To watch a slideshow of the Midreshet
B'erot Bat Ayin
Bat Mitzvah Celebration with excerpts from the speeches,
click on the Play
button.
Please be aware that there are
pictures of women dancing.
There
was magic in the air as Midreshet B'erot Bat Ayin, the Center
for Holistic Torah Study for Women, celebrated her Bat Mitzvah
this past August 18th. The
picturesque setting, in the gardens of B'erot with a breathtaking
Bat Ayin sunset, was the backdrop for the evening beginning
with a tour of the recent improvements of the campus and grounds.
Alumnae students and their spouses, teachers, and supporters
were able to view the new vegetable garden and orchard including
the new Irene Stern Greenhouse generously donated by Dr. Roy
and Judy Stern of Efrat.
The evening was an expression of
what is unique about B'erot, including inspiring words of
Torah, original live music by students and alumnae (while
the men were davening Ma'ariv out of earshot), and
an exhibition of student artwork collected from the summer
course "Torah & Healing," presented by Torah
art teacher Hannah Sarah Zeller of Efrat. Together with the
artwork, a photo collage documenting the history of the midrasha
was displayed around the Beit Midrash. The center piece was
the tri-layered cake, designed and made by current student
Alyssa Harris. The cake was a piece of art in itself almost
too beautiful to eat, designed as a garden with fruit and
vegetables surrounded by a picket fence.
Rabbi
Yosef Benarroch opened the evening by praising the unique
qualities of B'erot expressed by its staff, students and the
dedication of the director, Rebbetzin Chana bracha Siegelbaum.
He noted how the handpicked staff work together symbiotically
to actualize the vision of B'erot. Citing Netivot Shalom,
Rav Benarroch explained how the daughter of Pharaoh knew that
Moshe was a Jew based on the way he cried the cry of hope
rather than desperation. Likewise, every student comes to
B'erot with their own personal cry of hope and yearning to
connect with the Torah and their creative essence.
Sigalit
Dabach, an acupuncturist by profession and current student,
related how she was drawn to come and learn at Midreshet
B'erot Bat Ayin due to the holistic way of thinking, living
and learning. She was looking to learn Torah, connect with
HaShem and build a lasting foundation to live as a Jewish
woman in a natural setting. Sigalit delivered a beautiful
Torah about how the night time Shema mentions Bat Ayin, because
at night the Shechinah rests on the earth. "The work
that the residents of Bat Ayin and the students at B'erot
are putting into the earth facilitates the Shechinah to rest
in this very special place," she concluded.
Alumna Sarah Abaian spoke of how
she broke her vessel and began rebuilding it in Bat Ayin.
She noted how the simplicity and seclusion of Bat Ayin allowed
her to get in touch with her mind and heart away from the
chaos of the world she left in Los Angeles. Sarah described
how rather than being an esoteric concept, her Torah learning
at B'erot was part of her everyday and everyway, spiritually,
emotionally and physically. She commended B'erot and Yishuv
Bat Ayin on their ability to bring people back to Torah in
a simple, basic way, living in commune with the Land, getting
in touch with the fundamental essence of life.
B'erot
teacher Rav Avraham Itzkovitz lead the shofar blowing ceremony
as attendees circled the grounds of the campus where B'ezrat
HaShem the new building will be constructed in the near future.
As the sound of the shofarim pierced the air, there was much
hope that any stumbling block or barrier that could stand
in the way of building the new campus would tumble down in
our midst.
Rebbetzin
Chana Bracha Siegelbaum delivered a heartfelt thanks to all
those who have contributed to Midreshet B'erot Bat Ayin, past,
present and future. She explained how she founded B'erot to
give women the opportunity to return to the Torah while encouraged
to express their creativity and spirituality. "B'erot
reclaims women's lost creativity and demonstrates how Women's
Torah and creative expression go hand in hand. Besides the
regular textual classes, we want to learn as we walk, paint,
plant, sing and dance. We, as women want the Torah to penetrate
our entire being, not just our heads. Our learning methods
are not limited to one approach. We encourage each student
to express Torah in her own personal way, always remaining
connected to the foundation of Torah and the Sages of Israel.
We aspire to nourish and encourage our students to plant their
roots in the fertile soil of Torah and to blossom, and multiply
expressing their hidden talents in the world. Our practical
goal is to prepare them to meet their soul-mates as they proceed
along their life's path as women of valor."
