Belda Kaufman Lindenbaum

Belda Kaufman Lindenbaum (1938 - May 2015) was a co-founder of Midreshet Lindenbaum, which helps support Jewish religious organizations.

Belda Kaufman Lindenbaum
Baila Sara Bat Rivka U'Zeev Dov
Born1938
DiedMay 2015
OrganizationJOFA, Drisha, Yeshivat Maharat, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, the American Friends of Bar-Ilan University, Ramaz School
Board member ofRamaz School, Yeshivat Maharat, Yeshiva University
Spouse(s)Marcel Lindenbaum
Parents
  • Benjamin D. Kaufman (father)
  • Rita Kaufman (mother)
RelativesCarol Kaufman Newman (sister), Judith Kaufman Hurwich (sister), Gerald Kaufman (brother), Nathan (son), Matthew (son), Bennett (son), Victoria Lindenbaum Feder (daughter), and Abigail Lindenbaum Tambor (daughter)
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Background

Lindenbaum, her husband Marcel, and Shlomo Riskin co-founded Midreshet Lindenbaum, a post high school institute in Israel for students which combines service in the Israeli Defense Forces with religious studies.

In 2012 Terrence James Victorino wrote a book entitled Midreshet Lindenbaum about the formation of the school.[1]

Lindenbaum and Marcel also funded a series of lectures on the role of women in Judaism given by David Hartman at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Israel.[2]

Lindenbaum served as a founding board member of Yeshivat Maharat,[3] on the Board of Directors of Yeshivat Chovevei Torah,[2] a board member of Yeshiva University,[4] President of the American Friends of Bar-Ilan University,[5] a board member of Ramaz Day School,[3], a past president of the Drisha Institute of Jewish Education[2], and a President and Vice President of JOFA.

Family

Lindenbaum was the daughter of Rita and Benjamin Kaufman.[5][6]

Lindenbaum had three siblings, Carol Kaufman Newman, Judith Kaufman Hurwich, and Gerald Kaufman.[5][7]

Lindenbaum and her husband Marcel had five children, Nathan, Matthew, Bennett, Victoria Feder and Abigail Lindenbaum Tambor, and 21 grandchildren.[7][8]

Lindenbaum and her husband were mentioned in Guide to U.S. Foundations, Their Trustees, Officers, and Donors.[9]

Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance

In 1999 Lindenbaum served as the Vice President of Development and sat on the Board of Directors[10] of the Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance, known as JOFA.

Agunah Crisis

Lindenbaum commented on the Agunah crisis, “This is an issue that burns very deeply...There is no issue quite like agunot to make you second guess the ethical quality of the religion.”[11]

Yeshivat Maharat

Lindenbaum was on the Board of Directors of Yeshivat Maharat, the first yeshiva to ordain women as Orthodox clergy, which strives to offer an exceptional education in Jewish law and pastoral counseling, preparing its graduates to inspire and lead Orthodox communities.[12][13]

On June 2, 2016 at Yeshivat Maharat’s Semikha Ceremony, hosted at Ramaz Lower School, Lindenbaum was mentioned by Rabba Sara Hurwitz in her “A Message from the Dean speech,” in which she commented “It has been over a year since Belda Lindenbaum zt’l passed away – there have been many days that I hear her voice in my head. I only hope that we are succeeding in fulfilling her dream of a more open minded, yet committed Orthodox Judaism.”[12]

Machon Siach

In 2016, through an endowed gift, Lindenbaum created the Machon Siach center at SAR High School. Machon Siach is a research institute committed to developing teachers as public intellectuals and thought leaders on matters of Jewish education, curriculum, and culture that are central to the Modern Orthodox Community. Machon Siach strives to create a "Thinking Institution" with the high school at the center. This model emphasizes collaboration among the school, community, alumni, and parents while engaging in research around crucial issues affecting Jewish education. Machon Siach supports in-depth faculty cohort research as well as programs for SAR graduates, community educators, and academics.

Death

After battling brain cancer for almost a year, Belda passed away in May 2015.[4]

References
  1. Victorino, Terrence James (2012). Midreshet Lindenbaum. International Book Market Service Limited. ISBN 978-613-5-76937-1.
  2. "Board of Directors". Yeshivat Chovevi Torah.
  3. Bitton-Jackson, Professor Livia (June 2015). "Belda Kaufman Lindenbaum: Visionary Champion of Women". The Jewish Press.
  4. "Belda Lindenbaum: Obituary". May 2015 – via The New York Times.
  5. "Paid Notice: Deaths – Kaufman, Rita". November 1999 – via The New York Times.
  6. Riskin, Rabbi Shlomo (May 2015). "Baruch Dayan HaEmet: Belda Lindenbaum, z"l". Ohr Torah Stone.
  7. Lipman, Steve (May 2015). "Pioneer Among Orthodox Feminists Succumbs" – via The Jewish Week.
  8. "Belda Lindenbaum". Jewish Women's Archive.
  9. Foundation Center (2004). Guide to U.S. Foundations, Their Trustees, Officers, and Donors. The Center. p. 2556. ISBN 978-1-931923-91-0 – via the University of Michigan.
  10. "Scroll of Honor" (PDF). JOFA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-09-05.
  11. "Historic JOFA-Kolech Meeting of the Minds". JOFA. JOFA Staff.
  12. "yeshivat maharat semikha ceremony" (PDF). Square Space. June 2016.
  13. "Mission and History". Yeshivat Maharat.
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