Dear COLlive,
I need your advice. I am writing this, but really this is the story of many 12th graders every year. I did well all through my years in school. I am involved in lots of extra- curricular programs. I am popular enough. I am a ‘good girl.’
I spent my summers in Lubavitch sleep-away camps, as a camper then staff member, and a summer at an out of town Chabad Gan Izzy. I followed the ‘system’, as it was laid out for me. And then it came to seminaries. All my life, the system has subliminally encouraged me to want to go davka to Israel for sem. Through all the years, I have been programmed to want to go to Israel for this year after high school.
I applied to 2 seminaries in Israel that I thought would best match what I was hoping to accomplish during the sem year. I was not accepted ‘because there is not enough room for all who applied’, and received their standard brachos for hatzlacha, etc.
And now, I feel that the system has thrown me out – to fend for myself, in an unknown world. And I am a good girl. I wanted to follow the system. So, what do I do next?
Oh, don’t get me wrong. My self-esteem is intact. I know that I was not accepted because there is no room. I understand that. And I don’t even ask ‘why not me?’. But none of my upbeat attitude about the reality gets me into a program in Israel. So, my parents began the ‘beg and wait’ game, to try to push me into a sem. We tried pulling all the protektsia (connections) we know. We called the principals, the directors, the secretaries. Often, but not too nudgingly. Nothing doing.
I know there are other seminaries, other good seminaries, that are not in Israel. All Lubavitch seminaries have great learning programs, amazing teachers, interesting farbrengens. But they don’t have the Israel experience. Going for a trip to Israel – even for 2 months – is not the same as being there for the year. It is not the tourist places that I want to see. I can do that in a several week trip.
Beyond the classroom learning and farbrengens that I can get in any of the fine seminaries anywhere in the world, I want to learn and grow from the experience, from the people I will meet, from the local families with whom I would spend Shabbos, from the atmosphere in Eretz Yisrael around every holiday. I believe I will benefit and grow as a person from living in Israel for an extended period of time. That is why I hope to go to Israel for a year of sem. And I know that I will never have the opportunity again at any point in my life to go to Israel for a year of learning, growing, experiencing. It’s this year … or never.
Now, as it gets closer to the new school year, I am faced with the big question: What to do next year? Should I go to Israel, but not a Chabad program? Should I go to Touro in Israel, and join some Chabad shiurim as I can? Should I look for a volunteer/ work opportunity and join shiurim as I can? Is there anything else I can do in Israel for a year? Should I give up on Israel, and just go to work at home or in New York? Should I go to a sem in Crown Heights, even though it does not seem to be what I am seeking for this year after high school? Should I go to work on Shlichus – but I am not really so interested in teaching? I did speak to my mashpia, my teachers, my parents, older siblings and other relatives. They have all told me to weigh the pros and cons of all options.
The point of this piece is three-fold.
1. Most immediate: To seek advice from others who have insight from which I can benefit.
2. To bring the awareness of the graveness of this situation to those who can make a difference. It is simply wrong to have a system which encourages the girls to want to go to sem in Israel (even if it is only subconsciously), but does not have enough spaces for all girls who want to go.
3. To give the current 11th graders a heads-up. Some of you will not be accepted into the schools of choice. Be proactive and do something (I’m just not sure what.)
Looking forward to your advice, and some change in this system.
12th grader in a quandary
I think that whoever wants to help or has advice, an idea or support, should post and whoever doesnt shuouldnt. This 12th grader wanted help and or to make a point. this is not the place to spill all your life stories and stupid bickering… get on with life AND YEAH REMEMBER GD DOES RUN THIS WORLD AFTER ALL NOT YOU
B’h
You sound strong but if it were me I would be heartbroken no matter how legit their reasoning was. You know there is a reson destined above that for some reason thatnone of us knows you were not supposed to be accepted. Hashem may have other better plans for you.
Hatzlacha yours truly a friend who went through the same thing…………..
i think the most commented that i remember is his on:
https://collive.com/show_news.rtx?id=4714
Yes there is grants, but most certainly not enough to cover the cost of the full tuition. Right now the only things seminaries care about are: Connections, Money, and Grades, in that order. If you didn’t get into seminary, go to college and get a degree, it will be the most helpful in the long run.
Good Luck!
i only read the coments and its intresting
sem is a huge waste of time and energy, 96% of girls go to have a good time without their rents on their backs, you and your friends should just not go.
I agree with #155…. other options aren’t the end of the world!… although with all these comments here, you’d think Moshiach would be here! Message to Collive.com : I think this is
the article since your existance which had sooo many comments. Could you please put up the top ten most-commented articles, instead of busying yourselves with the most-viewed simchas. Waiting to see something soon!
i understand you…i’ve also not been accepted for no reason..and i’m also a good girl.
i didn’t try to push cuz i knew it wouldent help..now i’m going to sem out of israel..it’s all for hasgoche pratis..you can’t understand H’s plans…
if you really think that sem is the right choise, but you can’t go in israel, than stay in c”h..
i think im turned off from sem!
such a waste of money!
and if u wanted to go to sem for the israel thing then why do it through sem? go with friends.
why u so mad? if all u want is israel?
sem not what they make it. get a head start make money and lean in br
I am an 11th grader, and i think that eveyone on this forum is seriuosly just venting. I mean, i guess eeryone needs a place to do that, but it doesnt hav to be public! And I alos dont understand how girls, on their parts, are ok with making their parents take out tremendous loans, remortgaging their homes, etc. for a year in sem. I know that my parents can’t afford it, so I am not going unless i can find a way to pay for it myself. I know that sem is supposed to be the unbelievable experienceof a… Read more »
be truthful!!! how much does it help a shiduch if the girl is chasidish???
these days the boys dont want a chasidish girl theyre not interested in that! am i right? so why go to sem for the name? go if thats what u want in liife.. not for the resume cuz it doesnt even help
The elitist system of yeshiva selection is much more dangerous and 6 times more costly: 1. it imposes a life sentance on the 15 year old average boy who was accepted nowhere. face it, if you don’t go to seminary, you still remain at least as frum as you were. but if you end up in a “rehab type” of yeshiva because you did not makeb it into the mainstream, you will rapidly slip and slide toward full blown freikeit. this is a sad fact. 2. while seminary costs 15000 for 1 year, and many many grants are available, yeshiva… Read more »
My dear, I totally understand you, the Seminary Chabad system is extremely unprofessional. You will never know the true reason of what their selection is based on. you said they have no room, (Hyperbole). First comes the niece, cousin, granddaughter, best friends children and grandchildren…… They need all the money possible for registration. and than you get an HATLACHA receipt. a $ 20 program to treat themselves for another brand new kitchen with marble counters for their own home. Go to Bais Rivkah, it’s a third amount of what the Sem in Israel are asking, you’ll get the same learning… Read more »
I’ve been in Israel for two years, and I have seen lots of seminary girls from lots of different seminaries. Each have their positive and negative qualities.