The
hidden talents of alumnae and current students were displayed
in an exceptional women's concert. Chaya Fogelman, current
B'erot student and madricha, sang original songs with a voice
that overflows with raw beauty, innocent passion and depth
that brings tears to anyone who hears her. Alumna Chana Hodari,
master drummer, accompanied Chaya's singing and guitar playing
with a soul- touching intensity that complimented Chaya beautifully.
Devora Gila Berkowitz sang songs from her album Hodu LaShem
that she composed while being a student at Midreshet B'erot
Bat Ayin. Yehudit Batya Weinberger concluded the concert with
a song she wrote about B'erot Bat Ayin called "I Know
a Place."
Chaim
Dovid wrapped up the evening with very simcha filled music.
The simcha culminated on a high note when residents of Bat
Ayin joined in the dancing at each side of the mechitza. As
B'erot celebrated her 12 years of Torah and creativity the
words of Yehudit's song reverberated in the air: "I know
a place of flowers and fruit tress where words of Torah flow
effortlessly…stay with me B'erot Bat Ayin wherever I
wander at tehi iti (you will be with me)... Since I
have arrived in the midrasha I've seen such beauty I can hardly
believe, the air here echoes with His majesty…"
Israel's "Hilltops"
and the World A Rosh Hashana Message from Rebbetzin
Chana Bracha
The Rosh Hashana Torah reading teaches us a lesson on the
relationship between Israel and the world contrary to the
predominant world view today, wherein strengthening and expanding
Jewish communities in Israel is viewed as an impediment to
world peace. Time Magazine, in the July 27, 2009 edition,
features an article called Two Views of the Land, where
the city of Efrat and other Jewish communities are called
"Israeli colonization," "illegal land grab,"
and "hilltop settlements." Their inhabitants are
called, "militant settlers" and "obstacles
to peace in the Middle East." Throughout Jewish history
the People and Land of Israel have been viewed in opposition
to the rest of the world. Actually, Avraham is called "the
Hebrew" (HaIvri), which means "the other
side" because, "The entire world was on the one
side and he was on the other" (Bereishit Rabbah,
42: 2).
The Torah reading of Rosh HaShana teaches us that in truth
the prosperity of the entire world is dependant on the welfare
of Israel. We learn this from Sarah our mother. When she was
blessed the whole world was blessed with her. At the miraculous
birth of her son she joyfully exclaimed:
"G-d has made laughter for me, so that all that hear
will laugh with me (yitzachak li)" (Bereishit 21:6).
However, the Silberman chumash emphasizes the alienation
between Sarah who represents the Jewish people and the rest
of the world, and translates our verse as follows: "G-d
has made me a person to be laughed at, all that hear it will
laugh at me." Sarah's emotional state is depicted
as being self conscious almost embarrassed that people will
laugh at her for deviating so much from the norm. This mocking
hostile laughter of the world experienced by Sarah as disbelief
in the miraculous birth of her son Yitzchak, is reflected
throughout Jewish history as disbelief in his descendants'
ability to conquer, settle, and build up the Land of Israel.
However, the Jerusalem Bible reveals the other side of the
story describing Sarah's emotional state of complete happiness
and bliss: "G-d has made laughter for me, so that
all that hear will laugh with me." Here, the
world is portrayed as being happy not only for Sarah but together
with her. This happiness reflects the deeper aspect of the
relationship between the world and Yitzchak's descendants,
where Israel's happiness is spilling over and causing other
people happiness as well. Rashi explains the reason for their
happiness and brings a midrash to clarify the meaning
of yitzachak li: "many barren women were remembered
together with her, many sick were healed in that day, many
prayers were answered with her and there was a great rejoicing
in the world" (Rashi based on Bereishit Rabba 53). This
midrash alludes to the universal nature of the Jewish
people. At the birth of Yitzchak, the bearer of Jewish seed,
healing and joy emanates into the entire world. Yehudah HaLevi
teaches that "the relationship between Israel and the
nations is compared to the relationship of the heart to the
rest of the body" (The Kuzari, Ma'amar 2, Ot 36).
Just like the sickness or the health of the heart affects
the wellbeing of the whole body, so does the welfare of Israel
affect the entire world. Therefore, when Sarah became the
Mother of the Jewish people, the entire world partook in her
blessings. The end is en-wedged in the beginning" (Sefer
Yetzirah 1:6). Yitzchak's birth marked the beginning of
the Jewish people and set the model for our future relationship
with the nations.
