About Machon Siach

We seek to engage contemporary issues and foster teacher growth through practical scholarship and action research to strengthen our school and the field of Jewish education.

Our Mission

Machon Siach at SAR High School seeks to shape the high school into a “thinking institution” by empowering teachers to meaningfully explore topics in contemporary Jewish education, bridging theory and practice in order to strengthen our capacity for living a committed and observant Jewish life while engaged with the broader world in our contemporary moment.

Machon Siach supports in-depth faculty cohort research as well as programs for SAR graduates, parents, community educators, and academics.

Our founder, Rabbi Tully Harcsztark, speaks about Machon Siach at SAR High School. Learn what drives this research institute. Click here to read more.

Our Leadership

Dr. Rivka Press Schwartz

Dr. Rivka Press Schwartz

Director of Research and Program Development
Rabbi Shmuel Hain

Rabbi Shmuel Hain

Director of Media and Publications
Dr. Tammy Jacobowitz

Dr. Tammy Jacobowitz

Director of Makom B'Siach Parent Programs
Dr. Gillian Steinberg

Dr. Gillian Steinberg

Director of Writing and Educational Innovation

Advisory Board

Giti Bendheim

Giti Bendheim

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Sender Cohen

Nathan Lindenbaum

Nathan Lindenbaum

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Dan Smokler

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Ariel Weiner

Belda Kaufman Lindenbaum z”l

Machon Siach is named in loving memory of Belda Kaufman Lindenbaum z”l, an advocate for serious women’s learning, addressing the plight for agunot, and women’s leadership in the Jewish community.

Born in 1938 in New York, Belda attended the Ramaz School and Finch College, a women’s college in Manhattan. As a young mother to five children–Nathan, Matthew, Bennett, Victoria and Abigail, she was encouraged by her husband, Marcel Lindenbaum, to redefine her relationship with Orthodoxy and model a pathway to observance for her daughters. Together, the Lindenbaums founded and supported many Jewish organizations that defined a new order for scholarship and Jewish practice, most notably Midreshet Lindenbaum yeshiva for women, Drisha, JOFA, Yeshivat Maharat, Darkhei Noam, and Machon Siach at SAR High School.

Young women who studied at Drisha or participated in JOFA found in Belda an impressive figure guiding important institutions and yet an engaged and accessible mentor who pushed them to fulfill their potential and overcome their fears at challenging the establishment. Belda, herself, was not afraid to raise her voice when necessary to be her own advocate, famously calling out “Kaddish” from the women’s gallery of a synagogue when the men below failed to recognize that she wished to say the mourner’s prayer. Her courage caused them to stop and take note and her prayer proceeded.

In May 2015, Belda Kaufman Lindenbaum died, leaving a remarkable legacy in the world of Jewish scholarship and particularly Jewish women’s scholarship. In her memory, the Lindenbaum family came forward with a major gift to SAR High School to fund Machon Siach based on conversations with Belda at the end of her life. She viewed SAR High School as taking on the mantle of Modern Orthodox leadership and felt that building a strong, vibrant, Modern Orthodox community requires a school with a vision of thought leadership from administration, faculty, and alumni. Her commitment to SAR is also shared by her children. Nathan, Victoria and Abigail all have children who attended SAR High School. Each of Belda’s children and grandchildren exhibit the energy and commitment to the Jewish community that was modeled and lived by Belda during her lifetime.

Tribute Film In memory of Belda Lindenbaum z”l
by Elena Neuman Lefkowitz
with appreciation to JOFA for use of footage

A tribute to Belda Lindenbaum z”l
by Rabbanit Lisa Schlaff