Bnot Torah Institute » rabbi-green http://bnottorah.com Thu, 17 May 2012 16:30:46 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.5 Tu B’Shevat: A Time of Learning & Celebration! http://bnottorah.com/blog/2012/02/08/tu-bshevat-a-time-of-learning-celebration/ http://bnottorah.com/blog/2012/02/08/tu-bshevat-a-time-of-learning-celebration/#comments Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:48:54 +0000 Rabbi Michael Green http://bnottorah.com/?p=3487 When the typical person would speak or learn about the day we know as Tu B’Shevat, playful and joyous tunes from ones childhood may run through their head. Likewise, many of us have memories of tree planting ceremonies and the consumption of delicious dried fruit! However, in Israel, this day isn't just simply glossed over. The streets of Yerushalayim, and all over the country for that matter, are filled with people wishing one another a "Happy Tu B'Shevat!" Indeed, from Rabbi Green's enlightening class on Tu B'Shevat called, Shevat Secrets: You are Like a Tree, we got to discover the inner meaning of the day, as well as the entire month of Shevat. And so, as we are in a middle of yet another memorable week of learning and inspiration here at Sharfman's, it's fitting that Rabbi Sharfman himself surprised every class with beautiful trays of fresh dried fruit for all of us to eat and enjoy! Not only did this Tu B'Shevat treat add meaning to what would have been simply "Thursday," but it gave us another opportunity to see how much Rabbi Sharfman cares about allowing us to taste every aspect of our Year in Israel! Happy Tu B'Shevat :) Click “Read More” to read the full description and see all of the slideshow pictures ]]> When the typical person would speak or learn about the day we know as Tu B’Shevat, playful and joyous tunes from ones childhood may run through their head. Likewise, many of us have memories of tree planting ceremonies and the consumption of delicious dried fruit! However, in Israel, this day isn’t just simply glossed over. The streets of Yerushalayim, and all over the country for that matter, are filled with people wishing one another a “Happy Tu B’Shevat!” Indeed, from Rabbi Green’s enlightening class on Tu B’Shevat called, Shevat Secrets: You are Like a Tree, we got to discover the inner meaning of the day, as well as the entire month of Shevat. And so, as we are in a middle of yet another memorable week of learning and inspiration here at Sharfman’s, it’s fitting that Rabbi Sharfman himself surprised every class with beautiful trays of fresh dried fruit for all of us to eat and enjoy!

Not only did this Tu B’Shevat treat add meaning to what would have been simply “Thursday,” but it gave us another opportunity to see how much Rabbi Sharfman cares about allowing us to taste every aspect of our Year in Israel! Happy Tu B’Shevat :) Best of all, the Tu B’Shevat festivities even carried on into our Hebrew Ulpan class!

]]> http://bnottorah.com/blog/2012/02/08/tu-bshevat-a-time-of-learning-celebration/feed/ 0 Annual Sharfman’s Chanukah Chagigah 2011! http://bnottorah.com/blog/2011/12/21/annual-chanukah-chagigah-201/ http://bnottorah.com/blog/2011/12/21/annual-chanukah-chagigah-201/#comments Wed, 21 Dec 2011 09:31:02 +0000 Rabbi Michael Green http://bnottorah.com/?p=897 The Annual Bnot Torah/Sharfman's Chanukah Chagigah lived up to the hype! From start to finish it left everyone in the audience, from students, to visiting Alumnae, to faculty wanting more :-) But let's start from the beginning...The evening kicked off with a beautifully decorated and festive feel. Indeed, when you walked into the Bnot Torah/Sharfman's Chanukah Chagigah, you were greeted with the walls and windows adorned with Chanukah decorations and it really helped enhance the overall energy! Once we were all seated, we enjoyed a delicious meal that featured a healthy Pumpkin Soup, Stir Fry Chicken served over a bed of rice, as well as a large tossed salad, fresh toasted Garlic Bread, and a tasty frozen dessert! However, the best part of the meal was when Rabbi Sharfman treated us to inspiring words of Torah in which he reminded us about the true importance and everlasting meaning of Chanukah. Once the meal was completed it was on to the skits and all things comical at the 2011 Bnot Torah/Sharfman's Chanukah Chagigah hosted by Sharon Franko and Ilana Yarmak who both hail from California! Click “Read More” to read the full description and see all of the slideshow pictures!]]> The Annual Bnot Torah/Sharfman’s Chanukah Chagigah lived up to the hype! From start to finish it left everyone in the audience, from students, to visiting Alumnae, to faculty wanting more :-) But let’s start from the beginning…The evening kicked off with a beautifully decorated and festive feel. Indeed, when you walked into the Bnot Torah/Sharfman’s Chanukah Chagigah, you were greeted with the walls and windows adorned with Chanukah decorations and it really helped enhance the overall energy! Once we were all seated, we enjoyed a delicious meal that featured a healthy Pumpkin Soup, Stir Fry Chicken served over a bed of rice, as well as a large tossed salad, fresh toasted Garlic Bread, and a tasty frozen dessert!

