Shiur on Parshat Vayishlach

Please click here to listen to a shiur (in Hebrew) on the parsha from the Rosh HaYeshiva, HaRav Yechezkel Yaakovson, shlit”a.

For other shiurim at Sha’alvim, please click here. 

SFW Volunteers for the I.D.F.

On Monday, the students of SFW were “called to duty” by the I.D.F. to contribute of their time and energy to help our soldiers. 

SFW answered the call…. and then some!

The I.D.F. "Sar El" Division, responsible for organizing I.D.F. volunteers, contacted SFW and asked if we could help pack field rations to replenish those used during Operation Pillar of Cloud. We were told that the work was incredibly essential, very timely but also quite strenuous. 

We were not daunted!

After more than 7 hours of tough work (and much laughter), we produced many, many boxes (the army asked us not to reveal the exact amount!) to be used, G-d forbid, in a time of crisis. 

Please click here for more pictures of this incredible experience!

Colonel Tiran, the commander of the base, praised our girls and their selfless efforts for the men and women of the I.D.F. He thanked the girls and said that SFW "has much to be proud of these lovely girls! They worked hard and responsibly. I cannot remember a more productive day since the Operation began." 

The work was indeed hard and strenuous (and, admittedly, fun). Yet it was unforgettable as well! We thank our Director of Student Programming, Elisheva Frist, for coordinating the day. And, most important, we thank our students for their kindness!

Kol Hakavod!

Mazal tov to Alli Mayer (SFW ’10)

Mazal tov to Alli Mayer (SFW ’10) on her marriage to Noah Weichselbaum!

 שיזכו לבנות בית נאמן בישראל

For other announcements see the scrolling list on our homepage or click here

Shiur on Parshat Vayeitzei

Please click here to listen to a shiur (in Hebrew) on the parsha by the S’gan Rosh HaYeshiva, HaRav Aryeh Hendler, shlit”a

For other shiurim at Sha’alvim, please click here

Mazal Tov to Leedan Cohen (SFW ‘11)

Mazal Tov to Leedan Cohen (SFW ‘11) on her engagement to Zach Mammon!

שיזכו לבנות בית נאמן בישראל

For other announcements see the scrolling list on our homepage or click here

Rabbi Lewis Wienerkur at SFW

Rabbi Lewis Wienerkur, beloved Rebbe at HAFTR High School and father of SFW alumnus Yael (Wienerkur) Schwechter (SFW ’05, ’06) visited SFW on Tuesday night to deliver the guest sicha. 

With his great sense of humor and profound insights, Rabbi Wienerkur discussed the concept of brotherhood in the Torah using examples of brothers in Sefer Bereishit as examples: Kayin and Hevel, Shem, Cham and Yefet and, as the paradigm for growth-oriented, outward-focused brothers, Yosef and Binyamin.

We thank Rabbi Wienerkur for his time and inspiration!

SFW Students React to the Situation in the South

The SFW students have been responding to the situation in the south in the most beautiful, supportive and productive ways.

Some examples.......

- Tefilla: The girls are engaged in special tefillot and special Tehillim sessions which have naturally been focused on the soldiers in the I.D.F. and the people in the towns of the south who live under the constant threat of missilie attacks. 

- Round-the-Clock Learning: Many of the girls have signed up voluntarily to learn in the Beit Midrash for an hour at a time throughout the night. During the day, of course, the learning never stops at SFW. But our students wanted to ensure that the learning never stops overnight as well. Now, thanks to the tireless efforts of the wonderful girls at SFW, the lights - and the learning - never turn off in the Beit Midrash. In their merit - and in the merit of all of the learning throughout Israel and the world - we daven for a quick return of the soldiers to their homes and a safe return to normalcy for the people living in the endangered regions of the south.

- Donations for the South - Girls have been donating toys, books, etc. that will supplied to certain families and to certain bomb shelters in the south. Unfortunately, these shelters are getting a lot of use these past few weeks and children - who are especially traumatized by the missile threats, have unique needs: these donations will go a long way in making their stays there (G-d willing there will be no more), much more bearable.

- Tzedakah: money is being raised via a "goods and services" auction to be sent to neighborhoods in the south to help them fix up bomb shelters and buy new toys and supplies for the shelters. 

There is much to be proud of in the way Klal Yisrael is banding together in such wonderful ways!

G-d willing, these measures will not be needed in the very near future! 

Brachot and Tefilot from the Rosh Yeshiva (in Hebrew) Regarding the Situation in Israel

Please click here to listen to words (in Hebrew) from the Rosh HaYeshiva, HaRav Yechezkel Yaakovson, shlit”a, of bracha and tefilla regarding the situation in Israel. 

Shiur on Parshat Toldot

Please click here to listen to a shiur on the Parsha (in Hebrew) from the Rosh HaYeshiva, HaRav Yechezkel Yaakovson, shlit”a

Scenes from SFW

For more "Scenes from SFW," please click here!

