Seminary

I sugest Afikei. They are very open and I believe they are very good on academics/trips. They are a little out of the box and care more for the inside of the person. I think you should look in to it a bit more.

Do you have seminaries come to your school and give you some info about themselves?

i think seminar yerushalayim sounds like a good choice for you from what you described. its everything you said you were looking for. go for it!

ateres is BY, but afikei is not. i’m not discriminating AT ALL, i’m just letting you know

By the way ur describing yourself i think u shld really consider pninim seminary !! Its an amazing seminary that really fits what ur looking for !!! U shld look into it

Hatslacha 🙂

figuring – do you have specific questions about specific sems? i’d be happy to answer you to the best of my ability.

iloveey – like the user name 😉

first of all figuringitout, just to address sterneberg, sternberg is very much ateres’s type, more than a camp like raninu. not that there is anything wrong with raninu.

anyways, moving on, first of all, feel free to ask me any question about ateres.

i know that everyone is telling you to go to their sem, but you seriously described ateres. some people might tell you some negative things about ateres because it used to have a bad reputation, but they did a 360 and the girls are all really good 🙂 what i love is that everyone is from such different backgrounds, but it totally didn’t make a difference with friendships at all. the girl coming from a more modern background became really good friends with a girls from a chassideshe school, etc. no one is judgemental!! its amazing that way!!!

one nice thing is that it’s BY without being yeshivish. i have nothing against being yeshivish, i just wasnt looking to be in a yeshivish sem and this was the perfect mix.

to address the problem of all the girls who dont know who they are:

if you are a good girl who is open minded and open to growth, then i can’t just say go to ateres because i don’t know you. however, i didn’t feel that i had an identity/know who i was until i got to seminary. in ateres, i was able to figure who i am and what i want to be.

the school is also very accommodating and they really do SO MUCH for the girls, a lot more than other seminaries.

i think machon raaya is similar to ateres, but it is a lot more academic. michlala is also very academic.

i really feel for you!!! i know its really hard to make a choie especially because some seminaries seem sooo similar. i don’t know much about seminar in terms of spiritual growth and that stuff, but i do know that it is a lot bigger and the girls aren’t as close as in ateres. not everyone is looking for a sem where every girl is close, but the first shabbos in ateres every girl in ateres was comfortable with each other. no one was intimidated to really talk to anyone…. there wasn’t even a ‘popular’ group which was the most amazing part. not that i’m a neb who isn’t popular, but theres always that intimidating group at the top of the class. however, ateres does not have that!

seminar is a lot more academic(unlike other seminaries, in ateres you have a choice whether or not to be academic. one major thing about ateres is that academics isn’t the only way to shine…. it’s also through art, dance, choir, and other things like that. also, they don’t accept you based on grades).

i remember how scary this process is, so HALTZACHA RABA to all of you that need help finding a seminary!!! feel free to ask me any questions!!!!

“jappy” that is an offensive term it should never be used to describe any bas yisroel please remove it from your lexicon.

I went to Seminar. One of my good friends went to Michlala, and another went to Ateres. They are two very different types. We’re all Sternbergers though. I’ll talk about those three since I have the shaychus… 🙂 Seminar was definitely bais yaakov, maybe a tad more than Ateres (but maybe not. they may be tied) but definitely a bunch more than Michlalah. It is definitely a Sternberg type school, where you can connect with the teachers in and out of class, learn and grow, and go on great trips. However, I didn’t feel like you could ask EVERY question you might have (at least in class), because of its bais yaakovness. I think Ateres is a bit better for that because the girls are from a more diverse background. Michlala is highly academic and also not bais yaakov, so it may not be what you want. My highly academic friend went and enjoyed it for its intellectual stimulation. (It also has a gorgeous campus, btw :))

Out of the three, I think you may want Ateres. Pninim is also something to look into, from what you’re describing. Meohr is on the right track, but I’m not sure it’s a fit for you, from what I’ve heard. It’s definitely more hashkafa based- is that your type? I think Machon Raayah is after my time (and I’m only out a couple of years!).

