Sixteen exceptional Orthodox Jewish women were selected to join the inaugural cohort of Ematai’s Advanced Torah Study Program in End-of-Life Care. The cohort includes physicians, nurses, psychologists, bioethicists, yoatzot halacha, educators, and community leaders, representing a comprehensive range of expertise. The fellows, who reside across the United States—including California, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, , Ohio, Tennessee, and Texas—were selected from more than 75 applicants, highlighting the incredible demand for such a program.

The intensive, nine-month program running from October 2025 through June 2026 will enhance participants’ knowledge of a broad range of topics such as halachic approaches to life-saving treatments, the permissibility of withholding care for the terminally ill, advance healthcare directives, pain management, and organ donation protocols. Graduates of the program will have the knowledge and training to serve the Jewish community as helpful resources for religious families navigating often emotionally-charged and complex end-of-life care decisions. 

• Ditza Berger, Cedarhurst, New York
• Adina Blaustein, Silver Spring, Maryland
• Rachel Cohen, Evanston, Illinois
• Aliza Feder, Far Rockaway, New York
• Briana Friedman, Flushing, New York
• Adira Hulkower, Manhattan, New York
• Leonie Jacob, Cleveland, Ohio
• Atara Kelman, New York, New York
• Chaya Lasson, Baltimore, Maryland
• Deena Levine Davidovics, Memphis, Tennessee
• Blima Marcus, Brooklyn, New York
• Beth Popp, Brooklyn, New York
• Chana Ringel, Bergenfield, New Jersey
• Yaffa Setton, Brooklyn, New York/Deal, New Jersey
• Sara Verschleisser-Pittinsky, Houston, Texas
• Meira Wolkenfeld, Berkeley, California

“Many of us are accustomed to having knowledgeable women to guide us through pivotal lifecycle events like marriage, birth, and beyond,” noted Mrs. Elizabeth Walder, President and CEO of Walder Foundation. “Until now, there hasn’t been comprehensive, high-level Torah training for women seeking to provide halachic-backed guidance for end-of-life care. After experiencing the death of my beloved husband, Dr. Yosef Walder z”l, and more recently, of my father, I recognize the need for knowledgeable Orthodox women who can guide families in providing their loved ones with a dignified final chapter, and to do so with modesty, compassion, and deep Torah knowledge.”

“The Ematai program represents a transformative step in creating opportunities for Orthodox women to lead with both halachic depth and emotional sensitivity,” said Ann and Jeremy Pava, Trustees of Micah Philanthropies. “It is a unique opportunity to reimagine leadership roles and ensure that our community has compassionate, well-trained women to provide spiritual and practical guidance in moments of profound vulnerability. We believe this program will strengthen the fabric of Jewish life by empowering women to serve families with dignity, empathy, and Torah wisdom.”

The program will be taught by Rabbi Dr. Shlomo Brody, Executive Director of Ematai, and Rabbi Dr. Jason Weiner, Senior Consultant at Ematai and Director of the Spiritual Care Department at Cedars‑Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Both rabbis are responders for Ematai’s Robert M. Beren Medical Halacha Helpline and bring extensive experience in Jewish medical ethics. 

“Within the Jewish community, women have long served in professional and volunteer roles to support families during life’s most challenging moments, but they have not received formal Torah education on these topics,” said Rabbi Dr. Brody. “These remarkable women bring diverse professional backgrounds in medicine, education, and community leadership. The program will empower them to deepen their roles as knowledgeable bridges between the medical world and our religious communities.”

“Orthodox Jewish families often struggle to navigate end-of-life care decisions that honor both medical best practices and Jewish values,” said Rabbi Dr. Weiner. “This program creates a cadre of women who can help their communities align their deepest religious convictions with the most appropriate culturally sensitive medical care.”
The hybrid program features 4-6 hours of weekly asynchronous learning plus bi-weekly live sessions, designed to accommodate the demanding schedules of the participants. This initiative is a flagship program in Ematai’s expanding efforts to educate professionals about Jewish medical ethics. The organization is also launching shorter courses for healthcare professionals, a new podcast for rabbis, and additional training initiatives to serve the growing need for halachic education in medical ethics.

“The women in our inaugural cohort are already leaders in their respective fields. This program will provide them with the additional halachic framework to serve their communities even more effectively,” said Adina Blaustein, Education Program Coordinator at Ematai and a participant in the cohort.

The program’s innovative hybrid structure allows busy professionals to engage deeply with Jewish texts while building practical skills for real-world application. The curriculum addresses contemporary challenges including communication with families during medical crises, ethical considerations in organ donation and autopsies, morphine use for pain management, and the withdrawal or withholding of medical treatment. Participants will complete case study assessments and develop community impact projects to ensure their learning translates into meaningful service. 

Ematai gratefully acknowledges the generous support of Micah Philanthropies, Walder Foundation, the Herenstein Family, and an anonymous donor, whose commitment makes this groundbreaking program possible.

About Ematai

Ematai’s mission is to help Jews navigate a broad range of issues relating to aging, end-of-life care, and organ donation by providing educational resources, halachic guidance, and advance planning tools.

Projects such as the Netivot advance healthcare directive & conversation guide, the Option 18 organ donation initiative, and its Robert M. Beren Medical Halacha Helpline help Ematai support the Jewish community around the world. Learn more at www.ematai.org.