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Midreshet Emunah v'Omanut Student Handbook 5773
Dear Students and Parents,
As we move toward our seventh year of operation we can say with confidence that our unique combination of Torah and the Arts provides select young women with a wonderful opportunity to grow in their Yir'at shamayimandAhavat Torahin a way that channels their creative and artistic spirits into deep and significant religious growth. Thestudent handbook details many areas of life at Midreshet Emunah v’Omanut. Please read it carefully and indicate your agreement by signing the attached contract.Thenemail or fax it back to us by July 1st, 2012.
As always, should you have any particular questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me directly by email at r by telephone at 866-253-1025. My cell phone number is +972-52-522-7017.
Arrival
Midreshet Emunah v’Omanut 5772 will begin, b'Ezrat Hashem, on 11th Elul 5772 , Wednesday August 29th2012. All students are expected to be on campus by that date. Please arrive by 9:00am. Students arriving on the group flight will be met at the airport and transported to the dormitory. We will begin our welcome and orientation upon arrival. Students arriving by other means should make their way to the dormitory directly. We can only arrange for pick up at the airport for those students arriving on the group flight. We ask that all students inform us of their flight plans by sending an email to the Midreshet Emunah v'Omanut office in Israel at . Please include the local Israeltime of your arrival and the flight number.If you have contact information for your stay in Israel prior to the start of the program, please include it. Students who arrive in Israel earlier and would like to drop off luggage prior to the beginning of school can do so if they arrange it with the office. Speak to Marion at +972-77 4330860 or email her.
Our first stop upon arrival will involve seeing the old city of Jerusalem. The Halacha requires one to tear their shirt upon witnessing the site of the BeitHaMikdash’s destruction for the first time in thirty days. While there are ways around this requirement, we are creating an educational and artistic moment that involves the experience of kri’a– tearing. Therefore, we ask that all students come prepared with an inexpensive T-shirt that they can place over their clothes for k’ria. Remember to pack this T-shirt in your carry-on luggage.
Accommodations and Living Arrangements
The Midreshet Emunah v’Omanut campus is located in southern Jerusalem, in a neighborhood called Kiryat HaYovel. We share this campus with Midreshet Yeud. Midreshet Yeud includes both an Israeli Midrasha and English speaking program. Midreshet Yeud combines Torah studies for religious young women with a Chesed component. Our participation on this campus provides Midreshet Emunah v’Omanut students with many benefits including an opportunity to interact with Israelis.
Our 5-story building includes a dormitory, BeitMidrash, classrooms, dining room, art studio, music- recording studio, offices and more. There are three students perroom. Students may request their roommatesby completing the roommate request form. Each room has a bathroom & shower. Students also have available to them a kitchen facility, filtered water, piano, laundry room with washing machines and dryers. There is also a computer room, as well as wireless internet service throughout the campus. A shopping center with supermarkets, coffee shops, restaurants, a pharmacy, and a variety of other stores is a 3 minute walk from our building.
Laundry costs 5 shekels per load of washing and 5 shekels per load of drying. These are industrial sized machines and can accommodate large loads. There is an additional 7 shekel charge for the reloadable laundry card.
Students are responsible for the cleanliness and general organization of their own rooms as well as the communal spaces, including Student Kitchen, Beit Midrash, classrooms and studios. There will be a rotation of responsibility every week. Neglecting one's "toranut" will result in early curfew (There will be heavier responsibilities in preparation for Pesach and students who don't accomplish their "toranut" before vacation, will be required to hire a cleaner and pay for the services they did not complete themselves.)
No pets are permitted in the Midreshet Emunah v’Omanut campus other than fish.
A cereal breakfastand catered lunch and dinner are provided on days in which classes are in session.Lunch and dinner alternate between dairy and meat. A vegetarian option is also available.
The best way to send packages to students is by addressing them to the school at this address:
Student’s NameMidreshet Emunah v’Omanut
33 Rabinowitz Street
Kiryat HaYovel
Jerusalem, 96549
ISRAEL
Note: Writing ISRAEL clearly bolded at the bottom, helps stop the letter landing in Berkeley, California which shares a 96549 zip code with Jerusalem.
Daily Schedule
The daily schedule at Midreshet Emunah v’Omanut is intensive. Studies begin at 8:45 am and conclude at 10:00 pm with an extended break for lunch and dinner. Morning and Night Seder are dedicated to Torah studies.Afternoons are dedicated to the study of music and visual arts and to individual Chessed projects. Classes begin later Sunday morning at 9:30 AM. There is no Night Seder on Monday nights. Students choose classes from the various options available in consultation with the Academic Principal. Attendance is mandatory at all classes on a students’ individual schedule, as is participation on all Midreshet Emunah v'Omanut sponsored trips and seminars.