Wherever you end up, you should remember Hashem put you in that exact spot for a reason, and it’ll be the best place for you!

I went to Machon Raaya, and it seems that what you’re looking for does come pretty close. But again, there are a lot other seminaries that are very similar that might click with you better.

Machon Raaya is a really nice balance of Bais Yaakov-y and OOTish. It’s not as Yeshivish as Hadar or BJJ, but more so than Michalah. There is an emphasis on textual learning, but it’s really in the context of growth and inquiry. It’s regarded as pretty academic.

That being said:

1) I was looking for the textual learning and the OOT, out-of-the-box crowd. People in my year applied to Michlalah, Bnos Sarah, Meor, and Ateres (in that order of magnitude), so I guess you could use that as a general frame of reference…

2) I applied in June, so I didn’t have a regular interview (heh), but it was pretty chilled. I read a Ramban, but I don’t my think my rendition was the deciding factor. They are really looking for a certain type – fun, atypical, intellectually curious.

3) We had all types – some classes were purely discussion, some had a really good discussion every once in a while, and some just had lots of really valuable information. Certain classes have hachanah, where you have to informally prepare the material with a chavrusah. This is to build the textual basis of the class, as well as to help those good old grey cells get into gear.

4) There are the regulars – Chumash, Navi, Halacha, Historia, as well as some really diverse and really excellent electives – Shoah, Sefer Hachinuch, Halachic Process, Aggada, etc. The teachers are truly outstanding – all of them have unparalleled wealths of knowledge, as well as the ability to address and discuss real-life applications and issues.

5)The regulars (above) are mandatory. You have these cores every day until noon, then you get to pick nine (or more) weekly hours out of the electives. So you get to design your entire afternoon schedule.

6) Most of the classes have a lot of work – hachanah, some homework assignments, tests, and PAPERS. Truthfully, plenty of classes had papers instead of tests, but some had both. So there’s plenty to chew on.

7) The funny thing is, while there IS a lot of work, it’s not the work itself that is vitally important. The hanhala really wants you to gain as much as you can from what they can give you. So if you don’t finish all the work, it’s okay – unless, of course, you need it for college credit. But even then, it’s negotiable – I didn’t do everything for certain subjects and so only got credit for the ones in which I did.

8) The academics are pretty rigorous – you definitely don’t have to be a genius, but you need some textual background, and should be prepared for a heavy workload.

9) VERY open – well, maybe not quite as open as a ba’al teshuvah sem, but you can definitely ask with impunity. The girls have really unique and thought provoking opinions and questions, and aren’t afraid to express them – out of the classroom as well. All’s fair in pursuit of knowledge. 🙂

10) Again, there is a solid textual basis, but it’s really only a frame/springboard for the growth and inquiry. The two qualities aren’t mutually exclusive – in fact, BYMR has perhaps a perfect balance. 🙂

11) Both. But all are thinking individuals aren’t robots in their Yiddishkeit.

12) Don’t understand this question…

13) It’s a grand old mix. Girls come from vastly different homes, schools, countries – some in my year didn’t even speak English! But everyone has an openness and desire to grow in common, and with that in hand you can really overcome any boundary. I can say with full honesty that I got along quite well with every girl there – and learned lots from them, to boot!

14) There’s a big trip (tiyul) every month, an in-shabbos or out-shabbaton once a month, two two-day trips a year, and a trip to somewhere local in Yerushalayim every two out of three weeks. The also bring in lots of speakers – some random, when they can get them, and some on scheduled Yimei Iyun. Oh, and a Yom Iyun about every month, too. I think we’re up to par with all other sems, in general. No Europe – that’s Michlalah. 🙂

15) There are technically virtually no rules. The staff tells us what they think is advisable, and you won’t suffer any big bad punishments if you don’t follow them. There is a dress code, required attendance, curfew, etc., but the worst you’ll get for breaking those is a mild reprimand. Somehow, the crowd that goes there is mature enough not to NEED strict boundaries…let me tell you, it makes for a really geshmak atmosphere.

