Midreshet B’erot Bat Ayin’s

Pearls from the Wellspring Sivan 5763

Dear Friends,

I am proud to share with you such touching writings from our very talented, sincere and devoted students. I feel so fortunate and undeserving to be their teacher and director.

Via the new media of paltalk it has now been possible to continue to learn with alumni students even across the globe. Please join us on our weekly shiur interspersed with music and discussion. Here is the description.

With Blessings of the Torah & The Land,

Chana Bracha Siegelbaum

Name: Women Shiur - Torah Learning about Women for Women by Women

Megillat Ruth in the Midreshet B'erot Bat Ayin room. Given by Rebbetzin Chana Bracha Siegelbaum, Founder and Director of Midreshet B'erot Bat Ayin. Why was Ruth, a convert from the lowest of people, selected to become the mother of royalty? This question, together with topics such as: "The True Nature of Kindness," "Love of the Land of Israel," and "How to bring about Redemption" will be elucidated as we tune into the characters' lives through in-depth textual study.

This program will be presented from 1:00 to 2:00 PM EST, 8:00 PM Israel time every Monday afternoon on PalTalk, (click on the underlined word to download it) followed by personal questions regarding women's issues. Once the free PalTalk, software is installed on your computer, you will find the "Midreshet Berot Bat Ayin - Women Only" Room under the "Judaism" Category.

In this month’s issue:

§ Receiving the Torah: One

student’s revelation at Sinai

§ Up All Night: Celebrating

Shavuot at B’erot

§ Creative Corner: Poetry by new

student Sophie Toledano

§ Announcements: Two alumni students wed

“Receiving the Torah”

By B’erot student Nechama Gauchman

Six months ago, I left Egypt. My Egypt was across the Atlantic. My Pharaoh was post-college, rat race America. “Where did you go to school?” “What do you do?” “Where are you going?” I was breaking away from the cumbersome load of trying to keep up. Cosmopolitan living, martinis, fashion, fitness, friends, facade, fake, false. The Truth was there but impenetrable.

Six months ago, I reached the Promised Land, numb from 24 years of slavery to body, lust, money, greed, class, image, honor and “normalcy.” I stepped into the desert, finally released from my chains. Slowly, my freedom sank in. The dawn arrived, yet I was tempted – tempted by the texture of the meat left behind in Egypt. Was this reality? Could it be my reality? Like the ocean, the light ebbed and flowed while I sat on its shore.

Five months ago, I let the plane fly without me. I crossed the Sea of Reeds as it crashed in behind me. I left for freedom. Embracing it, the light rushed into me and took me off of my feet. I was soaring, living, loving, learning, lusting for Hashem. I became greedy for more knowledge – dreaming, dancing, delighting. For the first time, my life was between me and Hashem and I found free will. I released the glaring eyes keeping me in place, the Egyptians enslaving me.

For five months now I have been learning, flying, soaring, sinking, doubting, solidifying, breaking down, riding the wave, understanding what it means to be free – free choice, free will, free from, free to. I have grappled with the Truth, struggled with reality, with the past and the future, with man and G-d and with myself. Now here I stand, ready to make my covenant. Ready to be blown away, to receive, to commit, to see and hear and speak and do – to freely live Hashem’s will as my own.

I feel free from that which bound me to the physical world, from ideologies and opacities and confines. This is freedom. This is revelation.

“Up All Night”

By B’erot student Rachel Novick

This Shavuot at B’erot 19 women worked together – with the help of wonderful teachers and role models – to prepare ourselves for receiving the Torah. We worked to create a festive atmosphere in the beautiful Judean Hills where King David used to sit and compose his psalms to Hashem.

Our festivities began with a meal at Rav and Rebbetzin Siegelbaum’s house. With the guidance of Rebbetzin Chana Bracha, we explored Ruth’s connections to other people in Jewish history.

Throughout the evening, we attempted to understand Shavuot from different perspectives, with psychologist Devora Nov and Bat Ayin Rav Daniel Cohen. Under the guidance of B’erot neighbor Yedida Goldstein, we completed the entire book of psalms in the name of King David, sending many holy sparks up to Heaven.

The evening culminated with an inspirational morning service – at 4:30 a.m.

“Tie It All”

By B’erot student Sophie Toledano

Philosophize and hypothesize until you’re blue in the face,

With too much theory,

You can’t hear He,

Because you loose the embrace.

Logical equations,

Scientific persuasions,

Fear of the intangible,

But you cannot comprehend the incomprehensible.

I fell asleep waking as a butterfly,

Prove to me that I really see you with my eye,

Proof for the Aloof,

Shallow grip on nothing strong,

Holding tight when holdings wrong,

Speak the speak, ignore the song.

Try, just try, just try to let go,

Release the static feel the flow,

Is there anything we truly know?