I have seen so much good from Chitrik, Pnimiyut, Rosenfeld, Old Yeru – all of them. You said you only applied to two in Israel. Why not try the others? Or at least look into them, even if peripherally they don’t seem your “style” or your “type”, you really never know.
I suggest you look into the ones you haven’t applied to as soon as possible. You never know.
love how you ended with ashreinu!
If you are from Detroit or Chicago, seminary costs almost nothing, because of grants but only if you go to Israel!
i didnt see australia in your article!!!
Australia is the #1 lubavitch sem!!! ive never forgotten my amazing experience – or the shock i was going outside of israel!! but you get the REAL sem not just an isralei bubble!
IFU REALLY CARED ABOUT ”SEMINARY” ISRAEL WOULDNT BE YOUR BE ALL END ALL U WANT TO B IN ISRAEL NOT SEMINARY!! SO DONT GO UNDER THE NOT ACCEPTED SEMINARY WHAT TO DO UMBRELLA!
ure a hundred percent right about a luxury – but did u know that most seminaries have something called a grant seminary was 15 000 dollars i worked really hard filling in forms cuz i knew my parents couldnt afford it and i got grants worth almost 9000 dollars – meaning seminary cost my parents a regular tuition practically… so yes it is an expense… but things shouldnt be stopped because of money- not things like this at least– people can help, government can help and things can be worked out…. i wish whoever wrote this article can put a… Read more »
ive heard about this. it is dispicable and totally missing the point!!!! to live your life to get into chitrik?!??!
do they realize that it may be wonderful but they can be excellent perfect people without it??
something has got to change!!!!!
169 you are correct.
O.C in Melbourne is the best sem in the world.
you will not find a lubovitch sem where you are treeted better.
Israel might b a awesome place but… no sem there can even compare to Australia sem
What???
excuse me, with all my respect, but i desagree with you!!
have u ever gone to sem?????
of course its expensive, if u made the counst, so u will see that what the parents pay for sem, its NOTHING, if u take everything the girls made on sem, travels, shabaton, etc.. u will see that teh money that we give to sem, its nothing, and they need more money to pay it!!!!
AUSTRALIA RIVALS CHITRIK HOW CAN U BRUSH IT OFF!!
Young lady, you are desperate to spend a long time in Israel, under the guise of a chabad learning program or whatever may it be for appearances whlie you can just “be” in Israel….stop and think!! have you even ASKED SOMEONE about the amazing eminaries in Italy and Melbourne??! Is it really seminary you are looking for or a good guise to spend 11 months under so you can come out socially approved?!
I know one girl who was not accepted to seminary of her choice her whole family was upset tried protexia etc. which did not help. She nebech(back then thought) had to go to an alternative seminary.
She went to this seminary enjoyed it. Not only that but one of the Hanhola members helped set her up w with a great caring husband when it came time for shiduchim. She is thankful until today for going to the “wrong seminary”!
Don’t be angry at Rabbi Chitrik. Don’t be angry at Mrs. Goldshmit. Don’t be angry at Mrs. Rosenfeld. Don’t be jealous of your friends who got accepted. Not even in your heart. Accept that the only one cause for all of this was: HASHEM! Hashem specifically chose this, Hashem specifically chose you, Hashem specifically chooses everything that happens to you! When life throws you lemons, make lemonade! My heart is with you. But I want you to know that there are much, much worse things in life such as sickness, death and depression! THIS IS JUST A LITTLE ROUGH PATCH… Read more »
They didn’t accept a good girl like you? THAT’S THEIR LOSS! You made a keli, you did what you could, now move on.
Be positive and look at other options!
Ohel Chana is truly an amazing seminary. The Hanhala is genuinely concerned for every single student. They take care of you and look after you personally. The teachers are incredible! The shlichus experience is one of a kind; and this you will never be able to get in another seminary, and it is in THIS area that you need to build skills in order to face the world out there. The community is so welcoming! The dormitory is five stars! The program is just perfect! If you’re asking for fun, inspiration, nice girls, good learning, a shlichus experience, a caring… Read more »
why did sydney sem close?? dont forget 1 year ago 2 seminaries closed in August after accepting over 100 girls!!
What happened to Sydney seminary????????????????????
When my teen was accepted into 2 seminaries of her choice, and was faced with the difficult decision of Israel – or not – she was under tremendous pressure from friends and family that Israel “is the only way to do seminary.” Letting her choose, my husband and I were soon being asked over and over from my daughter why she had to go t o seminary at all, did it make that much of a difference, when did it start, etc…she came to her decisin on her own, thank G-d, and despite what people told her chose her non-Israeli… Read more »
My daughter was requested by a top-notch Israeli seminary yet CHOSE to go to a outside-Israel Chabad seminary – because she recognized that is where she could really grow and strengthen her yiddishkeit and allow her to really see where she wants to direct her life! Sometimes you have to “step outside” of the “Israel bubble” and think WHY you are going, WHAT you hope to gain….all I can say is B”H my daughter is leaving seminary having grown and gained tremendously, thank G-d, and extremely happy and thankful she didn’t get sucked into the only-Israel-bubble her friends chose.
So I was rejected from Yeru. I didn’t want to push to get in; I took it as a sign from Hashem that it was not the right place for me. I really truly wanted to continue learning, and Bais Rivkah Seminary did it! It has incredible learning…u get the top teaches in CH! No need to run to Israel. Make it the trend to stay In CH. It’s the girls that create the atmosphere… so get a good group of girls and have a year of growth and great learning. This yr changed my life; it gave me a… Read more »
what about australia?? its the best sem out there!! go oC!!
Florida (hallendale)seminary only cost $12,000-the hanhala are very dedicated…gashmius and ruchnius are great—-and it really helps u experience and train 4 shlichus…i know cause i was there 5 years ago…the hanhala is still in touch with me!
boycott sem?!?!? seminary is a very important experience. it helps girls grow and gives them what they need to survive the world.
Stop thinking abt how ull be labeled for those who matter most don’t mind and those who mind don’t matter
so do what u want and stop thinking abt what everyone is gonna say abt u. So my advice: Follow ur heart
ATT: ALL MOTHERS OF 11th GRADERS, PLEASE BOYCOTT ALL SEMS! DO YOU THINK ITS RIGHT TO SEND YOU KIDS TO A PLACE WHERE THEY EAT UP YOUR MONEY.? SEM IS A BIG SUCCESFUL BUISNEES ! THEY TAKE YOUR MONEY FOR INTERVIEWS-$150 AND THEN IF YOUR NOT ACCEPTED THEY KEEP IT ANYWAY! JUST IMAGINE $150 FORM 100 GIRLS APPLYING! BUT GIRLS DONT JUST APPLY TO ONE THEY APPLY 2 SEM! THE PRICIPAL MAKES TONS OF MONEY JUST FORM INTERVIEWS! LETS FIRST START WITH CH – NO MOTHER SHOULD SEND HER DAUGHTER TO SEM! PLZ MOTHERS IF YOU DONT STOP NO ONE… Read more »
Isn’t that what we learned this week in chitas? That says it all.
