Midreshet B’erot Bat Ayin’s Pearls From the Wellspring

Tammuz 5763

Dear Friends and Supporters,

We recently mourned for the breach in the walls of Jerusalem. Now it is the time to build up our outer wall of strength with sound boundaries and trust in Hashem, our Shield.

In this newsletter, you will get a glimpse of the trust and faith of our devoted students. The inner building of character that takes place here outweighs the thin and flimsy walls of our temporary trailers.

I hope one day with all of your help we will be able to build outer physical walls to match these inner spiritual walls being built at Midreshet B’erot Bat Ayin.

With blessings of the Torah & The Land,

Chana Bracha Siegelbaum

In this month’s issue:

§ Letter From the Editor: Wellspring editor Heather Fuller, a student at B’erot, shares her journey through Judaism and how she ended up at B’erot

§ Health & Healing: American Friends of B'erot Bat Ayin founder

reports on day one of a two-week seminar that focuses on renewing your

body, mind and soul

§ “The Lesson of Lamed – Learning in Order to Teach”: Former B’erot

student – and current B’erot teacher – shares Jewish insight on the importance

of learning in order to teach

§ “Waking Up In B’erot”: One student’s search for the Truth

§ Announcements: Former B’erot student gives birth to baby boy; two other students engaged

Letter From the Editor

I knew it was serious when I threw out my entire wardrobe. In the bags I had given to friends were my favorite pairs of jeans, tank tops perfect for the hot California weather and fashionable dresses one might find on the cover of glam mag Cosmopolitan. Until this day, I couldn’t bare to part with these garments. Now, however, I was ready to change.

In retrospect, the experience was rather freeing, and the things I leave behind in my journey to explore the inner voice inside me have been exchanged for things of much greater worth.

In the past year, my Jewish neshama has been shouting so loud that it can no longer be silenced. People often ask me why I want to be a Jew; I tell them, the choice is not mine. What I do have a say in is whether or not I will choose to follow where my soul wants to take me.

Looking back, I see now that my Jewish neshama was obvious at a young age. Dissatisfied with the Christian tenets I had been brought up with, I questioned my faith. I had grown up with mostly Mormons and Christians in Orange County, California, and had no idea what a Jew was until I read Rabbi Kertzer’s “What is a Jew?”

At 17, I discovered “The Jews of America,” an oversized, hardback book with more than 200 pages of pictures of Jews – from Chabad Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneersohn to director Stephen Spielberg and his mother, Leah Adler. I’d find great joy and comfort thumbing through the pages of that book, most of the time not even really knowing why.

I declared a Jewish minor my junior year of college. With that, I took an introduction class in Judaism, as well as two Jewish history courses. I also learned about the Holocaust and was profoundly touched by Elie Wiesel’s “Night.” In these secular classes, I came to understand why Israel is so important to the Jews and why the Jews don’t believe that Jesus was/is the Messiah.

After graduating from college and landing my first real job, I started seriously considering conversion. I became involved with Chabad and began keeping kosher, observing Shabbat and holding to other mitzvot.

I always knew that I would someday live in the Israel, but there was a part of me that doubted that it was possible. I felt like I had a better chance of winning the lottery or becoming a rock star than “coming home.”

My dream came true on Jan. 15, 2003, when I landed in Tel Aviv. It was my first time in Israel.

I couldn't have made it here without the help of B'erot. The school offered me work-study to help cover tuition, rent, food and other necessities. Now it's my turn to help out B'erot. The school is in need of funds to help continue assisting women like myself. Your donations – in any amount – are greatly appreciated.

Regards,

Heather Fuller, Midreshet B’erot Bat Ayin student and Wellspring editor

“Health & Healing”

By Carole Israel (Chaya Tova Israel), founder, American Friends of B'erot Bat Ayin

I recently spent the day with Chana Bracha and the students of B'erot. My previous visit was almost two years ago, in Aug. 2001. This time I felt much more at ease in traveling to Gush Etzion, where Bat Ayin is located, and was delighted to see some positive changes on the yishuv: the grocery store had moved to a larger, more central location and construction of other new buildings was taking place.

The main class that day, with Shoshanna Harrari, was a fabulous excursion into the world of preparing for a juice fast – something that should not be undertaken without first checking with your medical practitioner – and tasting some wonderful juices, including watermelon juice and cold ginger tea.

Afterwards, we attempted to have a kumsitz in a small cave with candles and music. However, the natural inhabitants (read: bugs) were disturbed by our presence and drove us out. Since it was a typically hot summer day, some students voted for a dip in the mayan (natural spring), which doubles as the men's mikvah. Keeping tznius in mind, we jumped into the spring with our clothes on (I was the last one in, timid about the freezing temperature).  We sang and danced in the water – and later on, land – in honor of Rosh Chodesh. Rabanit Chana Bracha Siegelbaum played the guitar in her wonderful fashion.

I encourage you to visit Gush Etzion and drop in on a class or two with Chana Bracha and her students.

Hope to see you there soon!

“The Lesson of Lamed – Learning in Order to Teach”

By former B’erot student Devora Gila Berkowitz

Returning to B’erot as a teacher and tutor is a fulfilling experience. Now I sit in the place where my own role models had been and share my knowledge with those who sat where I once did.

