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I used this company when I went to seminary and ordered a set of linen, a blowdryer, and a fan, and I was thrilled with them! It was all on my bed when I came, was great quality, I even brought my blowdryer home with me and got an american converter for it because i liked it so much!

I highly recommend them!!

I actually know for a fact that keser chaya is not academic, they tell everyone that, and will tell you that binas is its sister seminary is very similar just a more academic version! It is supposed to be very warm and open minded and not very academic!

Are you sure there are really 2 seperate seminaries? I was under the impression that it was called ateret in the past but people started calling it ateres in the past years as it changed over to BY. I really dont think there are 2.

It sounds crazy for a girl to apply to both darchei binah and ateres, but I feel like it may not be as crazy as everyone thinks. Both seminaries are warm and very growthful. If a girl fits this description, plus is willing to follow the rules of tznius and curfew, ect she will probably be good for ateres. It is a huge mix, and there were girls on all ends of the spectrum, but they did follow all the rules of a BY school.

nope! not many seminaries (at least the by ones) will let you have an ipod with video and internet capabilities. And a phone other than a kosher phone forget it…

So there is nothing wrong with an ankle length skirt if it really only goes to the ankle anything longer can sometimes give that flowy effect which can be attracting in the wrong way. Denim also if it is dark denim that is not frayed and ripped really is not wrong even though many still don’t wear it. The ripped, washed out frayed denim with pockets in the back can be attracting wrong attention as well… That is what I always learned. But even though I happen to not wear denim, I do not wear my long skirts duty length. I totally get the question so just letting you know this is what I happened to have learned. There may be other opinions.

bygirly- Nachlas def attracts a mostly in town crowd!

BYA has a more of a mix but def a big in town crowd as well!

iced- I hope you’re joking… How about check midos, yiras shamayim, metal stability!!!! davening with a minyan 3 times a day (something that seems obvious but…) there is so much to ask and research and it is important to talk to the right people and ask the right questions so that you do not get into trouble later.

me@18 yes! that is def. what I’m saying!!! Good Luck and btw for anyone who is wondering I think they are having or maybe just had? more open houses maybe i think in monsey

I think like all seminary applications you would need two reference letters. I know schools usually help with that. me@18 I think you should talk to one of the principals directly and explain your situation to them and then ask them what to do from there. I’m sure you are a wonderful person if you’re looking into Ateres and I understand that even if you’re not in school now that does not ness. reflect bad on you as a person. I think the staff of Ateres would def understand you would just have to be in touch with them directly before you apply.

Good luck!

These three places are so different they should not even be put in the same title lol

WOW! we are getting quite intense here!

Ok…. So nanny- You think you know me??? from where? that is cool! How would you have figured me out?

I just got vibes from what you wrote that tiferes may be an option! its a really great place! very homey like ateres we shared some teachers as well which would mean there is quite a bit of hashkafa… It was a little more yeshivish but that isn’t always a bad thing…. I’ll tell you, it might just be good to apply if you only have two other places at least look into it, idk just got vibes! I really do see you in Ateres though from your posts! I think you should think into it and maybe talk to a tiferes alumnus!

Musicaldignity- so that is a very hard question to answer! I am not sure what you are asking by that. I happened to have loved everything about Rabbi Belsky and became extremely close to him in seminary more then any other teacher!!! He wants his girls to always be learning growing and succeeding in the torah derech. You really have to meet him to get who he is, it is hard for me to talk about him in writing to someone who doesn’t know him! I will tell you, I am very opinionated, blunt, and it takes a lot to impress me, but He really did it! He helped me with many different things throughout the year, and I really think he is probably THE MOST INCREDIBLE PERSON I HAVE EVER MET! And I have met a lot of great ppl so that is saying a lot! I will tell you, there are not many people who do not like him. At the interview he is great! Everyone walks out of their interview pretty much raving about him and ateres! He is an extremely unique person! I think he is the most special seminary principal because he does what is right no matter what and holds what is right even if it is the minority which is something that has been very important to me always…. I don’t have the words to truly describe him! He was def. my favorite! If you have any specific questions about him, feel free!!!

nanny like we said before ateres is def a place you should apply to, maybe seminar or machon raya could be a second, but machon raya might be more academic then what you are looking for, but I know this may be surprising but i think you should look more into tiferes as a third place to apply! I do think ateres would be great for you!!!!!

chacha5 you are very right! I agree with you very much! I think that concept has gotten better especially this year! I come from a place where it is unheard of not to go to seminary in Eretz Yisrael and this year I was surprised to hear that quite a bunch didn’t! so I guess every person needs to weigh for themselves if it is something they can do or if they need to settle on somewhere here. What is happening is crazy… I agree.