Someone should adopt this moto and open a seminary in Israel for all the girls who were told NO. call it Bnos Seruvim or something like that. Of course, it might attract not the best elements (students and teachers alike), but after all, what the girls want is israel at any price (and I mean ANY price). There they’ll get the same shmexperience far from her parents: falafel, chayalim and ice cream stands at every corner, free long 4 days week-end to fend for themeselves every other week, sandy beaches and all the other good stuff that put your tuition… Read more »
everyone wants to go to isreal! why? because they heard from so many people how amazing isreal is. true, it is amazing, but so many people get rejected!
The most striking part of this letter is where she enumerates her many options (plan b c d e f g h….) and NOT ONE of these options is to go to an out-of-town seminary outside of Israel! She is considering going to an non-Chabad seminary, or even college, in Israel rather than any other Seminary!? That only confirms what I’ve been saying all along as a parent who did send his daughter to an elite sem in northern israel: What they want is Israel, NOT seminary (in israel or elswhere). And for this caprice we have to spend a… Read more »
there are so many things that i would love to say but i’ll keep it brief. firstly the sense of entitlement that the author expresses-she must go to sem in israel. if you weren’t accepted, deal with it and move on there are other options available. no need to break the bank or beg to get into a sem. to # 148: the fact that the cost of education is so much, we understand that it is expensive to educate children and we scrape together every cent that we can to pay, it would be nice to see the results… Read more »
Your attitude seems great and from what I have seen, attitude is the largest factor in how your post high school years turn out. I was not accepted to any of the places I applied to. I realized that for whatever reason I was not supposed to go to Israel, it wasn\’t in the control of the people who ran seminarys or of my principals and teachers. Since I wanted to continue learning I decided to attend a smaller seminary that was not in Israel. My experience was very different than my friends who went to Israel and it turned… Read more »
im not goin to read the 150 responses… ignore the negative ones posted- theyre from people who are just writing without a heart…Ive been in Israel 2 years now its an expierience that you will not get anywhere else or at any other time in your life… take it .. do it- and the system is wrong for doing what they did to you… theres a program called malchus runned by the Apells who are amazing people- if u find a job after 4 then u should do it… study hours go till 4 and they have unbelievable classes. one… Read more »
We know most mosdos don’t get full tuition and are struggling however the Israeli sems are not hurting at all please they are making top dollar and it cost them hardly anything for food
which is cheap for what they serve and the rooms and bed have not been upgraded since day 1.
Excuse me but going to Israel is not part of the system, just because “everybody” does it does not mean it has to be done. when I was in sem my parents couldnt afford it, and i was not the spoiled type so I went to a shliach and was a teacher. I really grew that year more than if i went to israel. you can always go for a visit with friends over a summer, but dont fret, its not the end of the world. it may seem that way now, but when you get older youll see it… Read more »
I do feel for you. You wrote:
“I know that I will never have the opportunity again at any point in my life to go to Israel for a year of learning, growing, experiencing. It’s this year … or never”
My dear you don’t know this. It may be what you believe, but neither you nor I nor any human being on this earth knows what Hashem has in store for you, or which way the tides of your life will turn.
B”H The shocking ignorance of the people who make the comments about schools and camps charging too much and people in charge of mosdos driving a lexus is beyond belief. As someone whose family has been involved in the financial side of some of our schools, these comments show where the real problem lies. The real problem is that everyone wants their children to be educated with the best education in the world for as cheaply (and impossibly) possible! Schools are a fortune to run, a fortune to develop, and it is an absolute pela that everytime you have such… Read more »
My daughter didnt go to Israel (she wanted to but didnt get in.) She went to BCM of Montreal which is a quarter of the price of Israel! Plus we were able to get a Pell grant to help with the tuition. BCM takes first year sem girls to Israel for a three week trip. She was treated well, and really enjoyed these last 2 years. She gets a valid teachers diploma, (as opposed to in Israel you DON’T get anything!) And if she teaches for the next year she will even be able to get her B.A. – and… Read more »
u can try chitrick, yerushalayim, rosenfeld!
what?? the Israeli sems are the BEST!!
why are u saying that????????????????????
thank you for raising the issue for all those girls out there that the educational system doesnt make room for . No jew should be left behind
my suggestion abt seminaries in general is something yeshiva style that doesnt have to have costly trips as part of the package just a year of learning,
but it is!!!!!!!1
BS”D
Despite what the Rebbe said – that is what Chabad is becoming today. Enough is enough.
Also, as for Rabbi (Yossi) Chitrik running a business, sorry, but all he is doing is relying on foreign parents to pay the normal chutz laaretz sem fees to cover for the low or nonexistent fees paid by local girls who come from large Anash families in E”Y. Everyone knows that if he had wanted to run a business, he had plenty of opportunities to do so and did not have to dedicate himself to opening a seminary.
if you were going to semminary for all the right reasons, it wouldn’t make a difference that your nog going to israel.
fine isreal is amazing, but i didn’t go there, i went somewhere lese and it was the best experience of my life.
It’s not so easy to get the MUSHKIE’S into Machon Alte. I tried to get my daughter in and they said it’s not open to our Anash (well obviously they could get $10,000 more if your daughter goes to their seminary instead of Machon Alte)….so my daughter pretended she was a Baalas Tshuva and they were so kind and welcoming on the phone…however when she had to actually fill out the forms to apply she couldn’t lie about her real “Anash status”. Personally, my daughter wanted to learn in Machon Alte bec. the way the teachers give over a shiur… Read more »
There’s a program in yerushalaim called ‘malchus’ which has amazim shiurim in chasidus and nigleh every day. A lot of girls come to Israel the year after sem and work/learn for a year in Israel. The irony is that it’s mostly the girls thAt were in Israel the year before who know about this option! And seriously is a much more authinyic eretz Yisroel experience, and won’t cost parents their life savings. הצלחה רבה
do u really think the 18,000 the sms get from each girl is fair? this money is way more than the amount neede to pay the teacher and upkeep for the school figure it out most schools are in the red cuz they give tuition breaks however the schools in Israel r using the $ for anything but the girls benefit Have u ever seen the food, living conditons and cots fit for a child that these sems have?
ISRAEL IS NOT THE END-ALL!! It’s really cool, different, unique and amazing experience to travel to other areas of the world…Italy and Australia are coming out as amazing top-rated seminaries OUTSIDE of Israel, the Tuition IS UNDER THIRTEEN THOUSAND!! Israel STARTS at 15-16 thousand and offers less than half what outside sems charge!! Don’t make Israel the be-it end-all. Why Do YOU Want to go to sem? Because you’re “supposed to” its the “thing to do” or YOU want to grow!
True most mosdos don’t charg full tuition however Seminaries in Israel get full tuitiion from every single girl
and the teachrs in Israeli seminaries get top dollar so why can’t our girls get decent food and proper beds….
the food is cheap couscous and grease barely any fruits
and the living conditions are terrible. there is no reason for it with the tuition we pay they should get meals fit for a king and not spend tons of their own money for food.
