the Forum for Jewish Leadership (FJL). You can help other young women like Gabrielle flourish by supporting Midreshet Rachel v’Chaya today.

For the next 36 hours ONLY, a generous group of funders will match all donations. This means your contribution will have double the impact. Please make your annual gift now by visiting www.darchenoam.org/jewish-heroes.

In today’s world, where young Jews face immense

In today’s world, where young Jews face immense challenges and pressures, every individual who stands up for and deepens their Judaism is truly a Jewish hero. Midreshet Rachel v’Chaya is essential in this mission, playing a crucial role in nurturing resilient, educated, and strong Jewish young adults.

By supporting our institution, you are investing in the future of our community, ensuring that the next generation carries forward the torch of Jewish knowledge, identity, and pride amidst these unprecedented times.

When you donate within the next 36 hours, your generosity will be doubled through a group of dedicated funders. Join us now in making an investment that will have 2X the impact.

Donate NOW to Double Your Impact! Darchenoam.org/jewish-heroes

Today’s Jewish Hero: Juliana Castillo Juliana i

Today’s Jewish Hero: Juliana Castillo

Juliana is in her last year and a half at Columbia University, studying History and Philosophy. She is currently spending her summer break studying at Midreshet Rachel v’Chaya.

“With all that is going on in the world, it is more important than ever to have an internally directed sense of Jewish pride based on learning and tradition, something informed by generations of wisdom and strength.” -Juliana

Juliana represents what it means to be a Jewish Hero: Armed with Knowledge; Fueled by Values, and Shaping our Future!

In the next few days, you will be called upon to invest in the future of students like Leora by donating to our annual campaign. Your early support will build momentum and inspire others to join in when the campaign officially launches next week.

🔗 http://darchenoam.org/jewish-heroes

Midreshet Rachel v’Chaya has helped students lik

Midreshet Rachel v’Chaya has helped students like Leora Levitats build the confidence to live a proud Torah-observant life. Leora has been inspired by the other women learning alongside her at MRC who have pushed her in her own growth.

Leora represents what it means to be a Jewish Hero: Armed with Knowledge; Fueled by Values, and Shaping our Future!

In the next few days, you will be called upon to invest in the future of students like Leora by donating to our annual campaign. Your early support will build momentum and inspire others to join in when the campaign officially launches next week.

🔗 http://darchenoam.org/jewish-heroes

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