Midreshet

Fall 2025-26 Session

Classes begin on Wednesday 9/17 and Thursday 9/18.

Registration deadline: September 11

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F1. The Jewish Journey Through Life

Registration closed

Wednesdays, 9:30-10:45

Instructor: Leslie Goldress
12 sessions in person
(online participation allowed only if necessary)
Cost: $210

Throughout the semester, students will explore text and thought surrounding the cradle to grave experiences of a Jew. Topics to be covered will include infertility, genetic testing, birth, brit, baby naming, bar and bat mitzvah, wedding, divorce, illness, death burial, shiva and mourning. Lesser known customs including Shalom-zachor, Vact-Nacht, Upsherin, Wimple and Shidduch dating will be explored. Both traditional texts and modern sources will help us navigate these topics.

F2. Israel Current Events

Registration closed

Thursdays, 9:30-10:45

Instructor: Shimmy Cohen
8 sessions in person or online (hybrid)
Cost: $145

Led by an Israeli, we will discuss a variety of everyday aspects of life in Israel, from the perspective of different views and beliefs. Topics will include Israel’s current war, Israel’s internal politics, Israel’s religious strife, Israel’s economy, Is Israel under existential threat?, Israel among the nations, Israel accomplishments, plus whatever you wanted to know about Israel and never asked. The seminar will be conducted in an open conversation format rather than a lecture only. We will welcome opposing points of view as well as suggestions for other subject to discuss in class (please submit in advance).

F3. Women in the Bible

Thursdays, 11:00-12:15

Instructor: Rabbi Jill Hackell
10 sessions in person or online (hybrid)
Cost: $180

The way in which women navigate a patriarchal society has been an issue from ancient times until today. In this class we will focus on Biblical women. Beyond the Matriarchs, stories of biblical women occur more often than you might think - Abigail, Bathsheba, Deborah, Tzipporah, Rahav - to name just a few. By focusing on the details of women's stories, we can learn a lot about their characters, the actions they took in order to achieve their goals, what the Bible itself thought about them, and what we think as we look at the text through modern eyes.

Instructor Bios

Leslie Goldress

Leslie Goldress has taught Melton and Midreshet since their inception in Rockland. A Jewish educator for over 40 years, she has a graduate degree from the Jewish Theological Seminary. Leslie served as Educational Director of the NCJC for over 20 years. She has taught Dramas of Jewish Living, a Florence Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning core class, Melton graduate courses on American Jewish Experience, Contemporary Jewish Issues, Israel, and the Development of the Jewish Denominations.

Shimmy Cohen

Shimmy Cohen is a native of Israel, where he grew up on a kibbutz in the Galilee. He served in the IDF and received his Engineering degree from Shenkar College in Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv. Upon arrival in the US, he received his MBA from Philadelphia University. Shimmy has taught Israel current events and other courses at Federation and other venues in Rockland County.

Dr. Rabbi Jill Hackell

Dr. Rabbi Jill Hackell received her M.D. degree from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and practiced pediatrics for several years. She worked for over 20 years in the pharmaceutical industry, where she did clinical research on new vaccines for children. She was ordained at the Academy for Jewish Religion, a pluralistic rabbinical school. Rabbi Hackell is the rabbi at the West Clarkstown Jewish Center. She also teaches Jewish Bioethics at AJR, secular Bioethics at Dominican University in the Graduate Nursing program, and has taught a wide range of subjects at the Federation Midreshet since 2012.

Financial need scholarships and spouse discounts are available.

For more information, contact Barry Kanarek at [email protected] or (845)362-4200 ext 170.