The Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance offering mikveh teaching qualifications to men
JOFA Australia will be offering men the chance to become qualified Chatan teachers under the tutelage of Rabb Yoni Rosensweig, a highly esteemed Jewish educator and the head of the Israeli-based mental health charity Maaglei Nefesh.
Ran Yoni
“This time, we are doing something slightly different and are seeking to train men as Chatan teachers,” said JOFA Australia President Nomi Kaltmann. “This is off the back of two highly successful JOFA-funded training programs, one dedicated to training Mikveh attendants and one dedicated to training Kallah teachers.”
Mikvehs are the backbone of any orthodox community. Ensuring that the men and women of Australia have access to highly trained teachers who embody sensitivity, knowledge and care for the laws of Taharat Hamishpacha is critically important.
In conjunction with Rav Yoni, JOFA Australia is excited to establish the first all-Australian Chatan teacher 10-week training course. Alongside experts, Rav Yoni will be teaching the course and JOFA Australia will be providing scholarships for Australian men to complete this course.
“This training course is for existing Chatan teachers and men who would like to do a course that can provide them the insight and knowledge to become Chatan teachers. No matter the number of years of experience you may have as a teacher or if you are a new Chatan teacher, this course is for you,” said Kaltmann.
The 10-week course will focus on how teachers can help couples to have a personally meaningful and welcoming experience in the mikveh.
JOFA Australia is keen to continue to help the Australian community infuse mikveh with relevance to the lives and challenges of couples today, as well as providing support and resources for crisis and lifecycle moments and increasing knowledge about intimacy and health.
Previously, there has never been an all-Australian cohort of Chatan teachers, but this course has been set up to train Australian men specifically.
The Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance seeks to expand the spiritual, ritual and intellectual opportunities for women within the framework of halakha (Jewish law), by advocating meaningful participation for women in family life, synagogues, houses of learning and Jewish communal organisations to the fullest extent possible.
