Neve Yerushalayim: In the Business of Igniting Souls – Jewish Link of Bronx, Westchester and Connecticut
Posted By admin on December 16, 2019
(Courtesy of Neve Yerushalayim) Jerusalem, December 1980. A young American tourist wearing jeans and a backpack descends the steps to the Kotel plaza. Gazing at the Wall for the first time, she knows shes supposed to be moved. But shes too annoyedeven angryabout the partition separating men and women. Why are women shunted off to the side? she fumes. She makes a decision. These religious people can segregate themselves if they like, but Im standing wherever I want. And she marches right into the mens section.
Shes about halfway to the Kotel when a guard suddenly notices her. Running after the girl, he calls to her to stop. You not to be here, you to be there, he says in broken English, pointing to the womens side. He escorts her out. Shes seeing red.
At that moment, a tall man wearing a suit and a black fedora approaches her. He smiles. Are you Jewish? he asks.
Yes, she says, between clenched teeth.
Would you be interested in a Friday night Shabbat meal with a religious family, or a class on Jewish philosophy?
No! she replies, wanting nothing to do with either the Kotel or Judaism.
For the next few hours, she wanders around the Old City. But something pulls her back to the Kotel. Ill give it a second chance, she figures. Again, the partition upsets her, but she has no choice about it. On the womens side, she goes up to the Wall. Placing her hands on the stones, she sees the notes pressed into the cracks, gazes upward, and looks at the people around her, then back at the Wall. She feels nothing. Oh well, she thinks. I tried. With that, she exits the womens section.
Just then, a young woman in a high-necked sweater and mid-calf skirt approaches.
Excuse me, she says with a friendly smile, do you have a map of the Old City?
Yeah, just a second, the tourist responds, reaching into her backpack.
By the way, are you Jewish?
Hmm, the tourist thinks. I believe Ive heard this before. Yes. Why?
While youre here in Jerusalem, would you be interested
Yup, sounds familiar. Listen, the tourist challenges, before we talk about my doing anything religious, whats the deal with this partition?
Well, the woman calmly replies, wouldnt you feel more comfortable praying surrounded by women rather then men?
The tourist pauses. Yes, I would. Okay, that makes sense. Then a little light bulb goes on in her head. Maybe other things in Judaism make sense too?
Two months later, she drops in on some classes at Neve Yerushalayim, intending to study no longer than a week. Ten months later, she returns to Americajust for a visitas a newly Orthodox Jew.
The Tourist? Gila Manolson.
In Neve Yerushalayims 50-year history as a ground-breaking institution for Jewish womens education, its staff have had the privilege to know thousands of women like Gila from all over the globe. Some may have had a strong conservative background, and some didnt even know they were Jewish growing up. They were seeking truth, seeking meaning, seeking healthy family life and relationships, and seeking God! They came to Neve to find out what it means to be a Jew, to discover the depth of their heritage, which they knew almost nothing about. They were inspired to find that Judaism was not an archaic religion, but a guide to living the most meaningful life, freed from the fads and false morals of their generation. These women have left Neve to build lives in Jewish communities around the world. They have gotten married to men who share their dedication to Torah, and are raising generations of Torah-observant Jews.
Another Neve student, Sara (85), tells how, after spending 15 years on an ashram, she began to discover that there was something more to Judaism than what they taught her in Hebrew school. She writes:
A month later my search took me to Jerusalem. There I studied at Neve Yerushalayim, billed as a yeshivah for English-speaking women with little or no Jewish background. I fancied that I had a great deal of Jewish background, since I had gone to Hebrew school until I went away to college and was the president of my synagogue youth group. Yet what I was learning in Jerusalem felt like a completely different religion.
Something started to stir inside me. My intellect, which so often at the ashram had been scolded and sent to sit in the corner, was now set free to run and do cartwheels. I was invited to pick apart every argument. And I didI questioned, challenged, debated and argued.
I battled with several issues, but the depth of my teachers approach left nothing outside its ken. Here was intellectual brilliance aligned with spiritual profundity. The way of life enjoined by the Torah fit me like a dress that had hung in my closet for decades. Only when I actually tried it on did I find that it fit me perfectly.
