Educating the Mind. Inspiring the Heart.
Women’s Institute of Torah Seminary (WITS) מכון אור יהודית is a seminary and an undergraduate college, accredited by the Association of Institutions of Jewish Studies (national accreditation) and approved as a degree-granting institution by the Maryland Higher Education Commission.
WITS has provided Jewish women with an undergraduate education leading to BA and BS degrees since 1998. We are proud of over 1900 alumnae who have gone on to graduate school and to careers in a diverse array of fields.
The student body in 2019-2020 includes 163 young women studying a wide range of disciplines including Jewish studies, education, natural and physical sciences, pre-med, business and accounting, graphic arts, computer science, cybersecurity, psychology, speech and language pathology and humanities.
With a 96% graduate school admissions rate over the past two years, students have been accepted to prestigious institutions locally and across the country including Johns Hopkins University, University of Maryland, Georgetown University, Columbia University, Towson University, Yeshiva University, Purdue University, Stevenson University, Temple University, Touro College and New York University.
WITS at a Glance
Enrollment
Current Enrollment
From Baltimore
144
From Out of Town
19
93 On-site
26 Dual HS/College
Enrollment
44 Israel Study Abroad
Program (ISAP)
successes
Years in
Operation
22
Graduate School
Acceptance Rate
96%
Graduation Rate
80%
faculty
Number of Kodesh Faculty
17
Number of General Studies Faculty
52
alumnae
WITS / Maalot
Alumnae of Record
1,609
Cities Represented
by our Students
60
Countries Represented
by our Students
9
Meet Our Leadership & Staff
Rebbetzin Ettie Rosenbaum, Menaheles, and Dr. Leslie G. Klein, Academic Dean, are more than academic administrators at WITS. Their dedication to the school and to each student is a hallmark of the institution. They, along with the faculty and staff, combine erudition and refinement with creativity and scholarship to create a vibrant, challenging learning environment.
Academic Dean
Dean Emerita
CFO
Mrs. Aliza Sklare
Director of Marketing
& Development
Mrs. Sarah Brody
Points of Pride
Serving Your Spirit
WITS is more than just a way to attain your degree. It provides you with all the tools you need to develop into a successful, accomplished Jewish woman in the 21st century. We serve your spirit as well as your mind.
A Personal Touch
With our small class sizes and devoted teaching staff, WITS students gain much more than the knowledge they need to succeed. They create personal connections with the Rabbonim, Mechanchos, professors, instructors and academic advisors guiding them
for a lifetime.
Growth in Learning
The programs and courses available at WITS are designed to not only provide students with the information they need to complete their academic goals, but also to continue to grow as Jewish women in the 21st century.
Ms. Lesley Austen
Executive Assistant
to Academic Dean
Mrs. Mimi Biegacz
Director of Academic
Advisement
Mrs. Laura Ann Glazer
Office Administrator
Mrs. Yocheved Lapidus
Academic Advisor
Mrs. Elaine Mael
Librarian
Mrs. Sima Oratz
Bursar
Mrs. Tova Rappaport
Financial Aid
Administrator
Mrs. Cindy Ring
Registrar and
Academic Advisor
Mrs. Rachel Wainhaus
Special Projects
Coordinator
Mrs. Malky Weill
Student Services
Coordinator
Accreditation Information
History of
WITS/Maalot
Life in Baltimore
Board of Directors
Officers
Chairman, Mr. Solomon Spetner*
President, Dr. Aviva Weisbord, PhD*
Vice President, Mrs. Minda Spetner*
Menaheles/Ex-officio, Rebbetzin Ettie Rosenbaum*
Treasurer, Mrs. Sue Nissel
Secretary, Mrs. Deborah Stern
Dr. Hinda Dubin, MD*
*Member of the Executive Committee of the Board
Members
Rabbi Zev Katz
Mr. Marvin Itzkowitz
Mrs. Sora Itzkowitz
Mrs. Shifra Rabenstein
Dr. Janet Sunnes, MD
Mrs. Leah Berry
Mrs. Eve Messing