Midreshet Devora Update- August 30- September 12, 2010
With much anticipation and excitement, the Midreshet Devora 2010-2011 students arrived in Israel on Monday August 30th. Josh Halickman greeted the students from all over the US and Canada at the airport. Some of the students even had the opportunity to meet David Blu, a basketball player for the Israeli National Team and Maccabi Tel Aviv who was returning to Israel from Montenegro!
Upon arriving in Jerusalem, the students moved in to their beautiful apartment in the luxury buildings on Derech Hevron and enjoyed a bagel lunch.
In the evening we walked to the Kotel and spent time in prayer and introspection.
After the Kotel, the students were treated to ice cream in the Jewish Quarter before returning to Midreshet Devora.
After our Tuesday morning orientation, the students had their first Zionism class on site at the Tayelet with Rabbi Alan Goldman- only a block away from the student apartment!
On Wednesday, we had the honor of hearing a special guest speaker, Lisa Aiken, noted author, who spoke about Prayer and the High Holidays.
In the afternoon, Rabbi Jonny Gordon taught Kashrut in the Kitchen.
In the evening Leah taught a class which combined shopping in the supermarket, cooking dinner and learning about the High Holidays.
On Thursday, Sharona gave a class on Women, Prayer and Rosh Hashana followed by Introduction to Hilchot Shabbat with Rabbi Josh Kanter.
In the afternoon, the students met Sarit the Ulpan teacher. The young women are looking forward to improving their Hebrew.
Nechama taught the first Talmud class of the year and then the students went to Tel Aviv to see the Israel National Team play soccer!
On Friday morning, the students went with Josh Halickman on a trip called “Shabbat Yerushalayim” where they saw first hand how Jerusalem prepares for Shabbat in the Machane Yehuda Market, Mea Shearim and Downtown.
The students spent Shabbat in Talpiot eating the meals at Sharona and Josh Halickman’s home and davening at different shuls in the neighborhood.
After Shabbat we went to Slichot at Mizmor L’David and were treated to fireworks from the Kochav Nolad- A Star is Born TV show that was being filmed at Sultan’s Pool on our way home.
On Sunday, Sharona taught a special shiur called “Returning to God, Returning to the Land of Israel” followed by Avigail’s NaCh class where they studied the Book of Yonah and Rav Josh’s Shabbat class where they began to work on the Laws of Shabbat in the Shulchan Aruch.
On Sunday afternoon the students went with Rav Alan to Ir David where they enjoyed walking through Chizkiyahu’s dark water tunnel.
On Sunday evening we packaged Rosh Hashana gifts for lone soldiers at Merkaz HaMagshimim.
On Monday, we studied the Rambam’s Hilchot Tshuva with Sharona and volunteered at the Meir Panim Soup Kitchen. In the afternoon we had Jewish Philosophy with Rabbi Moshe Simkovich.
On Monday night, we went to an inspiring shiur in Katamon given by Rebetzin Shira Smiles.
After our Tuesday classes the students worked with Miriam, our Madricha to plan out what they would be shopping for and cooking for Shabbat lunch.
On Wednesday, the students prepared for the Rosh Hashana/Shabbat Shuva holiday where they had the opportunity to try out different shuls as well as eat meals with different members of the community.
On Saturday night the young women had the chance to go out and explore Jerusalem and get ready for the Fast of Gedalia where they will have a half day of classes.
We are looking forward to an exciting week.
A few things that you may want to check out:
Check out Sharona Halickman’s radio interview from last week about Midreshet Devora and Torat Reva Yerushalayim http://www.tcin.tv/
On Monday evening, 8pm Israel time, Midreshet Devora will be in the studio audience of Rabbi Brovender’s class on Hilchot Tshuva. Log on to the Web Yehiva, sign up for this free class and you can be there with us!
In conjunction with the AACI, Rabbi Brovender will be giving a lecture on
‘Great Jewish Thinkers: Maimonides’
Maimonides is considered one of the greatest philosophers in Jewish History. His work, “The Laws of Repentance”, summarizes all the procedures and essence of repentance, or Teshuva. Elul, the month leading up to Rosh Hashana, is a period of reflection on the past year, repentance for our actions and resolve for future growth. Rabbi Chaim Brovender, Rosh Yeshiva of WebYeshiva, will be examining Maimonides’ teaching on repentance, and discussing ‘Does Teshuva always work?”
Monday September 13, 2010 at 8pm (Israel).
The lecture will be presented in front of a live audience at AACI,
Dr. Max & Gianna Glassman Family Center, 2 Poalei Tzedek (opposite Hadar Mall, on the corner of Pierre Koenig), Talpiot, Jerusalem.
The lecture will be also be broadcast live and online at WebYeshiva.org.
Please click here to register. Offered as part of our free Elul Zman.
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Shana Tova and Gmar Chatima Tova from Midreshet Devora!
Midreshet Devora
