Midrasha

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A midrasha (Hebrew: מדרשה pl. midrashot) is an institution of Torah study for women in Judaism. It is roughly the equivalent of a yeshiva for men, and is mostly found in the Orthodox Jewish world. The term is often translated as 'seminary'. The Arab cognate madrasah also connotes the meaning of a place of learning.

Midrashot vary in curriculum and hashkafa (Hebrew: worldview, outlook, beliefs within orthodox Judaism). Midrashot on the left side of the Orthodox Jewish world often place more emphasis on the study of Talmud straight from the text itself, as in men's yeshivot, while right-leaning midrashot tend to incorporate the lessons of (and selections from) the Talmud into classes on Tanach (Bible), Jewish Philosophy, Mussar (ethics) and Halacha (Jewish law) instead. Most midrashot in the latter category are modeled on the Bais Yaakov teacher-training seminary established by Sarah Schenirer.

Nowadays it is increasingly common for Jewish girls from Torah-observant families to attend a midrasha in Israel for a year or more following high school; every year new midrashot are founded. There is also a strain of midrasha designed for baalei teshuva of all ages. Most midrashot for English-speakers are accredited by American colleges. Some midrashot offer second-year programs with Torah-classes in the morning and general-studies classes in the afternoons, allowing students to pursue a Torah education, and a general-studies education and college degree simultaneously.

The term midrasha may also refer to a general academy of higher study for boys and girls, such as the Ein Prat Midrasha^[1] in Israel.