In Jerusalem, during my first week of studies, I noticed that when people emerged from the rest room, they would stand for a minute with their eyes closed, muttering something. When I inquired what they were doing, I was told that just as there is a blessing to say when eating or drinking, there is also a blessing to say after using the toilet, acknowledging the Divine source of all the bodily functions.
I was blown away.
Still, my leave of absence from the ashram was drawing to a close, and my former life beckoned.
I was 37 years old. The ashram was not only my physical and spiritual home, but also my place of employment and the residence of all my friends. Accepting the dictates of the Torah would require a radical change of lifestylea repudiation of so much I held dear, an estrangement from those I loved and the forfeit of whatever standing and prestige I had acquired in the New Age world. The very idea overwhelmed me.
One night, sometime after midnight, I went to the Kotel, the Western Wall, Judaisms holiest site. There I meditated. What was Gods will for me?
I had spent my entire adult life learning to align myself with the will of God as I perceived it. Now I knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that it was Gods will for me to stay in Jerusalem and practice Torah.
That night at the Kotel, I chose.
Yes, I told God, I will accept Your Torah as my guide, even when it is inconvenient or downright difficult. I will do it on Your terms whatever it costs me. I will live the way You want me to.
That night I fairly floated up the steps from the Kotel to my room in the Jewish Quarter. Instead of feeling saddled by the religious obligations to which I had just committed myself, I felt free and light.*
As Neve approaches its 50th year, idealistic young women, like Gila and Sara, from all over the world are still arriving almost every day of the year to immerse themselves in an environment of Torah. They are searching for clarity and a connection to their heritage in a confusing world where so many Jews are assimilating and intermarrying. Neve has an obligation to continue to provide quality Jewish education for these women.
Neve cant abandon its commitment to the future of the Jewish people and continues to dedicate itself to its mission. This year, it is launching its 50th-anniversary campaign to raise $7.5 million in order to propel its work forwardto increase its recruitment programs, create more spiritual support for its alumnae, enhance its offerings to the present student body, award them scholarships and renovate the dorms, thus building more successful Jewish futures.
A donation to Neve is to enable the school to continue empowering Jewish women and the community at large. You can learn more about Neves goals at http://www.nevey.org.
* Reprinted with permission from God Winked: Tales and Lessons From My Spiritual Adventures, by Sara Yoheved Rigler
Read more:
- 64 Hours In An Ice Cube [Last Updated On: January 27th, 2010] [Originally Added On: January 27th, 2010]
- Jewish Rabbi admits Islam is the oldest religion - Video [Last Updated On: January 31st, 2010] [Originally Added On: January 31st, 2010]
- Israel investigation [Last Updated On: February 25th, 2010] [Originally Added On: February 25th, 2010]
- EU-Egypt meet on Israel settlement [Last Updated On: March 15th, 2010] [Originally Added On: March 15th, 2010]
- Dogs Do Amazing Tricks [Last Updated On: March 16th, 2010] [Originally Added On: March 16th, 2010]
- Israel approves 100 Jerusalem homes [Last Updated On: March 24th, 2010] [Originally Added On: March 24th, 2010]
- Israel closes West Bank for Passover [Last Updated On: March 29th, 2010] [Originally Added On: March 29th, 2010]
- Legless Dog [Last Updated On: March 31st, 2010] [Originally Added On: March 31st, 2010]
- Fiddler On the Roof Interviews [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2010] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2010]
- Fiddler on the Roof Interview: Part Two - Deborah Grausman [Last Updated On: May 13th, 2010] [Originally Added On: May 13th, 2010]
- Obama Oil Spill press conference - Cable Network Production audio feed accidentally picked up [Last Updated On: May 27th, 2010] [Originally Added On: May 27th, 2010]
- Israel rejects NPT resolution [Last Updated On: May 30th, 2010] [Originally Added On: May 30th, 2010]
- Axelrod and the jews behind Obama [Last Updated On: May 30th, 2010] [Originally Added On: May 30th, 2010]