Hypothesize and philosophize until you’re blue in the face,

Without good actions,

Just retractions,

There remains the empty space.

If we avoid to approach the void,

We continue to live in denial,

This is a life that we are creating,

Not merely an act or a trial.

What is the life you want it to be?

Is it that idealistic non-reality?

The Harmony.

Many state it’s an impossibility,

To seize the heart, to set it free,

An idealistic ideal, but not actuality.

Yet we believe so much in the hate and the lies,

See it every day, watch it tear up our lives,

But for good to overcome the terror we see,

Many think that that could never be.

You can’t see the picture, so you choose not to paint,

The bad is so loud and the good just so faint.

So we sit and we await the tragedy,

Suppress hope and submit to negativity.

Well I won’t let that be me…

And I don’t care what you say,

If there is no hope then why live the day?

If my life is to sustain a rotting mess,

Or merely logistics, a game just like chess,

Then the emptiness I’d feel,

If such a life were real,

Would tear me to pieces in its true comprehension,

Left in a state of dreaded suspension.

But things do move on, the direction we choose,

Sadly right now we have chosen to loose.

But not I – I’ll hold on through the fog and the mist,

I’m not dying in this life, I choose to exist.

As cold as it may be, I will kindle the fire,

Watch the flames as they arise and move to something higher!

Announcements:

Mazel tov to former B’erot students Aviva Sara Deutscher and Batya Bracha Ravitz. Aviva married Bat Ayin Yeshiva student Yitschak Smith June 3 in the holy city of Jerusalem. Batya Bracha married Sholom Ber Benjaminson, brother of B’erot teacher Rav Mordechai Benjaminson (who introduced the pair), June 8 in New York.

B'erot is currently accepting applications for its spring and summer sessions, as well as the upcoming school year. Dates of upcoming programs:

1.Tuesday July 1 -Shabbat July 12 (1 and 1/2 week)
2. Sunday July 13th -Shabbat August 2th (3 weeks)
3. Sunday August 3 -Shabbat August 16th (2 weeks)
4. Sunday August 24 -Shabbat August 30th (1 week)

1. GROW and LET GROW Healing on the Land Seminar
July 1 – 12

Featuring Shoshanna Harrari: "The Joys of Juice Fasting and Taking a Break from the Abundance"
Nurture your Soul through Torah learning, with emphasis on Healing & Herbology!
Heal your Body through cleansing Diet, Movement & Dance!
Revitalize yourself through the therapeutic power of Gardening on the land of the breathtaking Judean hills.

2: "Between the Fences of Zion" July 13 - 31
The three weeks between the 17th of Tamuz and the 9th of Av are called Bein Hametzarim (The-Days-Between-The-Fences) As it is written "All her pursuers caught her between the fences." (Eicha 1) During this period we have the opportunity to pursue our spiritual path and reclaim our connection to Zion. In-depth textual study with dynamic teachers as well as study partners will serve as a springboard for reflection and meditation on how to rebuild our own inner Temple.

3. Special 2 week summer program for "Women of Wisdom" – August 3-16
A temporary aliyah geared towards women of all ages (suitable for mothers and daughters)

The focus of the first week will be "Jerusalem "- including textual study of feminine themes, excursions in the Old City and tefila at the Kotel. Classes will be taught by some of the most learned teachers in Israel. The second week "Soul Connections" will focus on Tu B'Av and will include our annual full moon desert hike, creative singing, drumming and circle dance.
The 2-week program offers you the opportunity to pursue your spiritual path and reclaim your connection to Zion. At the world’s holiest place, you will experience the mourning for the destruction of our sanctuary in order to merit witnessing its rebuilding. In-depth textual study with dynamic teachers as well as study partners about the holy sites will make their visit so much more meaningful. Sessions in Kabbalah and Meditation will inspire us to reflection on how to rebuild our own inner Temple.
At Bat Ayin your inner self will be nourished as you rebuild your relationship with Hashem.
Program Includes:

· Intensive textual study of feminine themes in the Book of Eicha and Tehillim

· 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

· Musical Ein Gedi nature hike with teaching and recital of Tehillim

· 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

For more information about the program and registration contact Shoshana Shamberg 410 3587269 shoshamberg@yahoo.com in Baltimore and Chana Bracha Siegelbaum 2 993-2642 berot@netvision.net.il in Israel.


4. Torah and Creativity Seminar: "Let my Essence Praise You” August 24- 30
The deepest place within all reality and ourselves constantly praises Hashem. Through texts, meditations, music and movement we will tune into our essence—inherently connected with the Divine. Nature hikes and bonfires will intensify our love and recognition of the Creator who constantly bestows His abundance upon us. Students are facilitated in expressing themselves creatively through Torah texts.