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Around a year ago I published advice, that when deciding on a seminary, one should look very carefully into the program and who is running it.
There has recently been published an advertisement for a “new” seminary in Israel that states, using poetic form in the first person, that a “seminary with a name” and a “seminary focused on its reputation” are not things one wants.
I agree with the contrasted positive that one should want a “seminary that knows my name” and a “seminary concerned about my personal growth” but in my opinion the “name” of the institution and its reputation are also very important issues. If it is a new program, then the reputation of those in charge should trump.
It is good that this seminary – together with it’s new parallel boys’ yeshiva type program – has as the director, a well known educator from the USA.
One still needs to beware that this director had also publicly associated himself with a seminary that lasted only a year and managed to gain a very bad reputation during that time (although he was not involved much, as far as I know during that year). His seminary’s web page is very similar in style to the other one, and thus I would check very carefully who else is involved on a senior level, and to what extent.
The advice I posted 4 months ago is still (unfortunately) very relevant. It is becoming known that there is a specific small girls’ seminary in Israel with a very negative image, and this wants to continue for further semesters and also do summer schemes.
The reason for the negative image, basically boils down to mismanagement. It is still very unclear whether this is going to be improved – one might be able to find out more and receive a balanced picture by speaking to some of the faculty members (not the person in charge) who are in the main good people.
Because of the negativity, the seminary is trying to find ways to advertise itself using different names, hoping that prospective students will not realize to whom they are applying.
At the time of me writing this, one can even find a seminary web-site where the name of the owner is not even mentioned and ones only form of initial contact is through a web form.
So really, one must look into a program well, before one applies.
If it is the case that the seminary that you are thinking of seems to present a negative picture from different sources, you should realize that the people who are presenting the information are doing this for to’eles . I.e. their intention is not to spread loshon horo but to warn potential candidates what lies behind the scheme they are registering for.
Re my post last week, also do a google search on the seminary name using Hebrew letters as sometimes there are reports that are written in Hebrew.
It was approx. a month ago since I posted some general advise. Another way of finding out about your seminary of choice (or the seminary you need to reject) is by using google and looking at the most recent entries. (Even the seminary you want to reject, I am sure that the intention of the management there was to strive to run an excellent program, but in practice it unfortunately did not work out so.)
To simon.chastee
You should do this together with the parents of any other girls who might have been affected.
To simon.chastee
I am sorry to hear about your daughter – am pleased she found another framework and I wish her success.
The story hurts me (as it hurts a lot of people), and so maybe you can utilize any contacts from the neighborhood where the old seminary was, and find a lawyer from there (not all lawyers are money thirsty) to put pressure that you should be reimbursed for the period she is no longer there (as well as other expenses).
Please let me post a little bit of general advise.
Recently, in Israel, some new small seminaries for girls have started up, some of them privately run. I am sure all of them strive to run excellent programs.
I am also sure that
- most
of them have management with a lot of experience in the field of education and are logistically well organized.
With this, if you are considering applying to such a program, it is imperative that you independently seek information and references from girls who are there now, girls who are already no longer there, and from members of the community where the seminary you are considering is situated.
With hope that this is a relevant forum, to post such advice.