There
will come a time when the nations will be happy with us and
celebrate our successes and victories. They will understand
that the flourishing communities of Israel continuously pump
fresh blood into the rest of the nations, bringing prosperity
and healing to the entire world. Then ". . . it shall
come to pass, that the mountain of Hashem's house shall be
established as the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted
above the hills; and peoples shall flow unto it. And many
nations shall go and say: 'Come ye, and let us go up to the
mountain of Hashem, and to the house of the G-d of Ya'acov;
and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His
paths'; for out of Tzion shall go forth the law, and the word
of Hashem from Jerusalem" (Micha 4:1-2). At that
time there will no longer be Two Views of the Land.
The King is
in the Field An Elul Message from Rabbi Lazer
Brody
We
are honored that Rabbi Lazer Brody has become an established
part of our Garden of Emuna program. During the 2008-2009
year, Rabbi Brody gave a regular shiur on emuna (faith),
bitachon (trusting in Hashem), and the importance of
personal tefilla (prayer). Rabbi Brody returned to
the midrasha after a summer vacation with what is sure to
be the first of an amazing 2009-2010 lecture series.
To start the video, click on the Play
button.
See donation
opportunities below to learn how you can sponsor Rabbi
Lazer Brody's lectures for the 2009-2010 series.
Thanks
to your kind-hearted donations, our students and community
can enjoy the new Midreshet B'erot Bat Ayin Orchard, Vegetable
Garden and Greenhouse!
Take
a tour with Rebbetzin Chana Bracha and learn how you can continue
to support the Torah of the Women on the Land of Israel.
To start the video, click on the Play
button.
Thanks to the many donations we
received in the spring toward the Garden of Emuna project,
we have been able to cultivate the Land of Israel and give
our students the experience of working the Land with their
own hands, while at the same time cultivating their own spiritual
growth. The orchard has been planted, the vegetable garden
sown, the Irene Stern Greenhouse built, and many other landscaping
projects completed. All of this has taken place in just a
few short months, and all has been accomplished with the help
of donations given by caring people like you.
As Rosh Hashana and a new year
of learning are upon us, we turn to you to help support our
activities and programs for the 2009-2010 year. Many opportunities
for making a dedication to a loved one are available. Please
take the time to show your commitment to Torat Nashim B'Eretz
Yisrael - the Torah of the Women on the Land of Israel!
You can give directly online right now using PayPal
(credit card, bank transfer or PayPal credits), or you can
send a check, or even make automatic
monthly payments! Tizku L'Mitzvot!
Sponsor
a Student Scholarship for the Entire 2009-2010 Year
$10,000
Sponsor
a Student Scholarship for the Fall or Spring Semester
$5,000
Sponsor the Torah Wednesdays Jerusalem Program for 2009-2010
$3000
Co-sponsor
a Student Scholarship
$2,500
Sponsor
a Special Holiday Seminar (Sukkot Seminar, Tu B'Shevat
Seminar, Pre-Pesach Seminar)
$1,000
Sponsor
Rabbi Lazer Brody's 2009-2010 Lecture Series for an Entire
Year
$750
Sponsor
a Student Trip (Tzfat, Eco-Village, Ein Gedi)
$500
Sponsor One Special Event (Purim Seudah,
Lag B'Omer Celebration, Chanukkah Party)
$250
Sponsor One of
Rabbi Lazer Brody's 2009-2010 Lectures
$125
Sponsor One Torah
Wednesdays Jerusalem Program for 2009-2010
DONATIONS IN ANY AMOUNT MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE! Whether you give a one-time donation or choose to make
a monthly committment, your contribution is greatly appreciated!
DONATIONS
BY MAIL
For a tax-deductible donation in the USA:
Please make checks out to: American Friends of MBBA
Mail to:
American Friends of MBBA
c/o Leah Gelber
6424 Folger Drive
Charlotte, NC 28270
Tax I.D.: EIN 20-1923745
For a tax-deductible donation in Canada:
Please make checks out to: The Tzaddik Foundation
For a donation in Israel:
Please make checks out to: Midreshet B'erot Bat Ayin
Mail to:
Yishuv Bat Ayin
Gush Etzion 90913
ISRAEL
AUTOMATIC MONTHLY DONATIONS
BY CREDIT CARD, BANK TRANSFER (HORA'AT KEVA) OR PAYPAL
PayPal To schedule monthly U.S. tax-deductible
donations through PayPal, just click the Donate button under
the amount you would like to give:
*Note: Using PayPal, you can schedule the
monthly donation to be payed from your U.S. credit card, debit
card, bank account or PayPal funds.