However, the best part of the meal was when Rabbi Sharfman treated us to inspiring words of Torah in which he reminded us about the true importance and everlasting meaning of Chanukah.

Once the meal was completed it was on to the skits and all things comical at the 2011 Bnot Torah/Sharfman’s Chanukah Chagigah hosted by Sharon Franko and Ilana Yarmak who both hail from California! The hostesses began the evening with a hilarious routine that really got the crowd pumped up, unified, and into a humorous spirit for the rest of the joyous evening.

Next up, was a funny skit performed by several Sephardic students…it was something that you just had to be there for…people are still talking about it!! Best of all, was the acting jobs of Mrs. Fuld and Mrs. Aviva Hayman our Mechanchot! You should have seen Mrs. Haymann in her leather jacket…Plus, Sharon Franko starred as Rabbi Green! The evening continued with acts from various students and faculty. At the Intermission we were treated to yummy Sufganiot served by Rabbi and Mrs. Sharfman :)

The evening continued with a passionate and inspiring Dvar Torah by Suri Zwibel, in which she applied the laws of Taruvos and connected it to Chanukah, and how it related to each and every student as contemporary Jewish women!

All in all, the Annual Bnot Torah/Sharfman’s Chanukah Chagigah was an evening that truly fostered our love for Chanukah as well as exhibited the unique warmth and genuine family atmosphere inherent in each and every Sharfman’s student and faculty member. Happy Chanukah!!!

]]> http://bnottorah.com/blog/2011/12/21/annual-chanukah-chagigah-201/feed/ 0 Meet the Street! http://bnottorah.com/blog/2011/09/15/meet-the-street/ http://bnottorah.com/blog/2011/09/15/meet-the-street/#comments Thu, 15 Sep 2011 09:31:12 +0000 Rabbi Michael Green http://bnottorah.com/?p=535 Groups of incoming Bnot Torah/Sharfman’s students descended upon the streets of Ramat Eshkol on September 15th, during Orientation Week, to explore and become more familiar with our neighborhood and its colorful ambiance. In addition, the informal tour allowed students to become more acquainted (outside of the confines of the walls of a classroom or Beit Midrash) with the various personalities that comprise the Bnot Torah/Sharfman’s faculty. Small groups of girls were led by a Madricha, a Chonechet, or a Rakezet, who acted as tour guides, to tour and explore the neighborhood’s lush parks, point out how close to our school much of our faculty live, and enjoy the markets, restaurants, and Ramat Eshkol Shopping Promenade. “Students really enjoyed the overall sense of communal life that fills the air. They were thrilled to hear that minutes away from school are, cafes, a pharmacy, ATM's and much more in the Ramat Eshkol Shopping Promenade. Plus, the fact that much of our faculty lives in the neighborhood of our school is really a unique element that we offer each and every student,” said Mrs. Debbi Nissel, Chessed Coordinator at Bnot Torah/Sharfman’s. Click “Read More” to read the full description and see all of the pictures!]]> Groups of incoming Bnot Torah/Sharfman’s students descended upon the streets of Ramat Eshkol on September 15th, during Orientation Week, to explore and become more familiar with our neighborhood and its colorful ambiance. In addition, the informal tour allowed students to become more acquainted (outside of the confines of the walls of a classroom or Beit Midrash) with the various personalities that comprise the Bnot Torah/Sharfman’s faculty. Small groups of girls were led by a Madricha, a Chonechet, or a Rakezet, who acted as tour guides, to tour and explore the neighborhood’s lush parks, point out how close to our school much of our faculty live, and enjoy the markets, restaurants, and Ramat Eshkol Shopping Promenade.