Students must sleep in the Midrasha during the week. Curfew is at 12:00 AM every week night and 12:30 AM on Saturday nights. Extended curfew may be granted under special circumstances provided that students have secured permission from the Eim bayit by 2pm of the given day. Students may sleep out or have friends stay over on Saturday night with prior permission from the Eim bayitor in certain exceptional cases, from a member of the administration. Students must be present when hosting and guests must follow all the rules of the program when on campus. In addition, students may sleep out once a month on Thursday night, on the weeks when we are spending Shabbat together.
Shabbat Policy
Midreshet Emunah v’Omanut puts a significant emphasis on the educational content of the many events we celebrate together beyond the regular classroom. On average, we have an “in-Shabbat” once every four Shabbatot, either on or off campus, usually off campus. These Shabbatot are often highlights of the year, providing wonderful opportunities to experience different communities and areas in Israelon a Shabbat.
In order to insure that all students are properly organized in advance of an “out-Shabbat,” we require students to sign out with the madrichotas to their Shabbat plans by Wednesday night. We believe that there is much to be gained by using Shabbatot to experience Israel and will be happy to assist students looking for Shabbat hospitality. If students choose to stay in the Midrasha, they must inform the madrichotno later than Tuesday, so that arrangements can be made. A minimum number of students are required in order for the dorm to be open for Shabbat. Shabbat meals are not provided on an “out-Shabbat.”Students staying in the dorms are often invited for meals by the Eim bayit and are encouraged to use the kitchen facilities to prepare communal Shabbat meals together. Students are welcome to have female guests stay in the Midrasha for Shabbat after securing specific permission from a madricha.
Yearly Calendar
While our calendar dates are still subject to minor changes, the following is a good indication of next year’s calendar.
First day of class 11th Elul 5772 -Wednesday August 29th 2012
Sukkot Vacation11th Tishrei 5773-Thursday September 27th2012– 28th Tishrei 5773, Sunday October 14th 2012.
Pesach Vacation 1st Nissan 5773 -Tuesday March 12th 2013 – 25th Nissan 5773-Monday April 8th 2013.
Last day of class 4th Tammuz 5773 -Wednesday June 12th 2013.
Dates above refer to the vacation dates; classes resume on the following day.
The dormitoryis open and available to students throughout the school year with the exception of the actual days of Shabbat and Yom Tov of Sukkot and Shmini Atzeretas well as the actual days of Shabbat and Yom Tov ofPesach. Our staff will assist any student having difficulty finding appropriate venues to spend YomTov.
Students must secure permission from the Director of the program before booking a ticket to travel outside Israel at any time during the academic year. Failure to do so is grounds for dismissal.
As for any other circumstances in which students will need to be out of school for more than a day, advanced permission must be received from a member of the administration.
Our yearly calendar is filled with experiences and tiyulim which will take us all over Israel. These events are constructed to develop love of Eretz Yisrael, connectiontoand deep understanding of Biblical events, exposure to Israeli art and music and much more. Some trips will take us over the Green line into Yehuda and Shomron where we will visit the cave of the Patriarchs for example. As with all trips, we will take all appropriate security measures.
Family Visits
Parents who are planning to visit their daughters are urged to do so during vacation times.
Parents who will be visiting while classes are in session are strongly encouraged to spend part of their time studying with their daughters at Midreshet Emunah v’Omanut. Parents are welcome to participate in the Torah, Art and Musicclasses as well as to learn b’chavruta in the Beit Midrash. Please note that in order to minimize disruption to the program, students are limited in the time they are allowed to miss from classes. Furthermore, students are bound by academic guidelines which include an attendance requirement.
Parents are requested not to take groups of more than four students out to dinner, (in order to prevent unnecessary financial hardship for visiting families). Thank you for your cooperation.
Academic Policy
The atmosphere of Midreshet Emunah V’Omanut encourages mature development for all students and assumes a high degree of self-motivation to learn. Classes combine frontal instruction, BeitMidrash style learning and group discussion. Some classes are structured to include an independent learning component with the goal of developing life-long learners.
Students receive an official transcript for both their Judaic and Arts courses (Music and Visual art) at the conclusion of the fall and spring semester. Transcripts are issued with letter grades based on participation, progress, attendance and a summarizing assignment. Certain courses may be taken on a Pass/Fail basis but minimum requirements for a Pass remain in place. Attendance will be taken in all courses. Students may not miss more than 15% of any given course. Tardiness disrupts instruction and must be avoided. Three lates will be considered an absence. Excessive absences (more than 15% of the course) may cause a student to lose credit for that course.
