Climbing up the steps to the Beit Midrash, I see the beautiful emek hamayanot (Valley of Springs) spread out serenely beneath me.
On top of Mount Gilboa, the view is awe-inspiring and helps me get into the right mindset for a day of study. Sitting inside the Beit Midrash, I see just the sky above, bringing to mind Jacob's famous quote from Parshat Vayetzei: וְזֶ֖ה שַׁ֥עַר הַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃ "and this is the gate of heaven" (Bereishit 28:17).
After an amazing year at Yeshivat Orayta, I decided to do another year in an Israeli Yeshiva called Maale Gilboa!
I visited last year, and connected to many aspects of the yeshiva: singing and dancing on Shabbat, Gemara and Tanakh shiurim, and a community that looks to learn more everyday.
However, the biggest factor that made me want to switch was language. Whereas at Orayata, an American yeshiva, the classes were conducted in English, here everything is in Hebrew. At the moment פה, הכל בעברית
So far studying Jewish texts fully in Hebrew feels so much more authentic. I have already learned new words, like "סדק" (crack, is a cracked shofar kosher?) and “שפוי”(sane, came up in the context of Israeli politics and I'll let you guess if if it was used in the positive or negative). Along with words, I’m learning more about Kibbutz culture- everyone wears sandals, even on Shabbat.
Another major difference is location. At Orayta, I was in the Old City of Jerusalem- a center of Jewish history and culture. Even though I was in the Beit Midrash most of the day, there was always a museum, archeological site, or concert I could go to. While this enhanced my learning - for example, I learned about the different nusachim of Judaism - it was also a distraction.
This Yeshiva is located within Kibbutz Maale Gilboa in the north, and there's only one bus that leaves the kibbutz to Afula. I’m not close to any major city. On the kibbutz there are no attractions (or distractions)- just the Beit Midrash, and amazing views!
I wake up, go to the Beit Midrash, and am engulfed by a bubble of Torah learning. I have the opportunity to explore the breadth and vastness of Torah- Masechet Rosh Hashanah, Hasidic stories about teshuva, the philosophy of psak halacha, and more! (Blog post about my schedule coming soon.)
But don’t worry- on Fridays, I also have time for some leisure. And there is good reason why it's called the Valley of Springs. There are dozens of them in the area, and this past Friday I cooled down from the blazing heat at the Asi Spring.
Finally, I’d like to thank my parents for supporting me during my past year studying in Yeshiva, and letting me come back for another year. Your encouragement, care, and love reaches me over the Atlantic everyday! I’m ready to share another year of Torah and travels with you, so stay tuned! כל טוב, Niv
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