| Nestled in the
beautiful Judean Hills just twenty minutes south of Jerusalem,
the village of Bat Ayin is home to Midreshet B'erot Bat Ayin:
Wellsprings of Jewish Learning.
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Midreshet B'erot Bat Ayin
offers women of all ages and backgrounds the opportunity of
a well-rounded Torah education and deepening of their connection
to the land of Israel. The Midrasha attracts both newcomers
to Torah who are seeking innovative and challenging Jewish
learning as well as students from observant homes who are
looking for a fresh perspective and spiritual growth.
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| Hundreds
of women have been inspired to integrate Torah into their lives
through their studies at Midreshet B'erot Bat Ayin. The unique
learning methods and diverse range of instructors inspire and
encourage our students to continuously work on perfecting their
character while creating a solid foundation as women in the
Torah world.
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At Midreshet B'erot Bat
Ayin our mission is to create a warm, open environment where
women of all ages and backgrounds are able to integrate Torah
learning and values into their daily lives, while deepening
their connection to the Land of Israel and their role as women
in the Torah world. Our primary goal is to engage the whole
student-- mind, body and soul-- through a curriculum that
combines academic Torah learning with innovative classes and
workshops in spirituality, the arts and agricultural cultivation.
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Our approach to teaching
is to engage the whole person rather than to disseminate information.
Interwoven with the intellectual understanding is the students'
challenge to integrate their learning with creative expression
such as movement, drama, art and music, in order to facilitate
a personal connection and identification with the role models
of our heritage.
At Midreshet B'erot Bat
Ayin we encourage women to express themselves through textual
analysis with study-partners, independent study and group
discussion, as well as through creative workshops and projects.
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Through classes, chevruta
and one-on-one mentoring, our students strengthen their Jewish
identity and build a positive self-image and character. The
different Torah approaches presented by the range of our teachers
broaden their perspective and engender open-mindedness. Many
of the teachers and staff at Midreshet B'erot Bat Ayin are women
and serve as powerful role models of living, and building, a
Torah life filled with learning and joy. |
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Our instructors support
and facilitate our students' enthusiasm in gaining, or deepening,
their skills in learning Torah texts with commentaries from
traditional sources. Tanach, Halacha and classical Jewish
texts such as Rashi, Rambam, Kuzari, and Maharal offer students
the tools and knowledge to deepen and expand their Jewish
roots. Classes in Jewish mysticism, Chassidism and Jewish
meditation are directed at the spiritual thirst so prominent
in our times.
Through skills acquired
at Midreshet B'erot Bat Ayin our students learn not only about
their unique heritage and culture, but also how Torah insights
can be a source of deep growth and self-transformation relevant
to dilemmas that face Torah observant women in the modern
world.
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Connecting
with the Land of Israel
The rural setting of the Bat Ayin village nestled in the
Judean hills is especially conducive to developing a warm,
supportive community of women who grow close together by
sharing and nurturing one another. The panoramic views of
the surrounding Judean hills offer radiant sunsets, starry
nights and peaceful stillness to energize body and mind
while inspiring a special closeness to G-d.
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A deep connection to the
land of Israel is strengthened by regular field trips to historic
sites and spending time in our school's beautiful natural
surroundings. We also provide classes to develop skills in
growing vegetables, fruits and herbs to emphasize the importance
of a healthy lifestyle and herbal healing practices.
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| To facilitate
integration into Israeli society, students are provided 'mentor
families' and the opportunity to work for families in our community,
which is comprised of Torah scholars, farmers, artists, and
laborers from Israel and the Diaspora. Since our beginning 10
years ago, the homes and hearts of the Bat Ayin families have
been enthusiastically open to our students. |
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Our
Programs and Students
Midreshet B'erot Bat Ayin
offers women of all ages and backgrounds a variety of programs
including Beginner, Advanced, Orthodox Conversion, Student-Madrichot,
Part-Time Learning, summer and Elul Sessions, and Special
Shabbatonim and Seminars.
