https://staging.thenewjew.org/articles/websites-hadar.xml/articles/websites-hadarxmlarticleHadarThe Hadar Institute — intensive Traditional Egalitarian learning, particularly strong on Talmud and liturgy.The New Jew/index.xmlTools & Resources/sections/library-tools.xmlHadar/articles/websites-hadar.xml
https://staging.thenewjew.org/articles/websites-hadar
https://staging.thenewjew.org/articles/websites-hadar.json
<_xml>https://staging.thenewjew.org/articles/websites-hadar.xml
websites-hadarHadarThe Hadar Institute — intensive Traditional Egalitarian learning, particularly strong on Talmud and liturgy.Summary. Hadar (hadar.org) is the Hadar Institute, an open and egalitarian center of Jewish learning, founded in 2006 by Rabbis Elie Kaunfer, Ethan Tucker, and Shai Held. Hadar runs intensive yeshiva programs, summer kollels, and online learning. The hashkafa is Traditional Egalitarian — fully halachic, fully egalitarian (men and women lead and learn equally), and intellectually rigorous. The website hosts an enormous library of Talmud shiurim, liturgical commentary, and contemporary halachic discussion. Highly recommended for a New Jew drawn to halachic seriousness without the gender separations of Orthodox practice.deeperwebsiteshadaregalitarianhalacha2026-07-06T02:19:03.001Z3642library-toolsTools & Resourcessummary
Summary. Hadar (hadar.org) is the Hadar Institute, an open and egalitarian center of Jewish learning, founded in 2006 by Rabbis Elie Kaunfer, [Ethan Tucker](/glossary.xml#letter-E), and Shai Held. Hadar runs intensive [yeshiva](/glossary.xml#letter-Y) programs, summer [kollels](/glossary.xml#letter-K), and online learning. The [hashkafa](/glossary.xml#letter-H) is [Traditional Egalitarian](/glossary.xml#letter-T) — fully [halachic](/glossary.xml#letter-H), fully egalitarian (men and women lead and learn equally), and intellectually rigorous. The website hosts an enormous library of [Talmud](/glossary.xml#letter-T) [shiurim](/glossary.xml#letter-S), liturgical commentary, and contemporary halachic discussion. Highly recommended for a New Jew drawn to halachic seriousness without the gender separations of [Orthodox](/glossary.xml#letter-O) practice.
Summary. Hadar (hadar.org) is the Hadar Institute, an open and egalitarian center of Jewish learning, founded in 2006 by Rabbis Elie Kaunfer, Ethan Tucker, and Shai Held. Hadar runs intensive yeshiva programs, summer kollels, and online learning. The hashkafa is Traditional Egalitarian — fully halachic, fully egalitarian (men and women lead and learn equally), and intellectually rigorous. The website hosts an enormous library of Talmud shiurim, liturgical commentary, and contemporary halachic discussion. Highly recommended for a New Jew drawn to halachic seriousness without the gender separations of Orthodox practice.heading
What Hadar Offers
What Hadar Offersparagraph
Online [Beit Midrash](/glossary.xml#letter-B) — daily live and recorded Talmud, halacha, and [Tanakh](/glossary.xml#letter-T) classes.
Online Beit Midrash — daily live and recorded Talmud, halacha, and Tanakh classes.paragraph
Project [Zug](/glossary.xml#letter-Z) — paired [chevruta](/glossary.xml#letter-C) learning by phone or video, matched by Hadar staff.
Project Zug — paired chevruta learning by phone or video, matched by Hadar staff.paragraph
Summer Yeshiva and Year Program — intensive in-person learning in Manhattan.
Summer Yeshiva and Year Program — intensive in-person learning in Manhattan.paragraph
Rising Song Institute — the egalitarian music and liturgy initiative.
Rising Song Institute — the egalitarian music and liturgy initiative.paragraph
Hadar Press — books by Rabbi Shai Held (The Heart of [Torah](/glossary.xml#letter-T) is foundational) and other Hadar faculty.