16) There is a very relaxed dress code – a shirt with buttons, and a skirt with pleats. As Reb. Rosenblum (the menaheles) says “As long as it has at least one button, and one pleat, you’re good.” And you can be as formal or informal as you please. You can dress in a polo and a biz, or in a button-down-sweater-and-pleated-skirt combo. Anything goes.

17) The whole school used to be housed in whole building. B”H, this year they had to move out the classroom so as to accommodate the influx of new girls. So it’s all in one building, 3-5 girls in a room, rather decent rooms. Washer-dryer, enough showers, and great views from all windows. You have to be a little imaginative in terms of storage, though.

18) There is one school Shabbos every month. The school has a placing service that is provided for all Shabbosim/Yomim Tovim. It’s a pretty good service, too. If planned enough in advance, you can get placed pretty much anywhere you want. You can stay in the dorm and eat meals in Har Nof if there are at least two girls staying – this happens most Shabbosim. Meals are provided for a minimum of five, but that usually doesn’t happen.

19) All three.

Whew! That was fun! 🙂 I hope it helps you make a decision! Again, I’m not pushing BYMR if you don’t think it fits you, but it’s a FANTASTIC option.

Much hatzlachah!

I am in Tomer Devorah and I love it!!

1. A year to enjoy Israel, learn about the land. Learn about yourselves- about your place in life, how to achieve potential. Learn halacha, about our heritage. They make you want to grow- don’t force anything.

2. There are 2 tracks, higher and lower in terms of textual learning but pretty much they don’t care what level you are on. 3.What is the style of teaching? Discussion, lecture, classroom setting, chavrusa??

3. So most classes are in a classroom setting. A few times a week we have a chumash/freestyle tutoring time with 1 or 2 other girls. All the teachers though will answer pretty much any question and we get into discussions a lot.

5. Only text ones are Chumash and Navi. Theres Hilchos shabbos, bein adam lachaveiro, issues in israel, inyanei nashim, emunah and bitachon- a huge variety.

5. You choose 2/3 per semester but otherwise no.

6. There’s not a lot. A few classes give a 3/4 question quize once a week or so but otherwise midterms/finals for most classes and 1 or 2 papers a semester.

7. Learning as much as possible out of each thing. tests/work is a side factor.

8. Very easy. Some people come from schools where you barely learn jewish subjects and I would say it is not too hard for them.

9. You can ask any question! Taharas hamishpacha questions, guys/girls relationships, questions that some people would consider being an apikores in a BY school but they try to answer everything.

10. Learning more and growing more spiritually- definitely.

11. Most girls are self-made. Most are not from the frummest families.

12. Focus on the inside. Middos, our relationships with friends/teachers/family.

13.I am a shy person and I found a really good group of friends right away. There are all types here. I don’t think anyone feels like they don’t belond.

14. A lot of tiyuls! Like once a month a 2 day trip or so and once a month a trip to a park/beach/museum. Not to Europe.

15. Cover your toes, 12pm curfew every night, no drinking, and no hanging out with boys in the neighborhood of the school but other places its okay.

16. Basically cover your elbows/collarbone/knees (not so strict abt it really) and cover your toes.

17.They are pretty nice. American mattresses, 2-3-4-5 per room. Enough closet space. There is a piano, an exercise room, very nice student lounge. In the same building as the classrooms and lunchroom etc. Bathrooms arent the greatest but there is a cleaning lady every day.

18.You find a place for Yom Tov. Shabbos, every 4/5 weeks there is an in school shabbaton. On out shabbosim oyu can stay in the dorms and they find you meals or there is someone designated to find you anywhere to go.

19. Lunch: Bagels and spreads, pizza, falafel, lasagna with salad.

Dinner: Almost every night chicken with 2 sides like rice/soup/vegetables.