Dorms are gonna be dorms… For seminary dorms though Ateres and Meohr happen to be considered probably 2nd and 3rd after Nachlas… that’s just my opinion. They are both really nice. Nothing there that smelled looked gross or made you cringe if you know what I mean… Both are very comfortable

It is ok to say that it is hard that you are feeling forced to send your daughter to Eretz Yisrael for seminary. It is ok to bring in ideas in The US IT IS NOT OK TO SAY THAT GIRLS SHOULD NOT GO TO SEMINARY IN ERETZ YISRAEL. There is nothing in the world that can compare to spending a year in Eretz Yisrael. Although there are great seminaries here and yes, maybe more girls should start going if their parents cant afford seminary in Eretz Yisrael but there is something that the enviroment there does for someone that no where here can accomplish no matter how special and incredible the place. Sorry….

I had a teacher who always said that they are called mekubalim- ki heym mikubalim kesef! bad joke but the point is that to some of them out there, it would be extremely not smart to go to them. If you do decide to go to one research well, and do not go unless you know there is someone you respect and trust who is ok with the guy. There are very few are far between who actually are the real thing…

I wish you Hatzlacha!!! May all go smoothly

I think part of what bymrer said is a matter of opinion. I know some girls who are very smart, studious and brilliant, and although they managed the work and did well, they did say it is very hard and overwhelming. I have heard that it is a lot of busy work and that its very time consuming. Idk…. I have heard great things about it too that you may find will make you excited and willing to overlook the difficulty though.

Hi sorry I haven’t been on in a while. Have been very busy! I just wanted to tell you again how it goes in ateres for chumash and navi in ateres even though it was kinda mentioned, just because I found it so incredible and helpful. For both classes, there is a certain amount of preperation you need to complete before class. The higher track obviously having more, lower track not as much… There are Prep periods within the schedule with prep tutors there to help you. So twice a week you have groups 1 tutor (more like a newly married girl who went to BJJ) to about 4 or 5 girls. The higher track I think kinda preps on their own but have tutors around just in case. you can do it in groups or by yourself, but what I think is amazing is that it is during class time not for homework! It was actually one of my favorite classes! You do more textual and technical stuff with your tutor making sure to cover the material that is assigned, and it really is enjoyable. You come to Navi and Chumash class having covered the more textual stuff and then based off that the teacher will teach with the knowledge that you went through it so that way instead of spending time going through each rashi and meforash she can teach on a deeper level with hashkafa. This is not a text free class though! By doing this they really bridge your enjoyment of hashkafa with bringing up your textual skills higher then you ever thought they would ever be! It’s a really great system that works wonders, and I know Seminar does the same for navi because we had the same Navi teacher. So sorry if that was repetitive, I just really like and enjoyed that part of the academics in seminary so just felt I had to tell you. About tests…. The lower track has tests in english and are always responsible for less so ya, their tests will differ from the other tracks. There were classes where the middle and higher had the same tests, or had the same but the middle had more frees. And there were also some where each test was different completely. For Navi especially because their tests were always on more perukim. As I think about seminary, I really do not think you should worry in any way about being challenged enough. Trust me you will find that just because a place is more hashkafa doesn’t mean there is no hard work. And just letting you know that as much as people say they want a non a academic seminary, there really is no such thing! Each seminary is gonna have work! Prep, reports, tests (at the very least finals and midterms which is hard also) and Most seminaries are very into parsha so you may have a test or quiz every week and have to look a lot up! It’s tough but very fulfilling in a very different way then high school. You will find yourself enjoying the studying and the prep, something I never thought would happen to me, but it’s great! So just letting you know but not to get you overwhelmed, cuz its not so bad. I hope somewhere in this very long post I maybe answered your question!

Ya musicaldignity agreed! I also love machon raaya! A bunch of girls applied to both Ateres and Machon Raaya! It’s a great place and has many similarities to Ateres as well as far as the warmth of the place and the staff! You should apply to more then one place so I say go for both and wherever you are supposed to end up, Hashem will put you there!

hmmm… hodulashem I feel like maybe we were not in seminary together….

