LEAVING MY FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND THE COMFORTS OF MY HOME FOR A YEAR IN ISRAEL WAS DEFINITELY NOT AN EASY THING TO DO, ESPECIALLY DURING THE WORLD PANDEMIC THAT WOULD RESTRAIN US FROM HAVING A NORMAL GAP YEAR EXPERIENCE. IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT FOR ME TO PACK UP AND LEAVE EVERYTHING BEHIND.
However, going to Israel for the year has been a dream of mine since I was young and I’m so content with my decision to do so. I was debating for the longest time whether seminary was the right fit for me. Choosing Midreshet Eshel to be my home for a year or so was the best choice I ever made.
Leaving my family and friends for the holidays was very hard for me and for the first time in my life, this year I spent all the High Holidays without being surrounded by my immediate and extended families. It was definitely unfamiliar and difficult considering the fact that we spent Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot all under lockdown in the Old City of Jerusalem. However, to be quite honest, these holidays were so touching and meaningful and I will remember them for the rest of my life.
Learning and studying about the Kotel and the Old City and its history came to life when I moved into Eshel in September. My Rosh Hashanah experience was indescribable, we had the entire Kotel to ourselves as no one else was allowed in the area due to the Covid-19 lockdown in Israel. All the students spent the entire holiday getting to know one another and developing deep, personal friendships. With no phones in sight and sharing incredible experiences with one another, we quickly became a family. During Rosh Hashanah, we completed reading a full book of tehillim by Kever David and we danced and sang in the streets feeling Hashem’s presence dwelling within us. We prayed and sang with so much passion and meaning at the Kotel. Nili, one of our beloved teachers was instrumental in making this holiday season an incredible experience.
Hearing Selichot live at the Kotel and being one of the very few fortunate people who were allowed to even go to the kotel was a huge miracle for me and enhanced my relationship with Hashem so much. Yom Kippur was spent like no other in my entire lifetime. Usually, it’s routine to go to shul, pray without really understanding what I’m saying, and sleep off my hunger. However, here in Eshel, I learned what Yom Kippur was all about and how we are really supposed to be spending this holiday. Instead of just reciting words that no one really understands, all day, our teacher led Minyan and taught us all about the meaning behind everything we were saying. It was the most meaningful, and connecting prayer. I will never forget the stories, teachings, singing, and thoughts that were shared.
After the holidays were over, we jumped straight into creating a steady daily routine of learning. The classes given at Eshel are ones you would never think are being taught at a seminary. I thought I would be sitting all day learning about Jewish history which would not pertain to my life. However, after being here and attending countless classes at Eshel, I realized how wrong I was. The teachers and rabbis bring the Torah to life by relating everything we’re taught to our own personal lives and struggles. We learn the proper tools to help us become our best selves, improve our midot, and deal with struggles or conflicts which are part of life. The classes have helped me build my character tremendously and I feel my new positive outlook on life radiating onto others as well.
I feel great appreciation and gratitude for all I have, especially during the world pandemic where there is so much illness and uncertainty. Miriam Tawil, our exemplary school director always makes sure her students get the full experience of Eshel despite the limitations coronavirus puts on trips, and Shabbatons. The remarkable rabbis here build personal relationships with each student and have become mentors in all of our lives. Even though I miss my parents, siblings, and friends, here at Eshel I am happily a part of a wonderful family