Tomer Devorah is a really nice sem and you should check it out 🙂

bymrstudent: aHA.

figuringitout: bymrstudent is right. What they said in the brochure was only 50% accurate in all cases – the highly motivated part. :)There were lots of girls in my year who would panic at the thought of reading a Rashi aloud.

And again, as bymrstudent said, the work is very manageable if you pace yourself. But there really is very little pressure about it to begin with.

Also, I didn’t happen to apply anywhere else.

If u don’t mind a half yr lahav is BEYOND AMAZING

Does none now nothing abt Meohr and seminar I need info I have to decide where I’m applying!

figuringitout- i guess you must have doen your research because those 4 you said pretty much fit what you described- i say apply and leave the rest in His hands- He has his mysterious ways of putting you where you need to be- i speak from exprience- just send in those apps and breath a sigh of relief! cant wait to hear what you decide! good luck!!!

Hi there, so I’m new to this posting sitch but I figured I’d jump on in even though it’s after applications are due (right?) cuz applying is really only the first part… the actual decision of where to go is equally hard… and since calorie hasn’t gotten ’round to answering your questions about ateres, I wanted to.

1.What were you or other people at the seminary looking for in a seminary when deciding?

When I applied, I applied to Ateres and Seminar. Both are known to have diverse crowds, lots of different types of girls from different backgrounds, and there’s a lot of academic wiggle room (Ateres, having tracks, and Seminar also having different levels). Seminar is known to be a warm and out of towny place as is Ateres. I chose to go to Ateres ultimately because my principal said that it was, what he would consider more out of the box. Ateres is also a much smaller seminary so there’s a lot more individualized attention in the classes. There’s less than half the girls there than in Seminar. These were all really big things that had me leaning towards Ateres, but what really helped me make up my mind was…

2.How important is the interview/How intense,etc.- reading of rashi?

My Ateres interview was the best interview ever. I met with Rabbi Belsky and Mrs. Sokol at their hotel and I was totally comfertable at once. In fact, I was smiling the whole time. I don’t really know why… I just couldn’t help it!!! Anyway, I was totally expecting the whole chumash rashi ramban kli yakar deal… and I didn’t get it. I was super nervous for no real reason…! They asked me one simple question: “If you could make your own seminary, what would you call it? What types of teachers would you have? What types of classes? Girls? etc…” They really wanted to see if what I wanted and what they had to offer worked out. They asked what types of lessons would I have in my seminary, what values would there be, etc.

I just loved their style… the interview gave me the impression that at Ateres they care more that they’re getting GOOD girls as opposed to girls whos test grades have deemed them “smart”.

(The Seminar interview, for those who are wondering, was more straightfoward. I read from the chumash, a rashi, and a kli yakar. I also had to fill out a questionarre in hebrew while I was in the waiting room.)

3.What is the style of teaching? Discussion, lecture, classroom setting, chavrusa??

Ateres has all different styles. Mrs. Herenstein’s class is full of discussion, she definitely encourages it, and in pretty much all the other classes there is plenty of discussion as well, though probably not nearly as much. We have lectureres come for around an hour once a week to speak about different topics. They are fantastic!! Of course there is classroom setting as well. Lastly, there is also studying b’chevrusa. How many chevrusas you have though differs on what class you’re in. If you’re in class one you work with one other girl in your class and if you need help, a prep tutor is there to address your question. If you’re in class two or three then you work with a group of girls in your class as well as a prep tutor.

4.What type of classes are there?

All sorts!! There’s chumash, navi, tehillim, megillos, hilchos brachos, hilchos shabbos, va’adim be’tefilah, torahs habayis, a class on ikrei emunah,chovos halevavos, ma’agal hashana, machshava, yesodos … there’s a holocaust class, a teachers class… there’s a lot but you’ll find that in any seminary.

5.Can you choose your classes?

Not really. There are a few classes that are optional but those are all REALLY good and definitely worth taking anyway. Class one has to take those though. Still, there are 2 classes (I think…) that are optional for even class one.

6.How much work is there? Tests?