- Israel condemned over ship action [Last Updated On: May 31st, 2010] [Originally Added On: May 31st, 2010]
- Israel perpetró agresiones contra Flotillas de ayuda humanitaria propalestina [Last Updated On: June 1st, 2010] [Originally Added On: June 1st, 2010]
- Hace un año que NN.UU. exige desbloqueo y retiro de tropas de Gaza. Israel hace [Last Updated On: June 1st, 2010] [Originally Added On: June 1st, 2010]
- Liga Árabe denuncia actitud desafiante de Israel [Last Updated On: June 1st, 2010] [Originally Added On: June 1st, 2010]
- Activistas propalestina proponen boicot contra Israel [Last Updated On: June 1st, 2010] [Originally Added On: June 1st, 2010]
- Primer Ministro turco califica a Israel como Estado terrorista [Last Updated On: June 1st, 2010] [Originally Added On: June 1st, 2010]
- Consejo de Seguridad ONU repudió agresión a Flotilla pero no condenó a Israel [Last Updated On: June 1st, 2010] [Originally Added On: June 1st, 2010]
- Analista peruano opina que el tema de Israel gravitará en la reunión entre [Last Updated On: June 1st, 2010] [Originally Added On: June 1st, 2010]
- Ian Bremmer "Vastly More Concerned About North Korea" vs. Israel-Gaza [Last Updated On: June 2nd, 2010] [Originally Added On: June 2nd, 2010]
- Israel reitera que no permitirá que ningún barco llegue a Gaza [Last Updated On: June 5th, 2010] [Originally Added On: June 5th, 2010]
- Raw Video: Israel seizes new Gaza-bound aid ship [Last Updated On: June 5th, 2010] [Originally Added On: June 5th, 2010]
- Rachel Corrie flotilla: Israel releases new images [Last Updated On: June 5th, 2010] [Originally Added On: June 5th, 2010]
- Legendary White House reporter's Israel gaffe [Last Updated On: June 7th, 2010] [Originally Added On: June 7th, 2010]
- Helen Thomas, a Hero for Telling the Truth [Last Updated On: June 8th, 2010] [Originally Added On: June 8th, 2010]
- Israel Soldiers are random shooting to civils on aid ship mavi marmara [Last Updated On: June 10th, 2010] [Originally Added On: June 10th, 2010]
- Find Israel t-shirts, funny Jewish t-shirts and Krav Maga T-shirts [Last Updated On: June 17th, 2010] [Originally Added On: June 17th, 2010]
- Israel t-shirts, funny Jewish t-shirts and Krav Maga T-shirts [Last Updated On: June 17th, 2010] [Originally Added On: June 17th, 2010]
- A Day in the Life of Israel Miller – Turning Dreams to Reality [Last Updated On: June 30th, 2010] [Originally Added On: June 30th, 2010]
- Ofensiva de EE.UU. e Israel contra Irán detonará pronto guerra nuclear: Fidel [Last Updated On: July 5th, 2010] [Originally Added On: July 5th, 2010]
- Dancing soldiers video goes viral in Israel [Last Updated On: July 5th, 2010] [Originally Added On: July 5th, 2010]
- Should Israel Apologize for Flotilla Raid? [Last Updated On: July 6th, 2010] [Originally Added On: July 6th, 2010]
- We Love You Israel! [Last Updated On: July 7th, 2010] [Originally Added On: July 7th, 2010]
- San Remo's Mandate: Israel's 'Magna Carta' - CBN.com [Last Updated On: July 9th, 2010] [Originally Added On: July 9th, 2010]
- Israel anuncia que devolverá, con condiciones, barcos de la flotilla humanitaria [Last Updated On: July 26th, 2010] [Originally Added On: July 26th, 2010]
- Ahmadinejad says US, Israel to attack [Last Updated On: July 27th, 2010] [Originally Added On: July 27th, 2010]
- Meshaal rechaza cualquier diálogo directo o indirecto con Israel [Last Updated On: August 2nd, 2010] [Originally Added On: August 2nd, 2010]
- Israel mata a tres soldados libaneses y a periodista durante ataque en frontera [Last Updated On: August 3rd, 2010] [Originally Added On: August 3rd, 2010]
- Continúa tensión tras enfrentamientos de tropas en frontera entre Israel y [Last Updated On: August 4th, 2010] [Originally Added On: August 4th, 2010]
- Trouble Brewing for Israel? [Last Updated On: August 5th, 2010] [Originally Added On: August 5th, 2010]
- Marquis Laughlin Travels to Israel, The Holy Land [Last Updated On: August 5th, 2010] [Originally Added On: August 5th, 2010]
- Nasrallah presents Israel 'evidence' [Last Updated On: August 10th, 2010] [Originally Added On: August 10th, 2010]
- Travel To Israel [Last Updated On: August 11th, 2010] [Originally Added On: August 11th, 2010]
- Israel's Top Cities [Last Updated On: August 11th, 2010] [Originally Added On: August 11th, 2010]
- Israel's Top Attractions [Last Updated On: August 11th, 2010] [Originally Added On: August 11th, 2010]
