By Ilana Gottlieb
It is hard to believe that nine months have passed since I was standing in Ben Gurion Airport anxiously awaiting the arrival of the 2011-2012 class of Midreshet AMIT. Young women from communities throughout the United States and Canada chose to spend the year at Midreshet AMIT, focusing on Torah study, acts of chesed, and an unforgettable Israel experience. Now that the academic year has come to a close – in the blink of an eye – it is clear that our students’ hopes and dreams were fulfilled.
The learning at Midreshet AMIT has challenged and enriched the students. With course options spanning all areas of Tanach, Halacha, Gemara, Jewish philosophy, and Jewish history, no topic was left out. Holiday-themed Yemei Iyun, guest speakers, and panel discussions on special topics all added to the academic program. Classes touched on both classical Torah texts and modern writings of current scholars and the girls were both immersed in tradition and, at the same time, encouraged to think independently.
All of this was made possible by the talented teachers who were dedicated to the learning and spiritual needs of our students. Not merely scholars, our faculty also inspired the students by serving as role models for proud and committed Jews living in Eretz Yisrael. Many strong relationships were forged when the students visited their rabbis’ and teachers’ homes for Shabbat. Both in and out of the classroom the teachers gave of their time and their hearts.
One of the unique components of the Midreshet AMIT experience is the chesed program at Frisch Beit Hayeled. At the beginning of the year each of our students was assigned to work with a specific foster family (“mishpachton”). Through daily interactions, such as helping with homework, teaching English, and running afterschool activities for the children, our students developed a close and consistent bond with their “siblings.” In addition, sharing special experiences, such as a Chanukah celebration, Purim carnival, and a Lag Ba’Omer bonfire, added a touch of happiness to the foster children’s lives. These experiences taught our students about the power of giving and, in addition, gave them a true sense of accomplishment and appreciation.
Another goal this year was to deepen the connection our students feel to Eretz Yisrael. The experience of living and interacting daily with Frisch Beit Hayeled’s Israeli couples and Sherut Leumi young women gave the girls a small sense of what it’s like to be part of Israeli society. Furthermore, our multiple Shabbatonim in communities throughout the country highlighted the diversity of the Jewish people, and the adventurous tiyulim helped our students learn about our rich history. Additionally, experiencing holidays – especially Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha’atzmaut – in Israel was one of the highlights of the year. Most recently, the celebrations of Yom Yerushalayim and Shavuot at the Kotel, along with tens of thousands of other Jews gave the students memories that will last a lifetime.
Finally, we are proud to be part of the larger AMIT network and, therefore, throughout the year our students visited some of the AMIT schools and learned about the amazing work that is being done across the country. Most meaningful was our recent trip to AMIT Kfar Blatt, home to many high school children who have “graduated” from Frisch Beit Hayeled. While there we met with an inspirational young couple who serve as “parents” to 17 high school age girls, toured the high school, and viewed a short film about the responsibilities and opportunities for all the teens who live at the kfar. We then met with the principal of a very special post-high school two-year program for students who wish to pursue different areas of study and toured the impressive facility. Most enjoyable was a panel of five students who shared with us the stories of their lives, challenges, achievements, and hopes for the future. A theme that was repeated over and over by each student was: “AMIT saved my life.”
As we say “le’hitraot” to the class of 2011-12 and cherish the memories of this year, we are already preparing for the next class at Midreshet AMIT. We are proud that next year’s class will have twice as many students(!) and we look forward to an amazing year of learning. To accommodate our exciting growth we have added new faculty members and expanded our course oppor tunities, including a special “advanced Beit Midrash” track. We are also planning a more diverse chesed program to meet the needs of our larger incoming grou p. Before long, we will be back a t Ben Gurion airport, welcoming the newest group of students ready for a “Year of Torah, Chesed and Israel.”
