Why is this Sem different from all other Sems?

All seminaries are good.  Hashem's hashgachah has made it possible for a wide spectrum of girls to experience learning in Eretz Yisrael; an experience that will change their future lives immeasurably.  Each seminary has a specific "taste" that makes it a good choice for a young woman who knows what she needs to gain maximally from this once in a lifetime chance.  
What is Bnos Avigail about, and what is its distinctive flavor?

Bnos Avigail is the seminary for girls who want to strive to maximize their spiritual and personal growth through the kind of serious learning that is focused on inspiration and most of all relevance. We only accept girls from Bais Yaakov type schools, who are aiming to reach these goals, and have the love of learning that will turn the requirements into a joy and an intellectual adventure. They are girls who understand that the kedushah that they desire goes far beyond a "dress code" but includes one, and that they are part of a tzibbur in which they take pride.

The Program

Bnos Avigail has a defined goal, which is to provide the girls with intellectually challenging, inspiring, and most of all, relevant classes. In order to do this, we have set up a system in which the year is divided into three sections. The first trimester is devoted to Bein Adam La'Makom, the second, to Bein Adam L'Chaveiro, and the final one to Ishah VuVeisah. This means that there is a defined purpose for each class, each paper written, and each guest speaker.

Shabbos

Our policy is that Shabbos in Eretz Yisrael is meant to be filled with simchah and meaning. For this reason, although we are happy to permit the girls to visit family, friends, and relatives, we make in-shabbosim, where the girls stay in the seminary and have themed shabbosim with guest speakers (from the seminary or from outside the seminary), shabbatonim where they visit interesting communities such as the Old City and Bnei Brak, or they are placed with carefully chosen families.

Chessed

​Because chessed is meant to be one of life's goals, and not just an "activity", we have chosen a wide variety of chessed opportunities to fit the girl's abilities and personalities. Ideally, this will make it easier for them to continue similar chasadim throughout their lives. The choices include (but are not limited to) working with special needs children, tutoring, helping out in young (carefully chosen) families, helping terror victims, volunteering in a clothing gemach, doing computer work or photography for fund raising, and interacting with the elderly. 

Presentations

In addition to the classes (and as an alternative to the academic papers that other seminaries require), Bnos Avigail has devised what we believe to be a more integrated approach to the serious learning that the girls do. Groups of ten girls work together with serious maareh mekomos on topics relevant to the trimester. They work under the guidance of a teacher, but the brunt of the work is on them. They have to weave the various sources that they study into a meaningful, relevant, and intellectually valid piece of material. They then present it to the entire school (in the presence of Rebbetzin Gottlieb), explain their conclusions and answer any questions that their fellow students present on the topic at hand. The atmosphere is friendly, and the goal is integration of the texts. An example would be a presentation on "The Power of Speech" which would include the standard baalei machshavah, the relevant parshanim and "dips" into Maharal's Nesiv HaLashon.  The goal of the presentations is to develop a hashkafa for life that comes from the Torah sources that are now part of them…

Kedushas HaAretz

​We want the girls to see as much of the kedushah of the Land as possible. We have taken them to Yeshivas Chevron and to Rav Elbaz's Ohr HaChaim for selichos. They attended the shmittah parade and received brachos from the farmers. We intend to continue this program throughout the year. An entire course on Kedushas HaAretz is given by Mrs. Altschuler, which will enhance their grasp of what they see. 

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OUR STAFF

Rabbi Dovid Kass teaches courses relevant to each trimester (for instance, Hilchos teshuvah focusing on Bein Adam LiMakom in the first trimester), as well as the Gra on Megilas Esther, and Sfas Emes.

Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller-Gottlieb teaching Chumash (selecting the Parshah relevant to the trimester at hand, for instance selections of Kedoshim relevant to Bein Adam L'chaveiro in the second trimester). Rebbetzin Gottlieb also gives weekly vaadim in her home on relevant topics.

Rabbi Dovid Refson teaches the girls in depth about various Mitzvos Bein Adam Lachaviro, going through Rishonim, Acharonim, and Baali Mussar. 