I understand your need to be learning with smart people whose minds work similarly to yours and who are on the same level learning wise. That is very normal. So although it is mixed like I said, there are 3 tracks for the textual subjects, and 2 tracks for the more hashkafa type of classes. The highest track was for girls like you! They were almost all brilliant! There were some girls who were so smart that I almost couldn’t talk to them about what we learned about in class. It was interesting. So I am more of an average student more like 80’s some 90’s but am a little bit more intelectual. I was in the middle class, which was the biggest my year, and I felt it was very good for me. The smart girls who were very smart were of course together in the highest track. I don’t think anybody in the entire seminary felt bad or not in the right place. They are able to cater to everyone so that everyone can feel like they are being challenged and that their minds are stretching. I had friends in the higher class, and I know they enjoyed it immensely because of that factor that they were only with smart girls on their level and as a class they were able to learn on a higher level and do more work on their level as a result. At different points there were girls who moved up and down in classes, but once everyone was put everyone was thrilled with where they were! So I don’t think that will be a problem for you at all! They are very into what you said, making sure that everyone is able to learn on a level for them and are with girls on their level learning as much as they can on the highest level possible with no other girls stopping them.

And no I am not in Touro, and not in the NY area B”H!!! (no offense to NY! 😉

Ok so I just heard a great speech which has really just stayed in my head and has been replaying ever since. Obviously I will not be able to write it over as well as the speaker gave it, but I will attempt to just because I really found it to be so helpful. It’s a bit long so anyone not interested just skip this post. It is from Rabbi Ephraim Twerski, Rav of Kahal Chassidim of Chicago. I might end up saying some of this a bit out of order but you will hopefully get the point.

On Rosh Hashana we beg Hashem to give us a good and blessed year. One of happiness, success, health. parnassah, and only good. How can we ask Hashem for such a great year if we are not deserving of this based on our past actions? After all this is a world of deserving. We would not be created otherwise. We would have just stayed up in shamayim, our neshamos still right below the kisai hakavod. So Rabbi Twerski explained that we daven and admit that yes we have not been the best we could be but this was just the past we are going to be better from now on. And if Hashem can forget the past then we need to so that it does not act as an impediment for our growth.

We say Avinu Malkeinu during the aseres ymei teshuva and most are clear. But one seems strange. Its says Zchor ki afar anachnu – Remember that we are dust. What does this come to show? It says we have a past, a past of just dirt but Hashem look at our future because we will make sure that it is a brilliant and glorious future!

It says Hashiveinu Ainu Eilecha v’nashuva chadesh Yameinu… Why V’nashuva? this should not be the lashon, and why Chadesh- will be new? If we follow in the ways of Hashem no matter our past, and really truly forget our past and put it behind us doing teshuva to become a better person then chadesh yameinu! We will be almost renewed! Our days will become great and will be as good as new!

He explained how so often it is our past sins which stop us and discourage us in our journey to become better. We think about all we have done and feel we can never become great if we have done these sins. Rabbi Twerski stressed how important it is to put our past behind us and do teshuva while looking into the future and hoping for the better. He ended off with a story showing this.

He was talking to a vishnitzer chassid who admitted that he had commited a grave crime. This chassid told Rabbi Twerski that he couldn’t live with himself so went to the Vishnitzer Rebbe at that time (The name has slipped my mind) He broke down to the Rebbe and asked for what he can do to help. The Rebbe said he didn’t have an answer. He went into hysterics and was sobbing. The Rebbe said he has an answer but then said that he knew the chassid will not accept it so did not want to say. the chassid begged and pleaded and after much convincing that he would accept immediately, he said FORGET ABOUT THE SIN! The chassid was in shock and started to argue and the Rebbe reminded him that he needs to take the answer. The Rebbe showed how we need to forget the past in order to move forward. If Hashem can do it, then we need to! Last part was that We say in L’david Hashem Lulei hemanti… so lulei is spelled the opposite of elul in hebrew. Lulei means “had I not!” If we focus on the “had I not” then that is the opposite of what elul shoudl be and we are going to have a harder time doing teshuva and growing higher. May we all come to truly deserve a g’benched year!

Hi again! You are doing fine it’s a really good thing to ask! I remember how hard it was for me and I am thrilled to do anything I can to help you!

So I wrote a lot in previous posts how Ateres compares to Machon Raaya so just go back and read a bit back on this thread.

About the academics, you will not feel unchallenged in the least bit! We had some very very brilliant and intelectual girls in our seminary! Girls that skipped grades ect… You will so not have a problem! There is hachana to do, There are great reports! Reports that you actually gain something from besides just a stack of papers written on, and the classes are deep and very intellectually stimulating! You will definitely need a good cup of coffee each morning! just kidding I hate coffee! You will not be overwhelmed with annoying busy work like writing out chumashim, but you will have enough to do that you will feel challenged, but will feel so rewarded and inspired at the end! Trust me! I don’t know how, but Ateres makes it really be great for everyone! They say straight out that their goal, and yes they really do this, they stretch your machshava and improve your skills immensely without getting you overwhelmed and overworked! I can guarantee you that such a thing will not be a problem in Ateres!