Bank Transfer (Hora'at Keva) To schedule monthly donations
from an Israeli bank, just fill out and sign this
form and fax it back to us at (02) 993-1215. If you have
any questions about scheduling a bank transfer, please call
us at (02) 993-4945 or email admin@berotbatayin.org.
Credit Card To schedule monthly donations using your
credit card but not using PayPal, including tax-deductible
donations in Canada, please send your request to admin@berotbatayin.org.
button.
The
picturesque setting, in the gardens of B'erot with a breathtaking
Bat Ayin sunset, was the backdrop for the evening beginning
with a tour of the recent improvements of the campus and grounds.
Alumnae students and their spouses, teachers, and supporters
were able to view the new vegetable garden and orchard including
the new Irene Stern Greenhouse generously donated by Dr. Roy
and Judy Stern of Efrat. 
Rabbi
Yosef Benarroch opened the evening by praising the unique
qualities of B'erot expressed by its staff, students and the
dedication of the director, Rebbetzin Chana bracha Siegelbaum.
He noted how the handpicked staff work together symbiotically
to actualize the vision of B'erot. Citing Netivot Shalom,
Rav Benarroch explained how the daughter of Pharaoh knew that
Moshe was a Jew based on the way he cried the cry of hope
rather than desperation. Likewise, every student comes to
B'erot with their own personal cry of hope and yearning to
connect with the Torah and their creative essence. 
Midreshet
B'erot Bat Ayin due to the holistic way of thinking, living
and learning. She was looking to learn Torah, connect with
HaShem and build a lasting foundation to live as a Jewish
woman in a natural setting. Sigalit delivered a beautiful
Torah about how the night time Shema mentions Bat Ayin, because
at night the Shechinah rests on the earth. "The work
that the residents of Bat Ayin and the students at B'erot
are putting into the earth facilitates the Shechinah to rest
in this very special place," she concluded. 
B'erot
teacher Rav Avraham Itzkovitz lead the shofar blowing ceremony
as attendees circled the grounds of the campus where B'ezrat
HaShem the new building will be constructed in the near future.
"B'erot
reclaims women's lost creativity and demonstrates how Women's
Torah and creative expression go hand in hand. Besides the
regular textual classes, we want to learn as we walk, paint,
plant, sing and dance. We, as women want the Torah to penetrate
our entire being, not just our heads. Our learning methods
are not limited to one approach. We encourage each student
to express Torah in her own personal way, always remaining
connected to the foundation of Torah and the Sages of Israel.
We aspire to nourish and encourage our students to plant their
roots in the fertile soil of Torah and to blossom, and multiply
expressing their hidden talents in the world. Our practical
goal is to prepare them to meet their soul-mates as they proceed
along their life's path as women of valor."
The
hidden talents of alumnae and current students were displayed
in an exceptional women's concert. Chaya Fogelman, current
B'erot student and madricha, sang original songs with a voice
that overflows with raw beauty, innocent passion and depth
that brings tears to anyone who hears her. Alumna Chana Hodari,
master drummer, accompanied Chaya's singing and guitar playing
with a soul- touching intensity that complimented Chaya beautifully.
Devora Gila Berkowitz sang songs from her album Hodu LaShem
that she composed while being a student at Midreshet B'erot
Bat Ayin. Yehudit Batya Weinberger concluded the concert with
a song she wrote about B'erot Bat Ayin called "I Know
a Place."
Chaim
Dovid wrapped up the evening with very simcha filled music.
The simcha culminated on a high note when residents of Bat
Ayin joined in the dancing at each side of the mechitza. As
B'erot celebrated her 12 years of Torah and creativity the
words of Yehudit's song reverberated in the air: "I know
a place of flowers and fruit tress where words of Torah flow
effortlessly…stay with me B'erot Bat Ayin wherever I
wander at tehi iti (you will be with me)... Since I
have arrived in the midrasha I've seen such beauty I can hardly
believe, the air here echoes with His majesty…"
There
will come a time when the nations will be happy with us and
celebrate our successes and victories. They will understand
that the flourishing communities of Israel continuously pump
fresh blood into the rest of the nations, bringing prosperity
and healing to the entire world. Then ". . . it shall
come to pass, that the mountain of Hashem's house shall be
established as the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted
above the hills; and peoples shall flow unto it. And many
nations shall go and say: 'Come ye, and let us go up to the
mountain of Hashem, and to the house of the G-d of Ya'acov;
and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His
paths'; for out of Tzion shall go forth the law, and the word
of Hashem from Jerusalem" (Micha 4:1-2). At that
time there will no longer be Two Views of the Land.
DONATIONS IN ANY AMOUNT MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE!
