A NEW FRIEND
By Danya Allswang
Chicago, Illinois
On the second week after arriving to spend the year at Midreshet AMIT, I walked outside to familiarize myself with the grounds and noticed a ten-year-old boy alone on the playground. I went over and started speaking to him, and he told me his name was Eliran. We spoke about his school, played some games and tried to name as many animals as we could in English and Hebrew. Eliran was my introduction to the children at Beit Hayeled and from that moment, I knew that this was going to be an incredible year.
I was assigned to a group of children who live at Beit Hayeled with surrogate parents, in a family structure known as a mishpachton. What a great surprise it was to see Eliran, the boy from the playground, in my group. I was ecstatic! This was the beginning of what was to become an amazing friendship. Every week, I went to Eliran’s apartment for homework hour. We practiced math, learned English, and played games together. The moment I would step into the apartment, Eliran would run to the door, greet me with a huge smile, and pull me by the arm to his desk to begin working or playing.
I became a better person during my year because of Eliran – he taught me how to show appreciation and to be less self-centered. For my birthday, he gave me a small shoe charm, a little gesture that meant more to me than I could put into words. When he heard that I wanted to learn to play guitar, he found me a guitar teacher without my asking him. Although Eliran is only 10, he taught me about the importance of including others. When the group was picking sides for a soccer game, Eliran refused to take a spot until he knew that I too was going to be picked. Every smile, every coloring session, every game of soccer played together has made the year so rewarding.
I have gained a new perspective on chesed that I feel is impossible to get by going anywhere else in Israel but Midreshet AMIT, where I was part of a unique program that values the importance of living chesed every day. This year has given me the feeling that I have contributed to something greater than myself, a sense of completeness I will carry with me forever. I can only hope that I have affected these children half as much as they have helped shape me.
A RACE FOR THE KIDS
By Kinneret Braun
Chicago, Illinois
Running in the Jerusalem marathon as part of Team AMIT was like nothing I had ever experienced before. It was the first time I had run a half marathon, and there was no better setting for it than the streets of Jerusalem. It was thrilling! I was overwhelmed with emotion as I ran through the Old City, an experience I will never forget. And, we raised over $18,000, which we were proud to donate to upcoming renovations to Beit Hayeled.
I ran the race in honor of AMIT Beit Hayeled, which was my home away from home this past year. Working and studying there has changed my life and taught me what it really means to be thankful and to appreciate what G-d gives me.
A NEW PERSPECTIVE
By Lara Siegal
Los Angeles, California
I can sum up my year in one word: unique. Midreshet AMIT provides a unique program in a unique place, and I have gained tremendously from it. The tagline of Midreshet AMIT is “Live Torah, Live Chesed, Live Israel”. My experience encompassed all of it.
The amount of Torah knowledge I have gained was beyond measure. The staff at Midreshet AMIT helped me focus on taking what I learned and making it integral to my own life, working on myself to be a better Jew.
This year, I have grown into a different person, with stronger values and beliefs. A huge part of my year was working with the kids in Beit Hayeled. Some days were difficult yet always rewarding. I will always remember when the director of a Beit Hayeled family thanked me for the work I was doing with a very insecure young boy. I was able to provide a sense of stability and security for a child who needed it.
My love of Israel has grown these past 10 months. I was raised in a very Zionistic family, so I have always appreciated Israel. But after this year, I am much more devoted to our homeland. A big part of that appreciation stems from the amazing tiyulim (trips) we experienced. I got to see with my own eyes how remarkable the land of Israel is.
Midreshet AMIT taught me that a year in Israel is not only about growing in Judaism but also growing within. The staff at AMIT wants everyone to realize their potential, and this year I got to know myself on a whole new level. I thought I was on my own in Israel without my family. But I discovered a new family in AMIT, and I could not be happier.
I know I will always have a place to call home in Israel. That place is Midreshet AMIT.
A VOLUNTEER
By Rebecca Klestzick
New Rochelle, NY
One of the highlights of my year at Midreshet AMIT was volunteering at the AMIT Nordlicht Religious Technological High School. Our small group of volunteers was assigned to work with the high school boys who were preparing for the English Bagrut (matriculation) exams. Every Tuesday afternoon, we traveled to the other side of Jerusalem, eager to tutor those who needed it.
I worked with the same student each week. In the beginning, it was very challenging. He spoke only in Hebrew, and I spoke only in English. But we slowly learned to communicate and understand each other – without using Google translate! We both went out of our comfort zones and got past the language barrier.
Since I had tutored and have been tutored, I understood his situation. He reminded me that I had to be patient while explaining and not get frustrated when he didn’t understand everything right away.
As we came to the end of our sessions, just before the Bagrut, he told me – in English – that his English skills had really improved! He could read, understand, and even write a little. He then said, “I owe it all to you.” You can only imagine how I felt.
I want to thank the staff at Midreshet AMIT for this amazing once-in-a-lifetime experience. It is one that I will never forget.