Israel is SO overrated!
go to hallandale florida!!!!!!!!!!! the shluchim are ammaziing! the community is soo supportive the dorms are excellent.. go there and you will be very happy with your choice
THE BEST SEMINARY OUT THERE! I PROMISE YOU…. THERE WILL NEVER BE A SEMINARY LIKE THIS EVERRR!! 🙂 IT”S AMAZING!!
Montreal sem is the best
come to oc it is the best seminary in the world-shlichus, learning, the dorm is 5 star etc etc everything in one! u wont regret it, ask any girl who has been to oc!
there are plenty of us younger girls who need a few years after high school in order to be ready to go out into the world and be proper shluchim, get married to the right one right away, and ect. if i dont go to sem, im gonna do exactly what for 3 years? who would take me as a proper teacher-payment and otherwise- if im so young? so fine, i wont go to sem. but now what? isnt the point more for the structure than the ‘atmosphere’ or anything else? ok, ill go to israel with a group for… Read more »
Lots of people on this forum are suggesting, nay demanding that seminaries and high schools bring down tuition, yet none of them have made any suggestions as to how the schools could make up the money they would then be missing from the lost tuition. Surely you don’t think our mosdos chinuch are rolling in the cash, do you? Seriously, if anyone has an idea how schools could either make more money or provide the same or better services for less money, please share it. And as for the author of this article, I feel for you, but I do… Read more »
Exactly what system did u go through that told you that it must be ISRAEL that you spend your seminary year in?????
stern is college not vocational school
why is everyone focusing on the negative aspects of sem? true, some girls come back less frum, but many return home more frum! true, it is expensive, but sometimes, it is well worth the money. if you with the right attitude, you will return with a lot of valuable lessons.
AS MENTIONED ABOVE, THERE IS CURRENTLY A NATION WIDE MOVEMENT AGAINST SEMS IN ISRAEL!!!!!!!!
THEY CHARGE WAYYY 2 MUCH, AND THE EXPERIENCE ONLY LOWERS THE STANDARDS OF OTHERWISE CHASIDISHE GIRLS!
ATTN ALL 11TH GRADE CLASSES!!!!!1
DO NOT APPLY TO ANY ISRAELI SEM UNTIL THE ABOVE MENTIONED PROBLEMS ARE ADDRESSED AND RECTIFIED !!!!!!!!
ITS NOT FAIIRRRRR!!!!!111
You are, as you write a “good girl” and therefore have emunah and bitochon. You know that whatever HKB’H does is hashgocha protis & gam zu l’tova. You know that what appears to be a cloud on your horizon, may actually be the source of gishmei brocha (raining blessings). My dear sister, you know all this, and don’t need to hear it from me. All you need to hear from me is that I love you with all my heart and assure you that very soon you will see the kavana elyona of the master plan. I await the day… Read more »
you got all the advice possible! I thought I had something to add, but looks like you got it all! good luck! whatever you decide- it’s about the attitude! optimism!
BH I was accepted to a sem in EY, and it was the most productive one of my entire life, and influenced my way of being until today (over 10 years later). SO 12th grader, I think I know what you mean when you say you want the Israel experience. I know I could have learned from amazing teachers in any of the other Chabad seminaries around the world. Actually, some of my teachers in [XXX] seminary were great and inspiring and some were just mediocre. Probably the same as in every other sem. And yes, we went on tiyulim… Read more »
Dear Sem Director, (Mostly b/c your place is a true dump) Let me put this in perspective! You live in the Land of Israel where the average income is about 110,000 Shekel according to wikipedia, now from every girl you are charging $15,700 which translates to 60,445 Shekel plus their airfare which is $1500 plus another $1500 b/c the girls come home for pesach that equals another 11,550 shekels. So right now just to get the girls there and for actual tuition we are at a whopping 71,995 Shekel. Oh I forgot that you guys serve mushed up leftovers from… Read more »
Everyone here pushes only for Israel and really for Chitrick (the Harvard of seminaries). I’m told the farbrengens all stress avodah to get into Chitrik and signs in the dorm stress to ‘do for Chitrik’. The pressure i very intense. Ofcourse the princiapls’ daughters go to Chitrik, and also the dorm counsellors. So what;s an average, or unconnected girl to do? The ‘rejects go to Montreal and no one goes to Melbourne. My daughter thinks the pressure is too intense, and the Chitrik acceptances are snobby. :Name’ or ‘money’ trumps all. She is in 10th grade, and already ‘trying’ for… Read more »
Come on do you know the girls that are going to Chitrik. Are those the type of girls you want to hang out with? Some are modern lubavitch girls, who got accepted just because of their societal rights! Do you know what happens in Seminary in Israel, it’s totally Hefker, and the Seminary doesn’t care, cuz guess what they have your money already. The girls in my grade that went to Chitrik, and Yerushalayim, those are the girls that are today, prancing down Kingston avenue in their Tichuls, and no socks/stockings. Think for yourself, and be an individual, and don’t… Read more »
for those wondering what to do instead of seminary, instead of college — STOP TAKING and START GIVING. There are jillions of people who need HELP, and YOU are available and just the right person to GIVE HELP. Go to a shliach, or just to your next-door-neighbor. Give like there is no tomorrow, and give without expecting anything in return. Stop expecting the world to do things for you, and learn to do things for others. Learn what real giving is all about. Your life will become enriched and meaningful like no sem in the world can ever offer.
Well done for this article, it is very well written, and all these comments saying seminary is overrated, i feel like you simply did not take full advantage of the situation you were in. Seminary honestly changed my life and I have never had such an incredible year of growth and development. The learning, the shabbatons, the farbrengens, the off shabbosim, touring such holy sites and the list is endless…was just UNREAL!!!!!! There were girls in my group who did say it was a ‘waste of time’, but who is to blame?!? Seminary has EVERYTHING to offer and IT IS… Read more »
jsut so u know if happens to be thatg a few of the seminaries chutz laaretz are are a million times more rewarding in experience, in learning and in growing as a person. seminary in israel is entirely overrated. if your going to cost ur parents the money, go somewhere else, italy or australia. trust me, i was in israel, everyone comes back with the pressure to say it was “AMAZING” because how could u not, after ur parents spent so much. Its the unspoken rule and its absolutely ridiculous. its the kind of attitude that if u go out… Read more »
After so many good comments, who needs one more??? But perhaps it will mean something to the author of this article. I know exactly what you are saying and also agree with the comments that some prominent sem’s are not exactly what they are believed to be. Good but not who knows what…. I know this problem from a parent’s angle as well as from a principal’s angle. There is much to say and introspect about it, and there is much that has to be done in terms of developing the proper outlook by our teenage (boys and) girls to… Read more »
It’s called Stern!