Dr. Marian Stoltz-Loike at SFW

On Tuesday night, Dr. Marian Stoltze-Loike, Dean of Lander College for Women came to SFW to deliver a sicha about interpersonal relationships and the lessons we can learn from the relationships of the avot. We enjoyed her insightful comments and thoughtful understanding of the narratives in Tanach.

Dr. Stoltz-Loike has been the dean of Lander College for Women/the Anna Ruth and Mark Hasten School (an undergraduate division of Touro College) since 2005. A professor of psychology and human resources management, she received her BA from Harvard University in psychology and social relations and her Ph.D. in developmental psychology from NYU. A former global corporate consultant with Fortune 100 companies, she has advised business leaders in the U.S. and North America, Europe, Asia, and South America. She has written two books and numerous articles relating to the maturing work force, cross-cultural management, and work/life issues and is on the board of directors of the OU, JCRC and AJC.

Rabbi Goldsmith at Stern College

On Tuesday night, SFW Menahel Rabbi Yamin Goldsmith delivered a shiur to alumni and other students at Stern College for Women. More than 70 girls from 5 different colleges came to Stern to hear a shiur entitled "Getting Your Hands Dirty: Our Responsibility to Be Involved in The World." The shiur included a discussion - based on the Talmud Bavli and later sources - of the job of a Jewish woman and Jewish leader to be an active participant in the goings-on of our community and country even (or especially) when those activities are unpleasant or complicated. 

At the end of the shiur, Rabbi Goldsmith offered divrei chizuk to the college students and practical ways to continue our growth in college and at work.

Scenes from SFW: Shana Bet in Shchem!

For more pictures, please click here!

Mazal Tov to Shira Lieman (SFW ‘10)!

Mazal Tov to Shira Lieman (SFW ‘10) on her engagement to Dani Schwalb!

שיזכו לבנות בית נאמן בישראל

For other announcements see the scrolling list on our homepage or click here

Mazal tov to Tamar Kleinberg (Gold) (SFW ’04)!

Mazal tov to Tamar Kleinberg (Gold) (SFW ’04) and her husband and family on the birth of a baby boy!

Mazel tov as well to aunt Eliana Kleinberg (SFW '13)!

שיזכו לגדלו לתורה לחופה ולמעשים טובים

For other announcements see the scrolling list on our homepage or click here

Shiur on Parshat Chayei Sarah

Please click here to listen to a shiur (in Hebrew) on the parsha by the S’gan Rosh HaYeshiva, HaRav Aryeh Hendler, shlit”a

For other shiurim at Sha’alvim, please click here

Sigd and Ethiopian Culture at SFW!

On Wednesday, we had an incredibly special and eye-opening activity during dinner. We learned and read about the upcoming Ethiopian holiday Sigd. The holiday, held on the 29^th of Cheshvan, celebrates the Ethiopian community’s acceptance of the Torah.

Our speaker, Shulamith, an Ethiopian student of one of our madrichot, came to SFW to tell us all about the holiday and about her family’s journey to Israel. We were fascinated by the stories of her challenges and the culture clashes that occurred when they got here. Of course, the story’s happy ending - her wonderful acclimation and integration into Israeli society - was heartwarming as well!

Thank you to Ruti and Elisheva for making this special event possible!

Click below for more information about this holiday.....

Mazal Tov to Rav Eliezer Schenkolevski and family!

Mazal Tov to Rav Eliezer Schenkolevski and family on the marriage of their son, Avidan to Shira Chozinov!

שיזכו לבנות בית נאמן בישראל

For other announcements see the scrolling list on our homepage or click here

Message to Our Friends and Family Regarding Hurricane Sandy

We feel together with all of our brethren who are dealing with the storm and its aftermaths. You are not alone; we pray that you are safe and that things return to normal as soon as possible.

Hashem speaks to us in many ways. “Ruach se'a'ra osah devaro”- a fierce wind executes Hashem’s word. At times He speaks to us with a gentle wind; at times with a fierce one. Everyone should contemplate what message he or she can derive from this (not what the message is for the neighbor...). 

Iyov also referred to a “Dvar Se’a’ra”. Chaz”al comment that the word for storm (seara with the samech letter) can be substituted for the word hair (se’ar with the letter sin). Hashem is aware of the details of every hair on a person’s scalp-  He rules over all and knows everything. This is indeed His world, and He rules it as He sees fit.

We pray that calm - and power - is restored and that we merit to many happy occasions in the future.

Together and united we stand.

- Rav Yechezkel Yaakovson

Scenes from SFW: Tiyul to the Golan

For more of "Scenes from SFW: Tiyul to the Golan", please click here!

Shiur on Parshat Vayera

Please click here to listen to a shiur on the Parsha (in Hebrew) from the Rosh HaYeshiva, HaRav Yechezkel Yaakovson, shlit”a