We definitely have our reports but the amount of reports and the material covered in the reports you have to discuss depends on what class you’re in. The actual amount of work depends on the class but there isn’t really that much all together. There is no busy work, really. I think the most you have is prep but classes 2 and 3 have class time to do their prep with tutors so it’s very manageable. We definitely have tests and they’re not easy but we don’t have so many comparatively… or at least I don’t think so.

An important thing I want to note… everyone knows who is in which class but it really makes no difference socially!!! Most of my closest friends were not in my class!

7.Is the seminary about getting as much done as possible or learning as much as possible out of each thing? Are tests and work a side factor and they really just want the girls to learn or is work a big factor of importance to the seminary?

The first year in Ateres there were NO TESTS. They tried it out as an experiment. But it was a failure. After that they started giving tests.

I think that’s proof enough that Ateres is more about what the girls get out of it, how they grow, who they become, then their grades.

8.How hard is it? How hard is hard?

I like your question… it’s very well phrased. Of course hard is relative…

Anyway… I don’t think comparitively Ateres is a very hard seminary. One good thing about it is that it’s tracked (there are 3 different levels or 2 different levels, depending on the class) so whatever level you’re at you’re being pushed to grow… the idea is not to push you too hard. Class is meant to make you think. But they don’t want to stress you out. If you find yourself having trouble, the staff is very accomodating and more than willing to help you, to make things work.

I said before that Ateres has different tracks, but in actuality, there are maaaaaany different tracks. If a girl would have trouble with the track she was placed in then she has the option to switch to a lower track, or mrs. Sokol would help that girl in modifying the track that she’s in to make it more manageable for her. Often times, a girl is intelectually at a certain level but her skills are not quite there yet so she’ll sit in a higher class but have the workload of a lower class. A lot of girls found this very helpful!

You can literally ask anything. People wouldn’t look down on you for asking a question… if you’re asking it generally means you want to know for a reason, for yourself, for your own growth. If you’re not asking you either haven’t thought of it or you don’t really care to know the answer because no matter what answer you get, it won’t effect your daily life and how you think.

10.The girls who go there is their focus on learning more textually or learning more and growing more spiritually?

Definitely spiritually I think, but I can honestly tell you that my textual skills grew exponentially as well! B”H!!

Everyone’s different… Depends on the girl. We had everyone from giyores to semi chassidish.

12.Are they all about the outside or do they focus on the inside as well?

I don’t really know what you mean by that… can you clarify?

They definitely focus on middos, on getting to know yourself… but what exaclty do you mean by outside?

13.How big of a mix of people is it? Is it hard to find your place?

There’s a big mix, lots of different types, but it’s not hard to find your place at all. I was so comfertable there right away… everyone is friends with everyone. There’s no judgements… no peer pressure… you can just be you. It’s a very good environment for figuring out exactly who YOU is…

14.Do they go on trips? Do they go to Europe?

We definitely went on plenty of tiyulim but they don’t go to Europe.

15.Are their rules strict? What are some of their rules?

They don’t have many rules but the ones they do have are enforced. For example, you can’t walk around the dorm in pants. The madrichot will send you back to your room to put on a skirt. Curfew is a big deal as well, you have to be on time. If you need it you can definitely get late curfew with permission.

16.Do they have a uniform?

They have a dress code: long pleated skirts, oxford shirts, solid dark sweater.

17.What is the status of the dorm?

It’s in the building and it is the best place in the world to be!!!

Would you care to clarify? Anything specifically you meant by “status”?

When I was there there were weeks that were in and weeks when we had to be out but now the dorm is never closed, you can always stay in, but some weeks they’ll provide meals and some you’ll have to find them in the surrounding neighborhoods. Ramot is a great place to be though! Plenty of Americans if you’re nervous about the hebrew… Also, it’s a far walk and it’s not flat, but many girls would walk to ramat eshkol and sanhedria for meals…

19.How many meals are given?

All of ’em!

Hope this helps!!! 🙂 If you have any questions… feel free to ask! Hatzlacha in choosing the right place for you!!

can someone answer these questions about bnos sarah?