Darchei Binah?

Well the award for most seminary related threads created in a 48 hour period goes to zeena!

I think michalalah might be better.

Darchei binah might be a little less intellectual

Officially, they call themselves that. But I wouldn’t equate them to a secular college. Michlala is much bigger than the average seminary, has people of all different backgrounds, and uses more of a inquiry-based (versus hashkafik) method. They are not catering to a “type” per se – their focus is on the learning. This produces a different sort of learning environment. The classes are also a lot less regimented. Outside of that, it’s not much like an actual secular college.

Disclaimer: I didn’t go there, so I don’t have firsthand knowledge. These are just the impressions I got from friends who went there/teachers who taught there. Feel free to add, disagree, etc.

Michlalah is the bridge to real life. From high school to the real world. the stepping block in between. You are responsible for stocking your own fridge, cooking supper, making time for accomplishing your errands while balancing everyday life and school work. Everything is not handed to you on a silver platter. you have to figure things out. These are all factors which help the development of an individual. You learn to be independent and self sufficient. Michlalah trusts you to make wise decisions. By the way, tznius is enforced. Skirts that are too short will be confiscated. They care.

I said a few negatives in a previous thread, but it was considered Lashon Hara. Needless to say, the thread was closed.

You might also check Sharfman’s, it sounds like it might be a good fit.

i know someone who went to darchei binah and she looked at your post of what type of girl your daughter is and she thinks Darchei binah is perfect for her! she said there were many girls in darchei bina who were exactly like your daughter sounds and they loved it there, it was perfect for them!- very intellectual,-tons of studying and delving into the subjects, made lifelong friends, relationships with teachers,same type of girls,(from beis yaakov, openminded, some listen to non jewish music and same skirt length..)

Darchei binah- said by someone i know:

“I dont think you should base your decision on me, especially because i went there and i didnt think it was the right seminary for me so i might have a negetive perspective but i do know about it and i’ll tell you what i experienced and what i remember:

1. to find out where everything they learned came from so that they know for life. teachers they can get close to, somewhere to grow.

2. important, you have to read a meforash and explain it and get Rabbi Kurland to like you ;)figure out his sense of humor

3. there were all different classes. some with charusos, some lectures and some writing notes, and most were intense.

4&5.from what i remember some classes you have to take like a type of navi class,tzenius, shabbat, gur aryeh, chumash, and others are optional like mesilat yesharim, or kashrut -there are at least 20 different ones to choose from

6. there is at least 1 test a week, quizzes, reports, a lot of homework and studying.

7.getting as much work done was important and work was a biggg factor of importance.

8. what made it hard for me was there were a lot of classes that involved a lot of mefarshim and the text, delving into the subject ex. hatzneah leches (tzenius) and tons of studying.

9. very open-the students would talk to the teachers privately about anything(boyfriends or different halachos) every week there was ‘ask the Rabbi’ where we would accompany the Rabbi at his house and we were able to ask any questions we wanted. the teachers are very experienced and most of them speak around the world and have met a lot of people and are able to talk to the students. such as;Rabbi Orlavsky, Rabbi Nissel, Mrs. Smiles, Rabbi Teller etc.

10. both- growing spiritually through the texts and sources

11. i think 95% of the school are people that grew up towards the right. (very few people that did not grow up religious at all)

12. there are classes on middos and they do focus a lot on dress, but there’s no uniform and most of the classes help the girls love halachot and Judaism and respect and love Torah

13. there were about 80 girls from shana aleph and about 30 shana bet girls, when i attended and there were many different groups and in my opinion, every single girl felt comfortable somewhere, no one seemed left out.

14. yes, theres a big trip to Poland for about a week (i think) in March. -it was an amazing experience and the schedule was well organized and meaningful.

15. rules like: no yaffa street, ben yehudah street or in town past 6 pm. curfew at 12 am, no laptops, yes cell phones and texting(not in class 😉 dress code:skirts, tights, long sleeve shirts, high collar, no slits, – you are able to wear jean and any colors you want.

16. see above 😉

17. 3 buildings. they all have kitchens, the girls are responsible for keeping it clean, very strict with toranut-each girl is responsible for cleaning a specific part in the dorm every week (don’t worry no toilets involved ;)some are spacious others are smaller like the basement. Request 1 roomate ONLY- rather than 2- cuz you’ll be cramped in a bunk bed.

18. you can go out every shabbos and yom tov, except for maybe twice a year, you have to let them know where you are staying-(very strict)

19. 1 meal a day-lunch- consists of salad,vegetables,a carb, a protein, soup, and dessert. you have to go shopping and cook the rest. (there’s a makolet down the block that delivers)

“all of the above is about darchei binah (wat i experienced) zeena wat do u mean?

hmm im not sure the person i know can answer those questions because she wasn’t the average person there, she was one of the few that thought it was really not for her.

i havent read all of the posts but i did read about your daughter. Darchei Binah is a wonderful seminary! I would say Darchei Binah is the “step before beis yaakov” and it seems your daughter is just that. Also, the connections with the teachers is the most amazing part of that seminary. The school has Rabbi Orlofsky, Rabbi Nissel, Mrs Smiles and many more of the “top names” in the seminary world. You also mentioned that your daughter really wants an education. there is a wide variety of classes. She can make her schedule however she likes. there are the very textual course and those that are discussion based. again she chooses the courses that she wants. This seminary, i think, makes a very well rounded good frum girl. It is truly an amazing seminary. Best of luck!