It reminds me of the Chassidic wisdom behind the letter Lamed, whose name means both “to learn” and “to teach.” In contrast to Western society, which lauds people for the knowledge they accrue for their own betterment, financial reward and social standing, our Jewish tradition says that the highest form of learning is acquiring knowledge in order to pass it on – “learning in order to teach,” states Rav Yitzchak Ginsburgh.

I remember my first tutor at B’erot, Reva, who is now a dear friend of mine. I admired her ability to translate Hebrew to English and explain intellectual concepts to me in a way I could understand. Having studied for seven months at B’erot and afterwards continuing to develop my textual skills, I can now sit with new learners where Reva once had sat with me. I can help them in different areas, from pronouncing words correctly to guiding translation and summarizing students’ ideas. From time to time, I even find myself explaining Aramaic concepts that I have learned from my favorite learning partner, my husband Eliyahu, to whom I became engaged while learning at B’erot.

Learning in order to teach is a wonderful lesson with which I bless all of our students. May they return to us as teachers and role models with families of their own.

“Waking Up In B’erot”

By B’erot student Sophie Toledano

Slowly awakening to realize my fall from Eden, the search for re-consciousness had begun.

I came to B’erot to seek the Truth, to try to be a more truthful person. The more I looked, the more apparent the reflection became between my internal struggle and the external struggles surrounding me. Each seemed to influence the other.

After spending time working on the internal, I decided to work on the external. Hoping and praying that it would have some effect, I left London and came to Israel. I hoped that in Bat Ayin I could find a place that would be more inviting to my soul.

B’erot possesses so many different qualities; when combined, they create an environment in which I feel able to begin letting go of “the façade,” filled with insecurity, fear, self-doubt and destruction.

Each morning, I arise in the tranquil Judean Hills, decorated with rolling hills and sprinkled with the melodic tune of singing birds. I feel like I am in a verse from Tehillim. Just seeing the horizon each day gives me a feeling of balance and clarity.

Then there’s the B’erot community. I’ve only been here for about two months but I can honestly say that I feel love for everyone here.

There is so much learning, even before I’ve gone to the first morning class. The lessons range from the philosophies of Rav Kook and RamBam to agriculture and the Jewish answer to yoga. All of the classes are unique in their own right and yet each one supports the other.

For instance, in Parshat Lech Lecha (Chumash with Rebbetzin Chana Bracha Siegelbaum), we learned about Avraham and HaShem’s promise to give him the Land. While we learn the importance of the Land conceptually in the class, we put it to practice by working the Land in our weekly agriculture workshop.

I came to B’erot Bat Ayin to connect to HaShem, and while I’ve been here, this connection has gradually evolved. Concepts and feelings that didn’t seem totally united are finally coming together.

Please G-d, as I continue to grow, I hope that I will be able to express this diverse and beautiful world of things that HaShem has created and bring it all back to One.

Announcements:

Mazal tov to former B’erot student Hila Rut Simchi, who gave birth to a healthy baby boy, Azaria Nachman, on 8 Tammuz; Joy Granoff, who is engaged to Shapell student Michael Rosenfeld; Yocheved Jantzen, who is set to marry Avraham Shachar, of Venice, California, in Bat Ayin.

Condolences to Rabbanit Elana Benarroch, who’s father, Shlomo, recently passed away.

B'erot is currently accepting applications for its summer sessions, as well as the upcoming school year. Dates of upcoming program: Sunday, Aug. 3-Shabbat, Aug. 16 (2 weeks).

“Women of Wisdom” (Sunday, Aug. 3-Shabbat, Aug. 16)

A temporary aliyah geared towards women of all ages (suitable for mothers and daughters)

This program is for women with busy lives who seek a retreat in the Holy Land where they can pursue their spiritual path and connect to Zion. “Women of Wisdom” presents Torah study on Israel’s holy sites and offers excursions to some of the places studied. Students will increase their knowledge of ancient texts and revitalize their inner femininity through in-depth study with some of the most learned teachers of Israel. Women will be encouraged to awaken deeper parts of their psyche that have been swept aside and will experience a rebirth in kedusha through workshops in Jewish meditation. The Torah learning is not limited to lectures but will encourage an integration of the material learned with artistic expression – painting, music, writing, dancing and more.

Program Includes:

· Learn about Rachel our Matriarch and her connection to the Return of the Shechina

· Daily afternoon prayer at the Kotel

· Excursions in the Old City of Jerusalem

· Full-moon desert hike

· Drumming circle, singing, meditation, movement and dance

· Private high-security transportation

· Fee: $650 for the two-week program; Spaces are limited; reserve your spot now

“Let my Essence Praise You” (Sunday, Aug. 24-Shabbat, Aug. 30)

Through holy texts, meditation, music and movement we will tune into our inherent connection with the Divine. Nature hikes and bonfires will intensify our love and recognition of the Creator, who constantly bestows His abundance upon us.

For more information, contact: Shoshana Shamberg in Baltimore, (410) 358-7269 or shoshamberg@yahoo.com; Chana Bracha Siegelbaum in Israel, (2) 993-2642 or berot@netvision.net.il. Visit us online at www.berotbatayin.org.