Students, family and friends gathered at the Merkavah Torah Institute in Berkeley this week to celebrate the pluralistic learning center’s four-year anniversary.
Merkavah is a nonprofit that seeks to make Torah learning accessible and engaging for women of all ages and backgrounds.
“The vision of the people who come to Merkavah has enabled us to continue,” said Nell Mahgel-Friedman, a co-owner of Afikomen Judaica in Berkeley (with her husband, Rabbi Chaim Mahgel-Friedman) and founder of the institute in 2008. “Our classes open Torah learning in a significant way, and the environment is supportive, so students feel they can ask questions and share on a deeper level.”
Maayan Rabinovich, who moved from Israel to Berkeley last year, teaches two classes. She marvels at what an “amazing opportunity” the institute is for local women from across the Jewish spectrum.
“I come from Israel, where we are surrounded by Torah institutes, but here you really need this place for women who have a great urge to learn,” Rabinovich said. “One student who is moving soon to a city that has no such classes said she doesn’t know what she will do without this Torah experience.”
Added Mahgel-Fried-man: “I’ve always said that women can’t just pick up and move to Israel or New York to learn [Torah]. We are building something where we live, a real grass-roots model. Merkavah fills a need here.”
The institute has 36 students and meets at Congregation Beth Israel in Berkeley. The celebration May 8 was called a siyyum, a completion, as students rejoiced in completing a year of study (Merkavah’s fourth); many presented highlights of what they learned.
For information on new classes, call (510) 292-0175 or email [email protected].