Our core project is a yearlong
full-time study program for women offered at beginner, intermediate
and advanced learning levels. In addition, we offer monthly
seminars open to the public for English-speaking women living
in Israel.
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Courses
of study include:
· Textual Tanach study
· Halacha
· Classical Jewish philosophy
· Tefila
· Women in Judaism
· Chassidut
· Gardening and Herbology
· Creative expression and movement |
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We also offer special experiential
weekend and holiday programs that are popular with both our
own students and students enrolled in other seminaries. Midreshet
B'erot Bat Ayin runs 10 experiential weekend and holiday programs
per year.
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Women from all walks of
life learn at Midreshet B'erot Bat Ayin. Some young women
have little or no Jewish background, other women come from
observant homes and seek to spiritually enrich their Torah
knowledge and strengthen their commitment to mitzvah observance.
In many cases, without their encounter with Judaism through
Midreshet B'erot Bat Ayin, alumnae now living vibrant Jewish
lives might have continued in their former path of assimilation
and intermarriage.
Most students arrive from
the United States, while others are from Canada, South Africa,
Australia, England, Czechoslovakia, Holland Germany, and even
Sweden. Among our students are also new immigrants to Israel,
who find not only a place to learn, but also emotional support
from community members who are currently or have previously
been in a similar situation.
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Students who initially come
for a short period often return, as their experience here gives
them an incentive to make aliyah and live in Israel. |
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have educated about 300 Students from the years 1996-2006. The
ages of our students range from 18-68. Currently 15 Students
are enrolled in our 2006-2007 full time program. |
| More than 120
of our alumnae immigrated to Israel and are raising Jewish families
in Eretz Yisrael. Other Alumnae are raising Torah observant
families in USA and Europe. |
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Well
known alumnae include:
· Tahliya Rachel Miller, wife of the famous musician
Matisyahu
· Hadassah Bar Tzaddok, wife of Rabbi Bar Tzaddok of
Yeshiva B'nai Neviim
· Tziona Achishena of Orh Haganuz, recording artist
· Hadassah Heidi Lee of Jerusalem, recording artist
· Judy Stern, sister of Rabbi Riskin, Efrat
· Julia Lustigman wife of Rabbi Davide of Simchat Shlomo
Students have successfully
integrated their Torah learning and observance with motherhood
and continuation of their work as musicians, artists, therapists,
teachers, and business professions.
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Midreshet
B'erot Bat Ayin Key Facts and Staff
· Offering programs
to students since July 1994.
· Recognized by Misrad Hadatot (The Ministry of Religion)
in August 1997.
· Recognized by MASA (Israel Journey, The Gateway to
Long-Term Israel Programs) in September 2005
· Employs 25 teachers & staff members from Gush
Etzion/Jerusalem
· Annual Operation Budget approximately $100 000 per
year
Program
Leaders:
· Rebbetzin Chana Bracha Siegelbaum, MA, Director
· Bachelors of Education from Michlalah, Jerusalem
College for Women
· Masters degree from Touro College
· Rabbi Dr. M. Siegelbaum, Azkenazi Rabbi and Treasurer,
graduate of Yale University.
· Rabbi Yosef Benarroch, Sephardi Rabbi in charge of
the Conversion program
Office
Staff:
· Rabbanit Elana Benarroch , Director of Faculty and
Student Affairs
· Chava Brown, Director of Public Relations
· Elana Roth, Public Relations Assistant
· Odelyah Glaser, Webmaster
· Devorah Danziger, Director of Administration and
Development
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To receive more information
on our Capital Campaign priorities, or to discuss investment
opportunities, please contact
Rebbetzin Chana Bracha Siegelbaum
director@berotbatayin.org, 02-993-2642
Office: 02-9934945 berotoff@berotbatayin.org
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| For
Directions to Midreshet B'erot Bat Ayin please click here |
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