“Students really enjoyed the overall sense of communal life that fills the air. They were thrilled to hear that minutes away from school are, cafes, a pharmacy, ATM’s and much more in the Ramat Eshkol Shopping Promenade. Plus, the fact that much of our faculty lives in the neighborhood of our school is really a unique element that we offer each and every student,” said Mrs. Debbi Nissel, Chessed Coordinator at Bnot Torah/Sharfman’s.


The “Meet the Street” tour, piloted five years ago, has quickly become a highlight of Orientation Week. “One of our goals is to help students adjust to seminary life and also to life in Israel,” explained the program’s coordinator, Rabbi Michael Green, Overseas Director of Bnot Torah/Sharfman’s. “This is a great opportunity to teach the students all about the rich history and vibrant neighborhood that will be their home for their year in seminary. In addition, the fact that it occurs after the Kashrut Orientation, enables the girls to instantly take their learning and put it into practice. The tour not only assists students by showing them where to purchase their favorite American products ranging from Pantene Pro-V to Heinz Ketchup but also shows them the Kashrut Symbols that they just learned about with Rabbi Sharfman. The Meet the Street tour represents Bnot Torah Institute’s ability to foster a warm relationship with its students both in and out of school.”

One student remarked, “Sharfman’s really knows how to make you feel at home. They really went out of their way to introduce us to our new neighborhood and point out where various teachers live and all of the local stores. Plus, Meet the Street was a great way to really get to know my Chonechet! I can’t wait to go to her house for Shabbos and Bayit Cham—and when Mrs. Sharfman gave us Iced Coffee at the end of the tour, from Nina’s Café, that really surprised us all! ” Later in the evening Shana Aleph students returned for an Academic Orientation and looked forward to some fun in the sun with a friday morning trip to Gan Yehoshua.

]]> http://bnottorah.com/blog/2011/09/15/meet-the-street/feed/ 0 Airport Arrival: We Have Arrived! http://bnottorah.com/blog/2011/09/13/airport-arrival-we-have-arrived/ http://bnottorah.com/blog/2011/09/13/airport-arrival-we-have-arrived/#comments Tue, 13 Sep 2011 15:50:35 +0000 Rabbi Michael Green http://bnottorah.com/?p=377 Wow! What a whirlwind day it has been. We said goodbye to our friends and family back home and boarded the group flight heading towards Israel. On the plane we all got to bond and meet. It was great to see that soo many people were like me and were motivated to spend this year growing. After what felt like forever, we landed and not one of us lost a bag! As we came out we were greeted by soo many people from Rabbi Sharfman and Mrs. Sharfman to Rabbi Green, Mrs. Haymann, our Madricha Yehudis Jacobowitz and our Rakezet Ms. Esther Benayon! I quickly felt at home—they even knew all of our names. Plus, after sitting on the plane and then feeling the warm Tel Aviv heat, the only thing I could want was a drink of water. The next thing I knew, there was Rabbi Sharfman and Rabbi Green handing out water bottles with a cute Sharfman's label on it that welcomed us to the school. Once everyone had come out, we headed out to the bus that would bring us to school... Click “Read More” to read the full description and see all of the pictures!]]> Wow! What a whirlwind day it has been. We said goodbye to our friends and family back home and boarded the group flight heading towards Israel. On the plane we all got to bond and meet. It was great to see that soo many people were like me and were motivated to spend this year growing. After what felt like forever, we landed and not one of us lost a bag! As we came out we were greeted by soo many people from Rabbi Sharfman and Mrs. Sharfman to Rabbi Green, Mrs. Haymann, our Madricha Yehudis Jacobowitz and our Rakezet Ms. Esther Benayon! I quickly felt at home—they even knew all of our names. Plus, after sitting on the plane and then feeling the warm Tel Aviv heat, the only thing I could want was a drink of water. The next thing I knew, there was Rabbi Sharfman and Rabbi Green handing out water bottles with a cute Sharfman’s label on it that welcomed us to the school. Once everyone had come out, we headed out to the bus that would bring us to school. The bus ride was nice! We all got to meet girls from other places who were just like us. When we got to school, we met our Aim Bayit’s who took us to our apartments. Anyways, later tonight we are off to The Kotel and then tommorow is the first day of Bnot Torah/Sharfman’s Orientation :-)

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