- Will Israel Launch Strike Against Iran Nuclear Plant? [Last Updated On: August 18th, 2010] [Originally Added On: August 18th, 2010]
- Negociaciones de paz entre Palestina e Israel generan reacciones en distintos [Last Updated On: September 2nd, 2010] [Originally Added On: September 2nd, 2010]
- Inicia segunda ronda de negociaciones de paz entre Israel y Palestina [Last Updated On: September 15th, 2010] [Originally Added On: September 15th, 2010]
- Barry Segal: Vision for Israel - CBN.com [Last Updated On: October 14th, 2010] [Originally Added On: October 14th, 2010]
- World's Biggest Rocking Horse [Last Updated On: October 21st, 2010] [Originally Added On: October 21st, 2010]
- Israel reanuda construcción de asentamientos en territorio palestino [Last Updated On: October 21st, 2010] [Originally Added On: October 21st, 2010]
- Sirios víctimas de minas antipersonas que Israel dejó en el Golán [Last Updated On: November 10th, 2010] [Originally Added On: November 10th, 2010]
- The Samson Option explodes one of the world’s most closely guarded secrets—the secret of Israel’s atomic arsenal. [Last Updated On: January 21st, 2016] [Originally Added On: November 19th, 2010]
- Brush Fires Rage on in Israel [Last Updated On: December 4th, 2010] [Originally Added On: December 4th, 2010]
- Robot Surgeon Comes to Israel [Last Updated On: December 25th, 2010] [Originally Added On: December 25th, 2010]
- Jewish Professor: Israel is a client state to the US in the region [Last Updated On: January 1st, 2011] [Originally Added On: January 1st, 2011]
- Jewish American Heritage Month » B'nai B'rith International ... [Last Updated On: April 3rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: April 3rd, 2011]
- Rep. Wasserman Schultz Recognizes Jewish American Heritage Month 2009 [Last Updated On: May 16th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 16th, 2011]
- Why I Left Judaism [Last Updated On: May 16th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 16th, 2011]
- DEFAMATION - Theatrical Trailer [Last Updated On: May 16th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 16th, 2011]
- Recognizing Jewish American Heritage Month [Last Updated On: May 16th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 16th, 2011]
- Cast of "House" visits Israel [Last Updated On: May 17th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 17th, 2011]
- Surviving the Holocaust: Zanne Farbstein's Story [Last Updated On: May 17th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 17th, 2011]
- Anti-Defamation League ADL Part 2 [Last Updated On: May 17th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 17th, 2011]
- JAKE TAPPER on Washington's "Middle East Week." [Last Updated On: May 17th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 17th, 2011]
- Elie Wiesel honored with first US Holocaust award [Last Updated On: May 17th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 17th, 2011]
- Anti-Defamation League ADL Part 1 [Last Updated On: May 17th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 17th, 2011]
- Marking Jewish American Heritage Month [Last Updated On: May 18th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 18th, 2011]
- Arab Spring not good for Israel [Last Updated On: May 18th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 18th, 2011]
- Eye for Eye? Gazans 'blackmailed' to spy for Israel [Last Updated On: May 18th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 18th, 2011]
- Ann Coulter Insults Judaism [Last Updated On: May 18th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 18th, 2011]
- The Holocaust that changed the world [Last Updated On: May 18th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 18th, 2011]
- Christian Anti-Defamation League: "Bashing" [Last Updated On: May 18th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 18th, 2011]
- Cool Facts about Israel [Last Updated On: May 19th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 19th, 2011]
- Gaza: The Killing Zone - Israel/Palestine [Last Updated On: May 20th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2011]
- Hatikva-The National Anthem of Israel [Last Updated On: May 20th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2011]
- Harel Skaat - Milim (Israel) [Last Updated On: May 20th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2011]
- Canadian PM: I Will Defend Israel 'whatever the cost' [Last Updated On: May 20th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2011]
Comments