History & Vision
Founded and led by Rabbi Daniel Landes, Yashrut is a Torah institution dedicated to the rigorous study of Talmud and Halacha, and the pursuit of moral integrity. Yashrut ordains Rabbis and educates students who are dedicated to serving humanity and the Jewish people. Yashrut is committed to cultivating a highly-educated, passionate cadre of Jewish learners and leaders to demonstrate and promote the Torah’s call to moral excellence, providing strength to the Jewish people and the world.
The Story of Yashrut
Fractures
In the early 2000s in Jerusalem, Rabbi Daniel Landes noticed a confluence of trends that presented a serious dilemma for many very talented and highly educated students of Torah. The liberal contexts (and seminaries) with which they identified, were not serious enough in deep Talmud and Halakhah studies. Also, many (not all) Orthodox study centers (Batei Midrash) that did offer deep study were usually illiberal and, in many cases, racist and misogynistic. Additionally, many of the more liberal Orthodox centers were obsessed with their standing within that denomination.
Heeding the Call
In light of this observation, Landes decided to develop and implement a Semikhah (rabbinic training/ordination) education fitting for students who sought uncompromisingly deep and thorough learning in an environment that emphasized liberal values, inclusivity and egalitarianism in accord with Halakhah. While the learning was traditional at its core, it was informed by diverse contemporary hermeneutical “lenses.” The semikhah would be Orthodox and would attempt to eliminate denominational fixations and conversations. Rabbi Landes arrived at defining his method as “predenominational”.
Strong Beginnings
Students, having entered study with Rav Landes already at a very advanced level of Jewish study, studied and took oral exams over the course of several years, resulting in ordinations of individuals and small groups. Between 2005 and 2015, Rabbi Landes ordained 8 students which caught general attention and favor. In 2016, Landes ordained a cohort of 21 students – 12 men and 9 women – in a moving public ceremony that was standing-room-only. The Semikhah was denigrated by many Orthodox rabbis as tragic, celebrated by a number of others who attended and was crowned in the world Jewish press as historic.
Breaking Ground
With the 2016 Semikhah came increased demand for this form of study. Rabbi Landes continued his efforts leading to the 2018 official launch of Yashrut. In 2019, Yashrut held a Semikhah Tekes for a cohort of 11 people, including an openly gay man. While the ceremony did not focus on this issue, per se, it also attracted an overflowing crowd, similarly receiving denigration and praise and, once again, deemed historic. Yashrut has continued to attract cohorts of incredibly talented and brilliant students, for whom deep study, strong liberal openness, and the lack of denominationalism motivated their pursuit of this Orthodox Semikhah.
New Pathways
Following the 2019 Semikhah Tekes, Yashrut continued its Semikhah Initiative while also piloting a new program. The Classic Talmud Program (CTP) brought together students interested in Talmud study for its own sake, with students wishing to gain more experience in preparation for future Semikhah study. Since the pilot year, CTP enrollment expanded, reaching more than forty students in 2024 with further demand and a waiting list. Yashrut augmented the program’s offerings, including the addition of new instructors, expansion of existing instructors’ involvement, and enrichment of the tutorial experience.
Continued Service
As Yashrut continues its efforts into the future, its vision remains steadfast and programs continue to be rooted in an approach that is:
Collaborative
Connecting educators and students in pursuit of rigorous, shared study of Talmud and Halakhah
Inclusive and Open
Embracing the marginalized and emphasizing neither ideology nor coercion.
Interpretive and Inquisitive
Providing a laboratory for moral understanding and relation to God that employs all forms of hermeneutics and classic analytic study
Future-oriented
Developing improved language of debate and new interpretation and practical application for a more socially progressive society.