Rabbi Dovid Ostroff teaches topics of halacha, ranging from Hilchos Kashrus to Shabbos, tying-in live demonstrations that leave the girls with a clear picture of how a Frum kitchen should look. The gedolim stories which he often shares instill respect and admiration for Klal Yisrael's role models.

Mrs. Sender has taken the responsibility of supervising the girls’ daily limud-atzmi of Kitzur Shulchan Aruch with the Piskei Dinim of the Mishneh Brurah. Because the girls learn the material themselves, the level of depth of understanding and integration is incomparable to that which is achieved by passive listening.

Rebbetzin Atschuler (formally principal of the Gerrer Bais Yaakov sem) shares the kedusha of Eretz Yisrael in passionate, well-organized classes discussing the history of the Jews' presence in Artzainu Ha’Kadosha. She clarifies the many shitos on the mitzvah of Yishuv Ha'aretz, shares stories of various gedolim in Eretz Yisrael, and instills in the girls a new love for the land.

Mrs. Kass unravels the mussar of Rav Eliyahu Dessler, delivering insights into Jewish philosophy and ethics in a clear manner with practical explanations applicable to each girl and her personal growth. Her genuine enthusiasm and love for Hashem and His Torah are clear in each class.

Geveret Plachinski, a distinguished educator in Yerushalaim's Seminar Chadash, the flagship of Israeli seminary education, offers incredible and practical insights on the weekly Haftorah, with real-life lessons from unique parts of Tanach. With the class fully in Ivrit, students have the opportunity to hone their skills, and within a short time, the girls are able to learn in that language.

Mrs. Shochatovitz covers a variety of inyanim betanach, including the korbanos, different forms of tefilla, and the reciprocal love of Hashem and Klal Yisrael. Her kindly manner and unswerving commitment to the Emes contained within Torah allow the girls to see what true conviction means.

Rabbi Immanuel Bernstien pulls crystal clear ideas out of seemingly perplexing Gemaras and Midrashim. He provides the girls a glimpse into the complexity and depth which exists inside Aggadda, leaving them with awe and excitement. The themes of these witty lessons and the practical mussar they contain make a tremendous impact.

Rabbi Yossi Cohen discusses a multitude of philosophical topics, transforming seemingly abstract concepts into practical life lessons. Students walk away with a profound appreciation for the complexity of the Torah and an understanding for how to apply its depth into their lives.
 
Rabbi Harroch passionately gives over shiurim on an array of relevant topics, from properly keeping Shabbos to the power of music to Civil Law. Students have the opportunity to see a wide variety of mekoros, gain inspiration from all sorts of stories and meshalim, ask questions, and overall acquire a new depth of understanding on topics that they’ve heard about in the past.

Mrs. Ashenberg uses various commentaries to draw out the mussar in medrash, drawing on ways to stay strong and tackle the yetzer haros of the modern world.  Her stirring lessons encourage the girls to rethink their thoughts and attitudes towards various topics, making sure that their values are always alligned with real Torah ones. 

Mrs. Hirschman teaches the drashos of the Beis HaLevi.  She provides sources that the girls learn before class, from Pesukim straight through the Gemaros, Rishonim, and Acharonim.  She then ties them together with the Drasha, and guides engaging and thought-provoking discussions on the topic.

Mrs. Saperstein offers multi-tiered approach of Dovid Hamelech's words, offering deeper explanations of pirkei Tehillim from various perspectives. Her lessons offer ideas and thoughts applicable to tefilla and hashkafic growth. Her love for the holy words she teaches and for her students is felt in every class.

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Our Trimester Themes

בין אדם למקום

בין אדם לחבירו

אישה וביתה

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FUN AND TIYULIM
The "oil" that makes everything else run is joi de vire. We want the girls to swim, jeep, explore, climb, see, kayak, and all of the rest of what makes this year special. Most of all enjoy every spare moment. 

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CONTACT US
Bnos Avigail Seminary
37 Buttell Ave Lakewood, NJ USA

Phone number : 08701 732-551-1478

E-mail : [email protected]