Hadar Press — books by Rabbi Shai Held (The Heart of Torah is foundational) and other Hadar faculty.heading
Hashkafa
Hashkafaparagraph
Hadar is Traditional Egalitarian: it accepts the binding force of Halacha while affirming full egalitarian participation (women count in the [minyan](/glossary.xml#letter-M), lead prayers, read Torah, etc.). The halachic argument for this position has been developed primarily by Rabbi Ethan Tucker (Hadar's [Rosh Yeshiva](/glossary.xml#letter-R)) in a series of [teshuvot](/glossary.xml#letter-T). Hadar is not part of the Conservative movement but is closer to Conservative than to Orthodox in practice; many Hadar faculty hold Conservative [semikha](/glossary.xml#letter-S).
Hadar is Traditional Egalitarian: it accepts the binding force of Halacha while affirming full egalitarian participation (women count in the minyan, lead prayers, read Torah, etc.). The halachic argument for this position has been developed primarily by Rabbi Ethan Tucker (Hadar's Rosh Yeshiva) in a series of teshuvot. Hadar is not part of the Conservative movement but is closer to Conservative than to Orthodox in practice; many Hadar faculty hold Conservative semikha.heading
For Whom
For Whomparagraph
A New Jew who is drawn to serious halachic learning and committed to egalitarian practice. A learner who wants Talmud taught at a yeshiva level with women on the [bimah](/glossary.xml#letter-B). Anyone in the orbit of Conservative or post-denominational Jewish life.
A New Jew who is drawn to serious halachic learning and committed to egalitarian practice. A learner who wants Talmud taught at a yeshiva level with women on the bimah. Anyone in the orbit of Conservative or post-denominational Jewish life.heading
Where Denominations Diverge
Where Denominations Divergeparagraph
Traditional Egalitarian / post-denominational. Hadar faculty mostly hold Conservative semikha; the institution is independent.
Traditional Egalitarian / post-denominational. Hadar faculty mostly hold Conservative semikha; the institution is independent.heading
Sources
Sourcesparagraph
[Beyond Conservative and Reform: The Rise of the Unaffiliated Synagogue](https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/community/articles/beyond-conservative-reform-unaffiliated-synagogues) — Tablet.
Beyond Conservative and Reform: The Rise of the Unaffiliated Synagogue — Tablet.paragraph
[At 10, egalitarian yeshiva wants to expand learning among Jews in the pews](https://www.jta.org/2017/03/03/united-states/at-10-egalitarian-yeshiva-wants-to-expand-learning-among-jews-in-the-pews) — JTA.
At 10, egalitarian yeshiva wants to expand learning among Jews in the pews — JTA.paragraph
[Hadar's new plan has it minting rabbis, opening synagogues and sending teens to Israel. Is it a denomination now?](https://www.jta.org/2024/07/01/religion/hadars-new-plan-has-it-minting-rabbis-opening-synagogues-and-sending-teens-to-israel-is-it-a-denomination-now) — JTA.
Hadar's new plan has it minting rabbis, opening synagogues and sending teens to Israel. Is it a denomination now? — JTA.paragraph
[Minyan of Ten](https://aish.com/minyan-of-ten/) — Aish.
Minyan of Ten — Aish.heading
hadar.org
hadar.orgparagraph
Rabbi Ethan Tucker's halachic teshuvot.
Rabbi Ethan Tucker's halachic teshuvot.heading
Further Reading
Further Readingparagraph
Shai Held, The Heart of Torah (2 vols).
Shai Held, The Heart of Torah (2 vols).paragraph
Elie Kaunfer, Empowered Judaism.