Seminary in Israel is an incredible experience. I went to a Lubavitch seminary, but I don’t really understand the desperate need to go ONLY to a Lubavitch place. There are great Israel/learning opportunities all over Israel, and if something going to be different than you expected, the Lubavitch-all-the-time part may as well be different rather than going to Florida or Montreal rather than Israel. You can always go to Chabad families for Shabbos and be involved with shluchim in Israel, and join Chabad shiurim … there are even some Chabad teachers in some non-Chabad schools. It’s worth looking into. And… Read more »
what frustrates me as a parent is that unfortunately, girls are labelled according to the seminary that they went to . I am not going to name specific sems here, but everyone presumes that a girl who has gone to sem A is without a doubt a good chassidishe girl, whereas someone who went to sem B will not have as good a reputation. It’s ridiculous… i know firsthand of girls who are in the “top” sem doing things that no frum girl should do….
I don’t know which school you went to, but I also went to a Lubavitch school and went through the system… We were never encouraged even subconsciously to go to Israel for sem. Its more of a peer pressure thing. I didn’t go to sem in Israel because there was “no room” for me. My sister did and she said it is the most selfish year you could ever have. Its all about how many great restaurants you went to, how much you were able to tour etc… Not everyone has the money to eat out and tour once you… Read more »
the system also needs to tell girls that because each girl is so different, there are different types of seminaries also…not every girl belongs in israel. the schools and seminaries need to come together to help 12th graders and their parents make this decision and guide each girl to apply only to the seminaries that are right for her and not the one that sounds fun because its in israel. they can’t educate them until 12th grade and then drop them, someone has got to help these girls see the future and help them plan out and see thier options… Read more »
aren’t all the girls accepted?? if anyone know who is still accepting let me know!!
seminary is supposed to be a year of learning and growing in your yiddishkeit and while israel is amazing, its not the only place you can do it. there are other great seminaries and you should definetly look around and try to get into one outside of israel for next year. just remember that your sem experience will be what you put into it…if you just pick one and go in thinking good and wanting to grow, it will be an amazing year. you are 18. there will be time for shlichus and college and whatever you want later. now… Read more »
i am a mushkie in tzfas right now and sem is the best thing that happened to me.
there are huge grants available for those who are financially struggling and everyone who says that its so expensive should sit and pursue all the financial aid options before deciding that they ant afford it.
the sem year in israel is an experience that all jewish girls should experience.
yes, i agree that there should be more seminaries and that the price should go down.
ashrenu
i dont know where u heard of this wornderful experience in israel, because u dont rlly experience life in israel — its an extended tour w americans. and u can study any place else. if u want to live as ppl live in israel, try looking for an israeli lubav sem that will accept u. my sister did that and loved the experience, while i was in an american sem and didnt enjoy the atmosphere as much. Good luck!!
how dare you! shes right your wrong! the end .
how do i know which sem to choose when i dont even know them???!!!!!
everybody says the same thing..its great…bla bla bla
we dont see any difference between the diferent sems in israel
Instead of mocking everyone why don’t we all get together to fix the situation and come up with a solution.
And going to college might not be the best thing for everyone, but, bringing the Rebbe into everything is not an answer, it just brings more problems.
what should my daughter do if she doesn’t go to the Israel seminary where she was accepted. I think this is a problem parents and 12th graders face. Your daughter was accepted but there’s no money, what are the options? Obviously not college bec. that’s not what the Rebbe wanted.
HELP!
is about having full confidence ( Oloh Nale)to establish your life( conquering Eretz Yisroel Bruchniyus) on the Yesodos of Torah and Mitzvos despite what seems to be giant ( Anakim) issues. No one is saying its easy but if you learn now to take charge of your destiny by proceeding in the holy pathways of Raboseinu Nesianu with full faith and confidence – you will suceed! despite all the naysayers and negativists who have written on this blog whether regarding college, about the “system” etc etc The most beautiful path ever is open for you to lead a meaningful life,… Read more »
I actually have been thinking about this for a while. The whole seminary thing is just ridiculous. I mean it is easier to get into college.
I agree that there is a lot of pressure to go to Israel. And it is usually what you make of it. But it is a HUGE growing experience and can either make you into an adult or keep a child.
Its true that a year in Israel is not for everyone and there are amazing seminaries here and other parts of the world.
And the Rebbe said it was perfectly fine to go to college once you are married for reasons of parnusa. You would be completely ignorant to think it is unnecessary
Avi,
I totaly agree wit u!
Good luk with next yr
Try milan sem in italy
you can have bitochon but you also have to do your part. i have applied to many teaching jobs, and in crown heights to be a main teacher(and not have worked for ten years) you have to have at least 90 credits. so you are telling me i went through the system and was told not to go to collage and now i have to, to get a good paying teaching job. so i applied to collage and it is amazing . touro is completely seperate and i hope to get a better paying job once i am up to… Read more »
Of course there are negative comments here–welcome to the world of commentators on blogs! Do you think that this is necessarily indicative of the true reality? Whoever says that schools are in it for the money is way out of line. As a child of a principal and mechanech, I can assure you that that is NOT the reality whatsoever. It is actually a chutzpah for someone to even say such a thing when teachers aren’t paid and most kids don’t pay full tuition for school either. I have yet to meet mechanchim “driving a Lexus” etc. In any case,… Read more »
Thank you #29. The only post that made sense
but still, if we stopped speaking about staying in the system… Whats the system? If I stay in the system Im part of the ELITE? thats nonsense
the point is that most girls want nowadays want to go to chitrik, to say they were in chitrik sem in tzfas. I hate hearing this but what we can do. Usually its the first question being asked by the mother when a shidduch is suggested…
The Rebbe would yhaveNEVER alowed it to get to this not only seminaries but Tuition in out of town High Schools and yeshivos iOUTRAGEOUS Rabbanim and ziknei anash people who can prevent this from spiraling out of control should meet and somehow reverse this , or put a stop to it all together
wow it seems that more and more people are getting frustrated with our lubavitche Moisdois, and they have good reason, as stated in many of the previous comments, for me i do not have sem age girls, but am having similiar experience with boys Yeshivos, aside the money factor which is certainly a great one, what are they doing for the money, what kind of effort are they willing to put forward? non whatsoever, they have become more selective, they want only Bochurim that do not require any effort on their part, they want only “Metzuyanim” and at the same… Read more »
How nice to read, 82 comments and not one person has anything good to say about our School, Camps or Seminary’s, sure makes me proud to be a Lubavitcher> but after reading all the comments I must say that I agree that today Lubavitch is all about money, programs are done to raise MONEY, Camps are open to make MONEY, Schools to make MONEY, all the PR Chabad does is only tomake MONEY, and what is the MONEY used for? so that the ones running these moisdos can redo their homes, buy a bungalow in Evergreen, drive a Lexus and… Read more »
not only is machon alta amazing but it is 600$ a month everything included and they have the same teachers as the mushky’s plus better ones and they go on trips with the mushkies and everything if you get a group of girls than you can have a great time!!!!!!
