Role of Women in Judaism
Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, like all Orthodox rabbinical schools, accepts only male candidates for ordination. However, YCT, unlike a number of rabbis and institutions within Orthodox Judaism, has expressed an openness to the possibility of expanded roles for women in ritual life. Founder Avi Weiss explained: "Yeshivat Chovevei Torah Rabbinical School, as an Orthodox institution, requires that its students daven only in synagogues with mechitzot ," wrote Weiss in an e-mail to the Forward. "The phenomenon of women receiving aliyot in a mechitza minyan is currently being debated on both a halachic and communal level within the Modern Orthodox community. YCT Rabbinical School does not currently take a position on this issue."
As a result of this lack of prohibition, some YCT student and graduates have been involved in these types of services. In addition, many YCT students are instrumental in partnership minyanim like Washington Heights' MigdalOr.
In June 2009, Weiss created the title MaHaRaT for Sara Hurwitz. He wished he could have called her a rabbi, stating "She can do 95 percent of what other rabbis do".
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