(Courtesy of Matan) Thirty-five years ago, Matan: the Sadie Rennert Women’s Institute for Torah Studies was created in Jerusalem by Rabbanit MalkeBina, who served as the Institute’s founder and chancellor before becoming president. Step by step over the last three-plus decades, Matan has revolutionized Torah learning for women, broadening the horizons, opening possibilities and shattering the glass ceiling. “Today,” explained CEO Chaya Bina-Katz, “Matan has become a unicorn. We reach hundreds of thousands of women (and men) worldwide, offering them unprecedented opportunities for multifaceted and innovative Torah study. Matan is truly strengthening and building future Jewish generations.”
Matan is led by a trio of women of vision—Rabbanit Bina, Chaya Bina-Katz and Dr. Yael Ziegler, rosh batei midrash and academic director, with inspiring faculty who are experts in their fields. There are advanced scholars’ programs in Jewish law, Talmud and Tanach, with graduates in Israel and all over the world who serve as passionate and influential educators and teachers, halachic responders, spiritual advisers, change agents and community leaders. There are over 80 weekly classes plus seminars and special events in person and on Zoom, in Matan’s 10 branches throughout Israel. Matan also has ample online resources, including a weekly parsha podcast that has attracted over 30,000 listeners, and Kitvuni, a newly launched program directed by Dr. Ziegler to catapult scholarly women authors onto the Jewish bookshelves, supporting them to write and publish books on diverse and varied Jewish topics.
As Matan looks back with pride it also continually looks forward. “We never stand still,” said Bina-Katz. “Rather we look to the future, and we seek the next challenge in women’s Torah learning. We are enabling, empowering and educating. We are immensely proud of Matan and of 35 years of changing the landscape of women’s Torah learning, and we never stop dreaming.”
On October 8, Matan will be celebrating its 35th anniversary milestone with a gala concert at the Jerusalem Theater, featuring popular singer and entertainer Ishay Ribo. It will be a wonderful opportunity to toast Matan and mark its achievements with song and festivities.