The dress code is just like most of the other seminaries, any type of button down like you can wear designs like stripes or anything and then you can wear solid colored sweaters either cardigans or pullovers or v-necks! It’s very flexible and then pleated skirts navy, grey, or black, short or long! you can wear belts, scarves, makeup, not much rules about that. You don’t have to get dressed up every day there is seriously no social pressure there, but there were plenty of girls who were more with it and really gave each day their all but only for themselves! No one cared! Chilled was fine too!

We had girls from all over! BY Monsey, BY Ramapo, BY Lkwd, Bais Sheindel, Bnos Bais Yaakov, BY Miami, BY Baltimore, Bnos Yisrael of Baltimore, BY Chicago, Hanna Sacks in Chicago, BY Denver, South Bend, Machon, I think they have Mesores girls this year, Dallas, Bruria, TAG, Ateres in Monsey, BY Detroit, Yaavne, Toronto, BYA, BY Johannesburg, France, BY in London, I think I’m missing a bunch I don’t know the NY schools that well… It’s very mixed, but the atmosphere is a very growthful one and although there are many girls on different levels they are able to somehow cater and reach out to everyone so that each girl is molded into the best girl she can be and get the most out of her year!

Every seminary I think has trips! We had a big trip at least once a month! We did it all! I really think almost all seminaries pretty much do the same stuff in that area except the half year seminaries where they do one a week to get it all in! It’s a wonderful part of the year and they make the trips beyond awesome the way they schedule it!

Hope this answered you somewhat!

Hi! I am still here, have just been a bit busy with starting a new semester in college… So about the averages, I do not believe that they are looking for a specific average. They don’t want someone with straight C’s who cannot care less about class, but if you have lots of B’s but are motivated, determined, and have a desire to gain in seminary and grow higher, then you are what they are looking for!

Ok so Musical dignity instead of answering your questions in order, I want to comment on your last paragraph and tell you that Yes that seminary you are describing is a dream, but that is EXACTLY what Ateres is! It is a real dream that comes true! I seriously would have to think to myself during the year this is just too good be true I must be dreaming and then have to pinch myself to see that it is real!!! It’s great! So yes, it sounds like Ateres might be very much what you are looking for!!!

So I ended up choosing Ateres, because what you described is exactly what I wanted, and Ateres just seemed to be the one and only perfect place that would fit that need for me. Meohr is very different as you know!

Every girl in Ateres is challenged on her own level which seems impossible but they do such a great job.. just don’t know how lol. In High school I worked very hard, was very motivated, and really ended up getting half A’s half B’s probably. I do much better with deep hashkafa classes then complicated textual classes. So Ateres somehow mixes the two together. They take your love for hashkafa and bridge your skills to textual as well without you even realizing! So about memorizing your notes, I totally get that and hate it too. I believe you will have a little bit of that anywhere you go, but it is much better in Ateres probably then anywhere else. Even the textual classes have a lot of hashkafa it is very cool how they work it out! I really disliked navi my entire life, and in seminary it was one of my favorite subjects!!! So you will see it will be great in that way! It is work but you will enjoy the work immensly! I never thought I would ever think in my lifetime that I would enjoy studying, but in seminary I really did because the classes were so great and stimulating!

There are rules, but nothing that would effect you if you are not looking to do wrong. There is a strong sense of trust in the girls, something I needed as well. There are rules about certain things, but you will appreciate the rules because they are just the basics of being a bais yaakov girl. Will you be upset if there are rules about not going to places that are considered hangouts at night? I know I wasn’t because that and the few other rules I knew were for us! The few rules they have they have a no tolerance policy for, but if you are a good kid which you sound like you are, you would never even come close to thinking of bending on them. I almost forgot we had such rules! It really wasn’t a problem!

There are some tests, not just midterms and finals like meohr, but not an overwhelming amount, and again I really enjoyed studying for them, and even though I am not crazy studious or brillian I did much better in seminary then I did in high school.

I was in the middle track. The higher track is for a girl who is very fluent in reading and understanding all meforshim without help… there is more to it, I will have to write more later just because I gotta run, but I might have written about it on a previous post not sure. I will write more about it later. Shabbos was never a problem you always had it for relaxation and rejuvination! Never needed to think about school on shabbos except maybe during midterms and finals depending on what the scedule was! Feel free to ask other questions!