Midreshet Devora Update
Spring Semester
Tu B’Shvat at Midreshet Devora was a lot of fun! We participated in a Tu B’shvat seder where we had the opportunity to learn Torah while eating all of the Shivat HaMinim (Seven Species of the Land of Israel), we visited the Jerusalem Botanical Garden and planted flowers as well as sang Tu B’Svat songs and planted with English speaking senior citizens at Melabev in Talpiot.
The week of January 23rd we began our second semester. We are offering some new classes such as the Jewish Life Cycle, Ivrit B’Ivrit Shir HaShirim (Song of Songs taught in Hebrew), Taharat HaMishpacha (family purity) and two levels of Ulpan. We are also continuing the well loved classes from the first semester.
Our cultural mini courses will include Photography, Film and Archeology.
On Sunday, January 23 we enjoyed spending the afternoon with Rav Alan on a Jerusalem Experience in San Simon.
On Monday, January 24 we enjoyed a full day tiyul with Shani Taragin and Ezra Rosenfeld to Beit El.
Shifra, one of our students from last year who was in Israel for winter vacation joined us for the trip.
On Tuesday, January 25 we began to study the Laws of Marriage with Sharona, Shir HaShirim with Avigail and Modern Issues in the State of Israel and Chasidut with Rav Alan as well as Kashrut with Rav Jonny.
After our Wednesday morning classes we saw The Prince of Egypt and anlayzed how different it was from the Book of Shmot.
In the evening we had cooking with Eris where we made a gourmet dinner.
In Thursday morning’s Parshat HaShavua class, all of the students had a chance to present their own Divrei Torah. After Hebrew, Talmud and Chasidut Esther Leah taught a special interactive shiur which everyone enjoyed.
We had a really fun In Shabbat in Jerusalem and we enjoyed getting to know the new students who joined us for the second semester.
On Sunday, January 30th, the young women braved the heavy rain and went to Machon HaMikdash, the Temple Institute and had the opportunity to see what the vessels looked like in the Beit HaMikdash.
After Hilchot Shabbat and Foundations of Halacha we went on a cultural outing to the Betar Yerushalayim Soccer Game with The Sports Rabbi Josh Halickman.
On Monday the students returned to their Chesed projects helping the elderly and special needs populations in Southern Jerusalem.
In the evening we had intense discussions during Rabbi Simkovich’s class in Jewish Philosophy.
On Tuesday evening, we went to the Old City to hear Rebetzin Rigler speak.
On Wednesday afternoon we studied the different Halachic views on being exposed to outside culture followed by another great cooking class.
On Thursday we began to study the meaning behind our weekly morning prayers focusing on Psukei D’Zimra followed by The Biblical Importance of the Land of Israel, Ulpan, Talmud and Jewish Philosophy.
Sunday afternoon February 6 was the Jerusalem Eperience with Leah to the Biblibal Zoo! We enjoyed seeing animals from the TaNaCh as well as seeing how many Hebrew animal names that we could remember.
After our Chesed opportunities on Monday, we prepared for our two day overnight led by Ezra Rosenfeld to Masada, the Bedouines, Ein Gedi, Kumran, the Dead Sea, Camel rides and the Techelet factory.
On Thursday it was back to regular classes followed by a restful Shabbat.
Sunday, February 13th started with our morning shiurim followed by the Jerusalem Experience with Rav Alan to Rav Kooks house.
On Tuesday evening we went on a cultural outing to Tuesday Night Live in Jerusalem where we saw Shyne perform.
On Thursday we watched a film about Gush Katif followed by a visit to Rav Rimon from Job Katif.
After an Out Shabbat, we were back to our regular classes including a special Jerusalem Experience with Rav Alan to the Gush Katif Museum.
On Monday we participated in our Chesed opportunities and on Tuesday evening we made blintzes with Leah followed by a special lecture by Chaim Kramer.
Chaim is largely responsible for introducing Rebbe Nachman’s teachings to today’s generation. He is a sought-after lecturer on Rebbe Nachman’s teachings by English-speaking congregations around the world. Chaim has been the director of the Breslov Research Institute since its inception in 1979. BRI has been the main publishing-house for translations of classic and contemporary Breslov books. More than 100 titles are currently in print, in English, Hebrew, Russian, Spanish, French, and even Korean. Chaim himself, is the author of “Through Fire and Water”, “Crossing the Narrow Bridge”, “Anatomy of the Soul”, “This Land is My Land”, and many more titles, as well as annotating over 13 volumes of the English Translation of Likutei MoHaRan.
The Shabbat of February 25 was spent at Nechama Barash’s home in Elazar.
On Sunday, February 27, after an inspiring morning of studying Halacha with Rav Alan, we began our photography mini course with Yonit.
In the evening we heard Rabbi Berel Wein speak at The Great Synagogue about Patterns in Jewish History.
On Wednesday, we bagan our Archeology class with Aaron Greener.
In the evening we had cooking with Eris.
On Thursday we studied Parshat HaShavua, Hebrew and Talmud and had a special lecture with Ami Hordes.
On Sunday morning, March 6, we walked to the Kotel for Shacharit. When we returned, we studied about the Biblical Importance of Israel and Hebrew Language.
After lunch, we went on a Jerusalem Experience with Ezra: Jerusalem on the eve of Destruction.
In the evening we attended a Rosh Chodesh Body and Soul Spa Party which included dinner, creative movement and meditation, a lecture about Esther’s Hidden Beauty and Perfume Passion with aroma therapist Chana Schoenberg. Each student created their own scent of perfume.
On Monday, March 7, the second day of Rosh Chodesh we participated in a Carlebach Tefillah with Live music at Mizmor L’David.On Tuesday evening we baked Hamentashen with Leah.
On Wednesday we participated in another photography mini course with Yonit at the Tayelet.
After Thursday’s regular classes we packed up to get ready to spend Shabbat in Netofa. Thanks to Marti Leebhoff for hosting us again this year!
On Sunday and Monday we went on a TaNaCh Tiyul with Ezra Rosenfeld to the Golan where we visited the following places:
Mitzpeh LaShalom