I don’t see the sense of blaming the schools for not accepting enough students and DEMANDING that they expand their programs. Nor do I blame the schools for “subliminally” pushing Israel. You’re an adult now, a high school graduate, and it’s time for you to evaluate what you’ve been taught and make decisions for yourself. Is Israel really what you want? Do you need it that badly? Do you need it at the cost of putting your parents into debt? Parents, where are you? Why are you buying into the lie that unless you cough up huge sums for your… Read more »
I don’t think a person who uses connections is wrong I think it’s wrong that u need to use connections. Girls it’s not worth your parents Agmas nefesh for u to go to sem!!! Especially the ones that treat you worse then pigs. For 16 grand they should be able to keep u girls in nice accomodations not the disgusting holes that they do!!!
is there a reason why not one person sees a problem with saying college=parnasa!?, what happened to bitachon- last i checked Hashem decides how much parnasa we receive -note receive and not make! If the Rebe said not to go to college there is obviously a reason and i am sure the Rebbe did not ‘make this rule’ thinking we would all live like paupers! whatever Hashem plans, is what will be!
vey bad advice ! seriously !!!!
and trust me its nothing special !!
im married have 3 kids…..i cant even remember what building i lived in or any of the teachers names…….. If i knew better i would have gone to sem in NY and make a summer trip to Israel..and save the money to get me a nice wedding gown and a nice appartment in CH !!! seriously!
You can be doing a lot more good staying put where you are and helping your parents and being a positive influence on others. Did the Rebbetzins go to seminary?
Today its all about money not education, thats the lesson I learnt this past year in school, they dont care what you do as long as no finds out and makes the school look bad and then they want be full and be able to charge hight tuition, but if you dont get caught where you do and with whom you do they dont care what you do
The rebbe said only to consider it when you are absolutely strong in yidishkeit, and of course if you need it for parnosse.
A girl just finishing highscholl and going into seminary besides some few exceptions is probably not at that level.
i agree with 71!! seriously lets try this!!
You are 100% right, they did throw you to the curb, the problem is that every Chabad Moised is a private enterprise including the schools, when the Rebbe said clearly that the schools shouldn’t let out their frustration on the children that the parents didn’t pay tuition, but you know what the Rebbe isn’t here now so everyone can do as they please. Camps and Schools are private enterprises, if they have money they use it for themselves and their family if they dont have money they make emergency fund raisers calling Anash saying its the Rebbe’s moised and how… Read more »
Lots of comments and nobody has mentioned the strong “proteksia” network out there getting girls into seminary…a lot has to do with who you know and who is prepared to to go to bat for you.
As well, it is my understanding that Beis Rivka Seminary is now accredited and going there could at least lay the ground work for future options if you needs credits towards a degree….lot of luck!
Lubavitcher sems in Israel are not all their cracked up to be. I know many good chassidisher girls (chitas every day) that went to Israel & were exposed to very bad influences. They came home on a much lower level than when they went. My neice who is not lubavich (comes from a modern orthodox home) went to Israel for the year & came home really frum. Very tznius. Got married & wears a shaitel. Personally I would not send my girls there for sem. It is just a very long & expensive vacation. If you want to tour the… Read more »
Wow. Sounds familiar. really, really familiar. never been thru it- still just a freshie, but still, very familiar. Very well put, and i cant dissagree. I’ve never been to israel, but i know that it’s an amazing place, and my sister has been there for seminary… 6274742
Even my frum, good, outoging friends were rejected for this year!! Beleive me – they are amazing, good girls- totally sem type! Where are they going now… I doNt want to know…. one of my friends told me – It’s just not worth it– U can be the mos chassidish and outgoing girl -an dget rejected form everywhere…” and then everyone talks about how we end up in college and “other stuff” My heart goes out to you…. SOMWTHING MUST CHANGE… SEMINARIES MUST EXPAND.. THE RATIO’S OF APPLICANTS TO SPOTS – NOT ENOUGH! for real- “12 grader- is not complaining… Read more »
It is really hard when the system subliminally pushes something that isnt going to be a reality for many girls. i knew that i was going to go to br sem in ch and it is a really, really good sem, but i’ve always been made to feel like i got the raw end of the deal. peolpe always told me “why not apply to chitrik? thats where you belong. you’ll for sure get in. its a perfect place for you.” etc. etc. i heard this from teachers, principals, friends, relatives. somehow everyone feels bad for me that i’m in… Read more »
the ones who don’t send their kid to israel for a year of sem and they r the ones with money and sence and realize sem is a SCAM you waist 16 to 20 thosand in in the garbage.
i agree that something needs to be done! my class decided that we are not applying to seminaries in Israel unless they lower the price! However, my class also realizes that this won’t work unless we have other 11th grade classes from other schools join us. 11th Graders around the world: please help us in stopping this trend that “I MUST go to seminary in Israel, and it’s fine that my parents are paying close to $20,000” on a year that you don’t know for sure if you will gain from
college , not collage… but u went to sem and not COLLEGE… so the spelling mistakes are a given..
I’m so sick of hearing the word seminary. It’s a waste of $$. Parents, put a stop to it!! SEMINARY IS A LUXURY, NOT A NECESSITY!! if you can’t afford it, you cannot make your parents remortgage your house!! use the $$ to get married or go to college so that you can have a Parnossa!! Trust me, I know all about the parties in Israel. if the mothers knew what trouble their kids were up to, they would NEVER be sending them to Israel. and by the way, you can learn a sicha at home, so don’t even go… Read more »
Actually sem is no longer a very positive experience in many cases. it depends on the girls attending that year. But honestly seminaries have certainly gone down in their level and the girls are not turning out more chassidish than before sem…in fact, often the opposite is true. We have not had a positive experience with any of our children who went to sem and are actually now feeling it is a waste of time and money! So dont feel bad. Hashem is saving you from a negative experience perhaps.
If you and many others in your situation feel that you have thrown out, leave. Don’t stay where you are not wanted. Touro in Israel sounds very compelling. Join the education revolution, and let the Chabad Lubavitch leaders (Aguch and Mercoz) and teachers face the consequences of their own actions and choices (not to lead and teaching on a party line).
Best of luck,
Avi A.
the picture is of all the seminary firls when we had shabbos arye leib in tzfat and we went to tiveria on the rambam’s yahrzeit. so yes you’re right that ther are chitrik girls there but there are also all the other seminary girls there.
Just remember its all part of a big picture- Hashkocha Protis!!
do go to a lub. sem.
don’t go to college
do remember what you were taught
don’t think sem is ‘holy’, whichever one you’ll end up going to
do try to find another good girl to go with you
don’t worry about shidduchim, it’s not gonna make a difference in the end anyway
do try to get accepted in a good israeli sem but…
don’t cry if it doesn’t happen, because lots of girls really end up sleeping during class and wasting their parents’ money.
what did the rebbe say about going to college and what is a maamer?
I went to Sem in Israel as well. My parents paid crazy money for it, money they didn’t have. While Israel is amazing, the learning was good, but not great. Then I came back, no one took the credits and after I got married, my hubby and I were really struggling to make ends meet.
Thank G-d we’re both now in college, more than 1/2 way done, and on the way to iy”H a good living.
