As many of you know, during the 2014-2015 school year I will be taking a gap year to live and learn in Jerusalem, Israel. This is a very special experience which I am so fortunate to have, but also not the norm in most of America, so obviously I've been getting a lot of questions about it.
In my community, most teenagers (about 70/80%) take a gap year in Israel following graduation from high school. Most choose a program that is single-sex, primarily learning, and is located in Jerusalem. These programs attract mostly kids from Modern Orthodox Jewish high schools in the tri-state area, similar to SAR, but also have kids from Pennsylvania, California, Florida, Tennessee, Maryland, and internationally from Australia, New Zealand, and England. I know most of the kids going to my program (of the 60 I know 40), and most of the kids going to other programs.
Within these seemingly similar programs are many differences that lead different types of students to different schools. I'm going to a school officially called Midreshet Lindenbaum, but which goes by the name Brovenders. It is one of the oldest and most well-established girl's programs in Jerusalem, and known for being quite serious about learning and progressive on women's issues (it was the first school to allow women to learn Talmud, which was a big deal back in the day). I chose it for many different reasons: the seriousness of the program, the freedom the program gives, the fact that it is structured but treats you like an adult, the many different types of people it attracts (many smart girls, many cooler more contemporary girls, a couple of JAPs, a couple of nerds), and the fact that I love the location, had a fantastic interview, and have heard only positive things.
Most of the day I will spend learning. I have lots of different classes, of which I got to select almost all. The basis of my learning is my study of Talmud (I'll be calling it gmara, geh-muh-ruh) and of the Bible (Tanach). I also have classes on specific Rabbis and their teachings, on Jewish history, on Jewish law for women, on Judaism in the modern world (stuff like medical ethics), and Jewish philosophy. These classes are taught by both men and women. When I'm not studying, I will be going on trips/tours/hikes throughout Israel with my program, or exploring Jerusalem with my friends. On Shabbat and holidays, I will be going to the homes of friends, friend's family, and my Rabbis and teachers, so I will truly be immersed in Israeli culture in that way.
My program is located in Talpiot, a beautiful residential neighborhood of Jerusalem. I have three roommates, Naomi, Hannah, and Kayla. I am leaving August 31st, and returning for good in mid-June, with a trip in the middle to see Poland and the concentration camps. This is an interesting time to be going to Israel. A lot has been happening, and much of it is still going on. I've been getting a lot of questions about whether or not am I still going given the situation, and obviously, the answer is yes. Israel is still extremely safe and I feel very secure and comfortable going to live there. I know I'll be in good hands.
I decided to start this blog mostly for myself, as a way of documenting my year. However, I know a lot of you have questions about what I'll be doing and want to keep up with my adventures, so I thought this would be a good way to share that with all of you. The name "The Siegel Social" comes from the famed publication of my youth, which my Nana has been begging me to resurrect since it died about 6 years ago. I think I'll mostly be posting pictures, with captions and small explanations. I hope to post each week before Shabbat (we're 7 hours ahead of New York time, so bear that in mind). This way, you'll be able to keep up with me wherever you are. I also have a Facebook, an Instagram, an email, and a cell phone (with a new phone number for Israel), and Whatsapp, so we're never far from each other.
Please keep in touch and don't hesitate to ask me questions!
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