Elie Kaunfer, Empowered Judaism.websites-sefariaSefaria/articles/websites-sefaria.xmlwebsites-chabadorgChabad.org/articles/websites-chabadorg.xmlwebsites-myjewishlearningMyJewishLearning/articles/websites-myjewishlearning.xmlwebsites-aleph-betaAleph Beta/articles/websites-aleph-beta.xmlEthan TuckerRosh Yeshiva of the Hadar Institute and a contemporary halachic authority whose teshuvot (legal responsa) provide the leading halachic argument for Traditional Egalitarian practice — full halachic observance combined with equal participation by women in prayer and Torah reading.websites-hadarHalachaהֲלָכָהJewish law — literally "the way one walks" — the legal system that develops from the Torah's mitzvot through the Mishnah, Talmud, and the great codes; the movements differ on how binding it is, not on its centrality to the tradition.essentials-essential-questions-what-is-halachaOrthodox JudaismOrthodox Judaism holds Halacha as fully binding and the Shulchan Aruch as its canonical code; it spans Haredi and Hasidic communities as well as Modern Orthodoxy, and is the starting point from which this Field Guide is written, even as it engages seriously with other denominations.how-to-use-this-field-guideTalmudתלמודThe vast rabbinic work — the Mishnah together with the Gemara's discussion of it — that develops the Oral Torah into Jewish law and thought. It is the central text of Jewish study after the Bible itself.essentials-essential-facts-the-talmud-in-one-articleTanakhתנ״ךThe Hebrew Bible, named for the initials of its three sections: Torah (the Five Books), Nevi'im (Prophets), and Ketuvim (Writings) — twenty-four books in the traditional count.essentials-essential-facts-the-tanakh-in-one-articleTorahתּוֹרָהThe Five Books of Moses — the scroll at the center of Jewish life — and, more broadly, the whole of Jewish teaching. 'Learning Torah' can mean anything from Chumash to Talmud.Traditional EgalitarianA contemporary approach to Jewish practice — associated with institutions like the Hadar Institute — that affirms the full, binding authority of halacha while also affirming full egalitarian participation, with women counted in the minyan and leading prayer and Torah reading.websites-hadarbeit midrashבֵּית מִדְרָשׁA 'house of study' — the hall, lined with books and loud with paired argument, where Jewish texts are learned. It is the beating heart of a yeshiva and of many synagogues.bimahבִּימָהThe raised platform in the synagogue from which the Torah is read and, in many congregations, the service is led.chevrutaחַבְרוּתָאA study partner, and the paired, out-loud style of learning that is the basic unit of Talmud study — from the Aramaic for 'friendship.' Two learners argue a text into clarity.community-chevra-and-chevrutahashkafaהַשְׁקָפָהOne's religious outlook or worldview — the lens of values and emphases (rationalist, mystical, Zionist, egalitarian) through which a person or community approaches Jewish life.kollelכּוֹלֵלAn institute of full-time, usually stipended Torah study for adults, most often married men — the word means "all-inclusive."minyanמִנְיָןThe quorum of ten adult Jews required for certain communal prayers, including Kaddish and the public Torah reading. In Orthodox practice the count is ten men; egalitarian communities count all adults.rosh yeshivaרֹאשׁ יְשִׁיבָהThe head of a yeshiva — the senior Torah scholar who leads an academy of Jewish learning.shiurשיעורA Torah class or lesson (plural shiurim), from a word meaning 'measure' or 'portion.' Attending a weekly shiur is one of the most common ways Jews learn together.smichaסְמִיכָהRabbinic ordination — the formal conferral of authority to teach and rule on Jewish law, whose name ('laying on of hands') recalls Moses ordaining Joshua.teshuvotתשובותResponsa (singular teshuvah, 'answer') — written halachic rulings issued by rabbis in reply to submitted questions; the responsa literature is how Jewish law meets new situations.yeshivaישיבהAn academy of intensive Torah and Talmud study (plural yeshivot), traditionally built around chevruta partner learning; from a root meaning 'to sit.'zugזוגA 'pair' — in the world of Jewish learning, the two partners of a chevruta who study a text together.parentTools & Resources/sections/library-tools.xmlrelatedSefaria/articles/websites-sefaria.xmlrelatedChabad.org/articles/websites-chabadorg.xmlrelatedMyJewishLearning/articles/websites-myjewishlearning.xmlrelatedAleph Beta/articles/websites-aleph-beta.xml