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Hi. My name is
Michelle (Miriam). I was born in Sydney, Australia and come
from a traditional, secular Jewish Family. My father was born
in Calcutta, India and came over by boat with his family when
he was 16. My mother was also born overseas, in Poland and
came to Australia after the war. I grew up in a warm, loving
household without realising that there was anything missing
from my life. We had Kiddush on Friday nights, Pesach Seders
and I attended a local Jewish day school.
As my mother was a 60’s child
we spent a number of summers camping with a group of other
family friends by the beach. I remember running down to the
beach in the early morning barefoot and singing folk songs
around the campfire. These moments connected me to a craving
for spirituality, although at times, something felt as though
it was missing.
When I was 15years old I became
struck by a class in Jewish thought at school and asked my
best friend at the time, who was religious, to have me over
for Shabbat. One Shabbat turned into two and I became involved
with Bnei Akiva which my friend also attended. Slowly I became
a Baal Teshuva.
Following high school I went on
a year program that included 9 months of learning at Midreshet
Harova seminary in the old city. On my return to Australia
I began studying psychology and working as a madricha, and
spent my summers (Dec-March) learning in Israel when I could
afford it. Baruch Hashem I finally graduated last year. Other
than psychology my interests include writing, music, travel,
swimming and hiking.
I have come to Israel on a 12 month
ticket and hope to make aliyah at the end of that time. I
have come to B’erot Bat Ayin for Fall Zman.
I was drawn to the ethos of B’erot
because I felt that it was a way that I could learn to fuse
some of the beautiful ideals that I was given as a child with
that of Torah world that I have come to know and love. I particularly
enjoy the classes on Chassidut, Parasha, Navi, as well as
those that encourage the expression of creativity as a means
of connecting deeply with Hashem. With the help of Hashem
all of us will be able to grow only further in our learning,
connection to G-d and refinement of the world and ourselves.
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