You’ve gotta think about the future…
I’ll never understand! All the girls running to israel and some of them are going to a place where te living conditions are worse then the Bronx slums… Oh but I forgot what a priviledge it is! And what will it say about the shidduch system, this girl will now know how to live like dirt!!! Let me tell u noone cares once your marred how many flippen sichos u learn in sem or if u even went to sem… I say blow it off get a job! Or for the outrageous prices take the cash and travel the world!!!!
Parents should ban together finally and make these sems realize that we don’t have to beg them to take our kids.. They should beg us. We spend big bucks FOR What? The we spend another fortune sending them care packages btw mostly food which is inedible in most sems I had to send my daughter all kinds of healthy fruit nad stuff because beleve it or not they don’t get that . OK granted its fuun to be in sem with all u’re friends but parents of this year and future generations lets meet and put a stop to this… Read more »
There are other sems out there, if you wanna party in israel , go party in israel, but dont do it under the pretense that you are looking 4 the “sem experience”….you will learn a lot more in montreal than you would in any sem in israel, yes its cold and boring there , but at least you wont be breaking the bank, and you get to say you “were in the system” stop lying to yourself and accept reality.makes life easier
i know TOO many people with the same problem as you…. and im not talking about girls who didnt tow the line- eventhough those girls also deserve semianary but thats a completely different topic. to the people that say seminary is over-rated it is sooooo true!! and although i partially agree with #37 (who i was in seminary with apparently 🙂 i personally didnt go out of peer pressure, but rather b/c this is whats being done- yes its over-rated, YES its a Fortune! and yes maybe you can goo to seminary else where; but bottom line is this is… Read more »
parents don’t let these sems make u beg, its not worth it the girls and parents wait by the phone from chof beis shvat till the ens of june waiting maybe they’ll be squeezed in . Allll for what beleve me its not for the education, definately NOT the food or the accomadations. so what r we paying 20,ooo for? thats what it comes to and more after all
They saved your parents 20 thousand $
say Thank-You
Even in the five towns where “going to Israel is stressed” my cousin’s classmate was not accepted when the whole group she applied with was. That’s the luck of the draw and this is the way it is. If you’re a “good girl” and want “frabrengens etc” stay here and do your part in learning and being mashpia on others. You can learn here, but you’re right you won’t have the “Israel experience” and touring. Let that be for you and your husband iy’h. It’s equally a great time!
Go to Machon Alte in Tsfas. When they see the kind of girl you are, they will mainstream you with the “Mushkies”. Good Luck!
we listened to the rebbe we had the children and now we suffer (it hurts me to write this) but lubavitch out grew the structure that is in place we dont have enogh schools enough camps enough mesiftas enough zals and therfore our children dont have places to go to learn to camp and they get tossed out like the garbage ….. we need leadership in lubavitch all we have is fighting over money and territory for shlichus (which if your not related you wont ever go on anyway) and by the time they wake up it will be too… Read more »
Having at least ONE year in Seminary (preferrably Chabad) is an extremely important experience that will help to guide you and your future family for the rest of your life, IY”H !!
That great experience can also occur in Australia (I’m proud to be an OC girl !), Italy, Florida, Montreal, etc… Israel’s great, but obviously not every single 12th grader can get in there… Hatzlacha Rabba !!
Go BCM! I went there and dont feel the slightest left out including the fact that my parents didnt go into debt as a result!
i think the pic. is chitrik girls… i see some familiar faces…
gateshead!!!! get to see europe at your doorstep
Give this girl your spot!!!
My daughter was accepted to seminary in Israel. Her school pushes Israel as the only place to possibly grow and develop and learn, no other place will do. I don’t have the money. Her friends are going and she wants to go. What should I do?
you dont even know the pain and suffering parents have when their daughters are rejected and then theres no room…..IT IS THE END OF THE WORLD FOR SOME GIRLS.!!!!!! YOU HAVE NO FREAKIN IDEA THE SADNESS A GIRL HAS KNOWING HER CLASSMATES ARE ALL GOING BUT SHE IS NOT……AND PLEASE DONT SAY ITS BASHERT IF YOUR NOT THE GIRL REJECTED. KEEP YOUR COMMENTS TO YOURSELF!!!!!!!
FORGET SEMS!!!!!
awwwwwww…… so you’re upset because you’re popular and a good girl and don’t get everything you expected….welcome to this world!!!!!!!
The Israel sem thing is the biggest money making meshugas that was created and only in the last 15 years. As a rabbi that taught high school girls for 5 years I can tell you that Israel means nothing when it comes to sem. There are good and bad ones there and of course not EVERYONE can get in to the good ones. Besides, all of mu former students that I spoke to have repeatedly told me that the learning is at best mediocre, unless you stay on for a 2nd yer which most american do not. It’s more like… Read more »
Collage is the way to go… OUT THE WINDOW.
What about yeshiva what cost 15k and you have to go for 5 years. and the boys don’t learn a thing. the teacher’s don’t look the boys way. if they kick him out you call to ask why? they tell you he is not doing any thing for the past 8 months!! (so why did you not call me then ?)Or they say it was not me who kickt him out
Find a non Chabad Sem ,that neutral ,IOW not run by haters,and go with a group of your freinds. Besides getting yur year in EY you wil also make a Kiddish Lubavitch and have ample oppertunity for Hafatzos Hamayonis.
They have the best teachers ! Mrs borvits Mrs lieberman and it goes on and on ………..
Thanks for bringing this up! I feel like it is such an important topic to talk about. SEMINARY. Firstly, the fact that you weren’t accepted doesn’t say anything about you. You are probably a great girl. The sem system became a BIG business. I was in chitrik sem, and i can attest that it shouldn’t cost more than 8k to spend a year there. Fact is you are making some people there realllllly rich. There is absolutely no reason parents should keep silent year after year, as the prices go sky high!! Why in the world would you pay 16k… Read more »
Dear Sem girl, Seminary in Israel is so overrated, and if you ever want to move on and get a degree, almost all colleges won’t accept your credits (yes, even working in frum schools you prob. need a degree). I went to Israel for sem, trust me, its not all what it is hyped up to be. Go to another sem where A. your credits will be excepted, B. you can take college courses online at the same time and C. you can get a part time job. If you’re not going to be living in a dorm, you might… Read more »
i know this must be hard at the moment…this is ur hardship now..but i went to seminary in israel, and i had a good time but the best part of it is the credits i got for collage. in this day and age collage is very important. touro is a great program for people who dont want to go to mixed schools. its a great atmosphere and if you go to beis rivkia half day and collage in the evening you will have your BA in no time! and it will help you in the long run. especially if your… Read more »
You can accomplish much more on your own than with what “the system” provides. Go create your own Israel experience!
I totally agree with 6 and 11.
Many times we think we know what is best for us, and think that the world will come to an end if we don’t get it.
Then years later, when we look in retrospect, we see that Hashem had a better plan.
