Esti Rosenberg (Hebrew: אסתי רוזנברג; born July 24, 1965) is an American-Israeli Orthodox Rabbanit who is the founder and head of the Migdal Oz seminary.[1] She is the daughter of Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein and Dr. Tovah Soloveitchik and the granddaughter of Joseph B. Soloveitchik.[2]

Rabbanit
Esti Rosenberg
Personal
BornJuly 24, 1965
ReligionJudaism
NationalityAmerican, Israeli
SpouseHerzl Rosenberg
Children7
Parent(s)Aharon Lichtenstein, Tovah Lichtenstein
DenominationOrthodox Judaism
PositionFounder, Rosh Beit Midrash
OrganisationMigdal Oz
ResidenceAlon Shevut
DynastySoloveitchik dynasty

Biography

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Esti Rosenberg was born in 1965 in the United States, the fourth child of her parents, Aharon Lichtenstein and Tova Lichtenstein, and immigrated to Israel with her parents on Aliyah in 1971 at the age of six, when her father was offered the position of Rosh Yeshiva at Yeshivat Har Etzion.[3] She studied at the Chorev Ulpana in Jerusalem and was a member of the Ezra youth movement.[4] Rosenberg graduated with a bachelor's degree in Hebrew Literature and History from Hebrew University.[5] She studied Tanach studies at the Jerusalem Michlalah and learned in one of the first graduating classes of Matan Jerusalem.[6][7]

Rosenberg was Rosh Beit Midrash at Midreshet Bruriah, now known as Midreshet Lindenbaum, and served as Training Coordinator of Bnei Akiva's Jerusalem region. In 1997 she founded Migdal Oz, the sister school of Yeshivat Har Etzion, under the guidance of Aharon Lichtenstein and Yehuda Amital.[1][8] Rosenberg gives many Shiurim throughout Israel, is a member of Bnei Akiva's national administration and participates in peace dialogue groups between the religious and secular and between the right-wing and left-wing groups in Israel.[4]

Worldview

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Regarding the establishment of a Beit Midrash/seminary for women, Rosenberg said, "Placing Torah learning at the center of the beit midrash challenged the community of learners to delve into the experience of Abaye and Rava and into the halachic sugyot alongside serious, critical thinking and learning. It is in part a building of their religious personalities and in part a meaningful breakthrough for the integration of women into the world of Torah and placing them as exemplary role models for the girls who they will teach."[9] (Translated from original Hebrew.)

Rosenberg believes, in line with the views of her grandfather Joseph B. Soloveitchik, that Torah study is a fundamental and significant component of Avodat Hashem for the Jewish woman. This includes all fields of Torah, including Talmud, Tanach, machshevet Yisrael and chassidut. All these subjects are taught in depth at Migdal Oz with an emphasis on independent learning b'chravuta which is crucial in cultivating Torah learning as a substantive component in the life of the student.[10] Rosenberg has stated that learning in the beit midrash is a merit that becomes an obligation towards the Jewish People. Therefore, she calls upon her students to influence all areas of life in Israeli society, especially in the professions of teaching and education.[9]

Rosenberg has been a controversial figure in the push to expose women to Torah learning women, particularly Talmud.[11]

Personal

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Rosenberg is married to Herzl Rosenberg.[12] They have seven children and live in Alon Shevut.[4]

Family tree

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Rabbanit Esti Rosenberg". VBM: Torat Har Etzion.
  2. ^ "Guest Speakers". Lincoln Square Synagogue. 2013.
  3. ^ "Roshei Yeshiva". Yeshivat Har Etzion.
  4. ^ a b c נטעאל, בנדל (30 January 2013). "Things You Didn't Know About Rabbanit Esti Rosenberg". Kipah.
  5. ^ "The Educational Staff". SKA Migdal Oz. 28 February 2011.
  6. ^ "About". Deracheha.
  7. ^ "The Staff of the Beit Midrash". The Stella K. Abraham Beit Midrash For Women of Yeshivat Har Etzion.
  8. ^ "About Us". Beit Midrash LaNashim - Migdal Oz.
  9. ^ a b "דברי הרבנית אסתי רוזנברג – ראש בית המדרש". Beit Midrah Lanashim - Migdal Oz. 19 December 2010.
  10. ^ "Daily schedule". בית המדרש לנשים מגדל עוז. 2011-02-19. Retrieved 2022-02-20.
  11. ^ Rosenberg, Esti (2012). "The World of Women's Torah Learning — Developments, Directions and Objectives: A Report from the Field". Tradition: A Journal of Orthodox Jewish Thought. 45 (1): 13–36. ISSN 0041-0608. JSTOR 23264031.
  12. ^ "News: Mazal Tovs". Yeshivat Har Etzion.