Transfer Credit
Midreshet Emunah v’Omanut is recognized by YeshivaUniversity’s S. Daniel Abrahams Overseas program as well as numerous other universities in the United States and Canada. The exact policy of transfer credit is determined by each university and cannot always be determined in advance. However the success of our alumni in receiving transfer credit provides precedent and is a good indication of how your credits will be treated by that institution. Midreshet Emunah v'Omanut will assist you in securing transfer credit by providing an official transcript and students receive letter grades for each course on the transcript.Academic integrity requires us to be scrupulous about handling our transcripts. Students will receive grades for all courses on their individualized schedule. Failure to attend courses will result in a failing grade with no ability to remove that course from the transcript retroactively. Students are expected to fulfill all requirements for courses regardless of whether they will be seeking a transcript or not.
Dress Code
Spending a year in a Midrasha in Jerusalem is a unique opportunity and we very much look forward to helping you maximize your personal experience religiously, artistically and spiritually. As part of that effort we have certain expectations of dress for students which may differ somewhat from what you are used to but are appropriate for living in a Midrasha in Jerusalem. We require that our students dress according to a standard of dignity and modesty that is conducive to creating an appropriate atmosphere of religious seriousness.
While we are aware that tzniut is a personal matter our dress code follows a Halakhic standard of dress that all students must adhere to at Midreshet Emunah v’Omanut. This includes wearing skirts that cover the knee, even while seated, shirts with sleevesthat reach the elbow and which meet the top of the skirt at all times, and necklinesthat reach the collarbone. Aladdin pants (wide pants closed around each leg) are considered pants and not skirts.Clothing should not bear inappropriate pictures or writing. Body piercings as well as excessive ear piercings is considered inappropriate for Midreshet Emunah v’Omanut students.Students are expected not to get new piercings during their year at Midreshet Emunah v’Omanut. Students are expected to dress according to these standards at all times - on and off campus and including tiyulim.We make an exception for Tiyulim which have a serious hiking and climbing component to them. On those occasions only, Aladdin pants can be worn.
Please refrain from bringing with you to Israel clothing that is not consistent with this dress code. Bringing them to Israel can be a source of unnecessary friction with the administration and we expect students who have chosen to come to Midreshet Emunah v’Omanut to be respectful of these standards.
No Tolerance Policy
Midreshet Emunah v'Omanut will enforce a strict "zero tolerance" policy towards usage or possession of any kind of drugs, smoking (including cigarettes, hookahs and the like) or alcohol (including beer), as well as towards bringing males into the dorm. In addition, students are not allowed near or in any kind of bar, pub, disco, club etc. during the school year. Even if a student is not planning to drink alcohol, they are not permitted to be in a bar. Non-compliance with any of these rules, either on or off campus, and throughout the school year, will result in disciplinary action up to and including immediate dismissal from the seminary.
Medical Insurance
Midreshet Emunah v’Omanut provides you with comprehensive health and hospitalization insurance for your stay in Israel. The cost is included in your tuition. Please note that the coverage is good only in Israel. Students traveling outside the country at any point during the year are responsible for their own coverage. Like many other seminaries and yeshivot, we use the Eggert-Cohen medical insurance through the Harel insurance provider. Students will have access to English speaking doctors and professionals. Full details of the plan will be forth-coming. However, please be aware that the plan will neither cover dental work nor pre-existing conditions.
It is not always possible to find the exact same medication in Israel as is provided in your home country. Therefore, if a student is taking a specific medication, it would be advisable to come to Israel with a year’s supply of that medication.
Communication
Cell phones
Students are required to carry an operating cell phone with them at all times. This is the most basic of safety precautions. Students can always reach an adult when in need as long as they are equipped with a cell phone. We use cell phones extensively for school communications including the occasional security warning. Having all students on a single system provides significant benefits. For example, students receive 1000 free minutes to others on the same system which usually means most calls between staff and students and among the students are free. We often send out group text messages to inform students of programming information.All incoming talk & text messages are free. We are in the process of finalizing our negotiations with different cell phone providers. Information regarding the company of choice will be forth-coming shortly.
Internet Access
Students will have access to computers with internet and email capabilities. These computers are located in the dormitory as well as wireless internet access.Students are allowed to bring their own laptops however there are filters in the building which limit computer access and not all sites are available in the building. While students are permitted to bring laptops and we recognize that they are often important in enabling students to develop their artwork we have often found that they can provide a huge distraction for students. We therefore strongly encourage those who bring laptops with them to minimize time spent on the laptop watching shows and networking on various social media sites. We have found that laptops can often serve to enable students to spend too much time alone, and prevent the development of deep and meaningful friendships among students.