I strongly urge you to go to seminary, and definitely a Lubavitch one. I don’t see the urgency of getting the Israel experience during seminary. It’s much nicer to go for 2 months period and devote time to touring the country.
Hatzlocho Rabo!
It’s not called mimicking non-jews. It’s called a way of life. Do you want to teach hebrew school th rest of your life, or like many girls who are clueless as what to do with their life- get a customer service job?? It’s called making a living. Despite what the Rebbe said, many single frum boys and girls go to college- I’m talking Touro, Stern, Yeshiva University, all separate boys and girls schools, and they come out not only with a degree and a way to make parnassah for a family, but still frum and strong in their beliefs. I… Read more »
Everything is decided by Hashem – it’s sometimes like a mazel – who gets in and who dosn’t amongst all the excellent girls. But once we find ourselves in or out of a situation we want – or don’t want – and there is takeh nothing you can do about it, after all is said and done – then it’s time to say: HASHEM dosn’t want me there for some reason – which i CANNOT undertsand. Maybe it’s an inyan of safety, or some ruchnisdiuke reason – but whatever reason, we can’t understand Hashem’s decisions (because EVERYTHING is hashgacha protis… Read more »
Many people would like a year in Israel ‘for the experience’. I’m sure many parents who kill themselves to shell out the 20 grand for their daughters have never been to Israel themselves.
The underlying tone of entitlement in this op-ed nauseating.
i live in toronto and theres no sem here !!sorry
All our yeshivas have become “exclusive” they only want to take the best boys and that leaves out about 80% of others (of course if you have $$)
This is a main reason we see so many of our boys just hanging out on the street.
Most hanholos have no clue or don’t want to have a clue how to deal with the bochurim of today.
Its a shame and huge chilul Lubavitch. We are willing to be mekarav everyone under the sun but our own kids we leave them out in the cold and we see the results…
can we plzzzz do something b4 next yr to fix this….
While what you are saying is true, I don’t think that someone in such a situation wants to hear that. What she needs right now is your support not criticism. I’m in the same situation and I know what it feels like. Even if she only wants to go for the Israeli experience, that does not mean she can not go for seminary too. She will definitely gain from that experience too. I wish you much Hatzlacha in getting into an Israeli seminary.
y would anyone go to college after hearing what the Rebbe said about it?????????????
hi 12th grader in quandary, 1st i want to start by letting you know that:SEMINARY IN ISRAEL IS OVERATED!!!!! i was able to test that for myself , for starters you must ask yourself why you want to go to seminary in israel: is it to have fun and tour israel or is it to learn and really grow !… i actually went thru the exact same system as you, 1st i was really upset and annoyed , all my friends were accepted and i wasnt ( it actually never went thru my mind that i wudnt be…cause theyre was… Read more »
You are obviously not a Shaliach of the Rebbe
you have many fine seminaires in Hallandale FL, in Toronto, etc. I know many girls who went to Israel, and with not good results.Hashgocho protis is telling you, that maybe you can have more success in another place.If you want to go to Israel, bc Israel, is another story
its about time someone has brought up the seminary topic. Its ridiculous to spend close to $20,000 for a school year. experience shmriance, The point of seminary is a higher education, to spend that amount of money that nobody has just because “its the thing to do” its outrageous. I’ve heard the excuse that some girls need to go away, they need to learn to grow up, and that may be plausible, but there are sems closer to home that are prob alot cheaper and u can still get the experiance of goign away, growing up and learning. I did… Read more »
why can’t you be proud of your great Jewish heritage instead of mimicking non-jews!
get a life!
Waste of $ to send your kid to Isreal.
I have to agree with #10- go to college!! How the heck parents agree to spend 20 grand is beyond me!! Besides there are plenty of other sems-
you are just Nuts!
gimme a break!
advice=someone open more sems!!! they make alot of money and help all these girls
I also personally went throught the system and I dont remember anything stressing Israel. Yes Sem but not Israel.
Good Luck!
i hope u successesssfull life!
I totally feel for you. It’s a hard decision! I guess the first step would be to cancel out all the options that are really not ideal. You mention that you want to do the right thing as a lubavitcher girl, so the options such as going to a not lubavitch school in Israel doesn’t sound ideal, does it? so what are your other realistic options? Weigh those and see which one REALLY makes the most sense for a great girl like you! Another point, sometimes we want things and think that they are the best for us- but we… Read more »
GO TO COLLEGE!
sounds liek a horrible sitation no? confirm 887
i feel really bad, i agree its really hard to be rejected… i dont know whati would do, i’d probably be really upset
You sound like a fine girl. I think its unacceptable for seminaries to cut back on the number of girls they are accepting this year. Can’t the hanhala of the schools here push them to make more spaces? Keep on davening , a lot of times last minute spaces open up! (The Israel experience is very special regardless of the comment above). However, girls that did other things like go to seminaries outside of Israel or worked for shluchim had very rewarding experiences and in some cases preferred it from what they would have gotten in Israel. It’s very individual… Read more »
My dear girl: The system did not fail you. You have failed the system. The system has “drilled” into you HASHGOCHA PROTIS, and you have failed to tap into all that they have given you. Me, Me, Me, I want, I deserve, I should get, you promised, etc etc. What about Hashgocha Protis??? Hashem knows exactly what you need, exactly what’s good for you, and you need to tap into all the faith you’ve been educated with and say, “I will it to be this way, for my own good, because G-d knows what’s best for me and this is… Read more »
i went to sem in israel for which my parents paid a crazy fortune. i came out with no degree, and a level of learning that was barely (if at all) higher than high school, and a year that was terribly disappointing. what a waste of my parents’ hard-scraped money. i went back later as a single girl for two months and had the best israel experience ever. go to sem here, there are very good classes, work on the side, save up money and have your own israel experience with friends. much better than sem. im never agreeing to… Read more »
i feel that seminary in isreal should be totally stopped .
its a burden and a major experience for parents who are in debt to begin with. if isreal seminary wants american students and business they should make sure its available for everyone. they dont realize that they are causing a funeral home every year for those girls who dont get accepted. this system is really messed up!!!!
thank you for writing your letter, that was a smart move
email your letter to every seminary in isreal
you dont even want to go to seminary you want to go to israel… i believe that girls who go to Israel don’t go for a seminary experiance but rather an israel experiance.
Thats an 18 thousand dollar experiance,!!
I totally hear you, and the fact that you want the year of Israel experience. I can imagine it is fantastic. However there are many other great chabad semenaries that will give you a wonderful experience as well. You get to involved in shlichos, community work, meet new pple, lots of learning and growing and maturing. Dont think Israel is your only choice.
You will regret if you dont go to a chabad semenary, you have your whole life to do everything else. Just let yourself be open to a different great experience.
Good Luck!!
My dear 12th grader, I hereby offer you my blessings that this shall be the most difficult decision you will have to make in your entire life. Good luck!
Well written. If the system is pushing Eretz Yisroel for sem then they need to guarantee each girl will be able to feel part of the system. If it’s not part of the system then STOP pushing sems in Eretz Yisroel.