Sara Hurwitz, a learned and devout Orthodox Jewish woman
was conferred the new title of MaHaRa'T, an acronym for Manhigah Hilkhatit, Ruhanit, Toranit (for a halakhic
spiritual and Torah
leader) by
Rabbi Avi Weiss, senior
rabbi of the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale.
She returned years later at the death of her father, the
rabbi who
was the community's
spiritual leader, and still feels shunned.