From bagels to banana cake

Posted in 2011 - 2012, Participant Stories on 16. Feb, 2012

בס”ד
by David Jacobowitz, Los Angeles, CA
Before this year the most elaborate thing I could make was an omelet and place it in a bagel, but now I am able to make a whole new arrangement of dishes. Now that I’m living in my own apartment I have worry about what I’m going to be eating for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  … Read more

The magic of the moshav music

Posted in 2011 - 2012, Participant Stories, Shabbat on 09. Feb, 2012

בס”ד
by Ariella Daniels, Toronto, Canada
This past Shabbat, Shalem had the opportunity to stay at the home of Rabbi Trugman and his wife at Moshav Mevo Modiin.  Our stay was an incredible experience, full of song, prayer and unity.  When entering the Moshav it was very evident that the people of Mevo Modiin are very unique, warm, spiritual, and family oriented.
Rabbi Trugman shared  … Read more

Shalem….What is there to say??!!

Posted in 2011 - 2012, Uncategorized, Volunteering on 02. Feb, 2012

בס”ד
by David Jacobowitz, Los Angeles, CA
Shalem. What is there to say? From spending Shabbat together in Jerusalem to going on strenuous hikes in the Negev, this has been one of the wildest years of my life. Speaking of crazy, this semester’s schedule has been especially hectic- waking up at 7:30 every morning for tefila, followed by intense Ulpan studies and then off to  … Read more

Lone Soldier Shabbat

Posted in 2011 - 2012, Volunteering on 22. Jan, 2012

בס”ד
by: Jared Ebrahimoff, Scarsdale, NY

This past week on Shalem was great! I really got a chance to take advantage of the countless opportunities available to me in Israel. I Volunteer at The Lone Soldier Center in Memory of Michael Levin. Besides being able to help out at an amazing organization, I get to meet amazing people ranging from soldiers to volunteers  … Read more

Reflections on sefer Bereishit

Posted in 2011 - 2012, Parashat Hashavua, Uncategorized on 09. Jan, 2012

בס”ד
 by:  Sam Spencer, Woodbridge, CT    
     The complex life of our forefather Abraham serves as an inspiration to all who delve into the words of the Torah. Far from perfect, Abraham emerges as a man of many layers. He was a man of peace and diplomacy, yet adamantly defended his own honor and property. He was the father of two sons and the father  … Read more

Getting more than a shekel’s worth

Posted in 2011 - 2012, Participant Stories, Uncategorized, Volunteering on 18. Dec, 2011

בס”ד
by Ariella Daniels, Toronto, Canada
Today we had the opportunity to volunteer for a couple of hours at an organization called Shekel- Community Services for People with Special Needs.  This organization provides workshops for adults with slight special needs. Some of the activities include candle making, sewing, graphic design, and soap-making.
 Even though the work involved may appear repetitive and tedious, it was not  … Read more

During These Ten Days of Repentence…

Posted in 2011 - 2012, Participant Stories on 06. Oct, 2011

בס”ד
by: Sam Spencer, Woodbridge, CT
During these ten days of repentance, we seek a path to lead us back to Hashem, we search for the word which will invite God’s presence to our midst. The attempt to access God’s compassion and understanding is a struggle that flows across the generations, a challenge that has tried the hearts and minds of Jews from Abraham to  … Read more

Lone Soldier Tekes

Posted in 2011 - 2012, Volunteering on 06. Oct, 2011

בס”ד
by: Cincy Lieberman, Charleston, WV
As all the Shalem chanichim get settled into our volunteer placements, we begin to learn a new side of the land we live in. Some chanichim are working with a special needs program, some are teaching children soccer, others are working in a pharmacy. Jared and I are helping out at the Lone Soldier Center in Jerusalem. The Center  … Read more

“Returning to Ourselves”- Yom Kippur 5772

Posted in 2011 - 2012, Chagim on 06. Oct, 2011

בס”ד
by: Rabbi Aharon E. Wexler
 “Man’s origin is from dust, and his end is dust; at the risk of his life he earns his bread; he is likened to a broken shard, a withering blade of grass, a fading flower, as passing shadow, a dissipating cloud, a blowing wind, flying dust, -a fleeting dream”
– From the U’Netaneh Tokef Prayer attributed to Rabbi Amnon  … Read more

Rosh Hashanah 444 BCE

Posted in 2011 - 2012 on 25. Sep, 2011

בס”ד

by Rabbi Aharon E. Wexler (Shalem Faculty member)
Rabbi Wexler is originally from NY. After high school Rav Wexler made aliya and studied at Yeshivat Hakotel. He teaches Jewish philosophy in addition to giving a bi-weekly chabura. He is also a Doctoral Candidate in Jewish Studies.
Frankly, what I heard about the man made me think he was crazy. But friends of mine told me that he was speaking in  … Read more