Yoetzet Halacha Shoshana Samuels, Yoetzet Halacha cell: (201) 655-2180  email: yoetzet@rinat.org

During the calendar year of 5772/2011-2012 we are privileged to have Shoshana Samuels, a graduate of the Yoetzet Halacha fellowship, working in the Los Angeles area on a part time basis. Shoshana speaks to various groups of women on topics relating, but not limited, to Taharat Hamishpacha, women’s health, marital intimacy, family planning, peri-menopause and menopause. Between visits, Shoshana is available by phone and e-mail and encourages women to reach out to her with questions related to her knowledge base.

Shoshana received her Masters Degree from Ben Gurion University in Jewish Philosophy and is currently working as a Yoetzet at Congregation Rinat Yisrael in Teaneck, NJ and teaching at Maayanot High School for Girls.

The Yoetzet Halacha Los Angeles Program is under the auspices of BDJ, BJ, YICC and YULA Girls High School.

Yoatzot Halacha are female halachic advisors trained at Nishmat’s Keren Ariel Halachic Institute in Jerusalem. They are certified by a panel of Orthodox Rabbis to be resources for other women with questions regarding Taharat Hamishpacha, laws related to women and Mikvah. The role of a Yoetzet Halacha was created to help any woman who is more comfortable discussing these personal issues with another woman.

During their two-year fellowship, each Yoetzet Halacha devotes more than 1,000 hours to Talmudic and Halachic study, with a co-curriculum on the topics of gynecology, fertility, psychology and sexuality led by medical and health professionals. Following comprehensive examinations administered by a panel of distinguished Roshei Kollel and Poskim, graduates of Nishmat’s Keren Ariel Institute are awarded the title of Yoetzet Halacha. For more information on Nishmat’s program, visit http://www.yoatzot.org/.