Dear Talmidot, Parents and Friends –

 

1)         This week at Midreshet Moriah

2)         Alumnae News

3)         Faculty Dvar Torah – Mrs. Michal Porath Zibman

4)         Mazal Tov

5)         Mi SheBerach

           

 

 

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This Week at Midreshet

 

Last Shabbat we had our second Shabat Babayit. With delicious food catered by Fagie Reves (the Gush Gourmet), the girls really felt home away from home. They were joined by lots of faculty members and their families making the Shabbat truly special; Bracha Krohn (with Leora and Yisrael Krohn), Rav Jason Knapel, Michal Porath Zibman, Sarah Proops, Malka Hubscher and Rav Teller who walked over on Friday night (in the rain!) for dinner and shared with us some beautiful words of Torah.

 

Besides the great food and amazing (as always) ruach, we heard lovely Divrei Torah from our very own students, Racheli Bloom, Danielle Slater, and Kyra Mae Garber. We are very proud of them!

With Tu B'shvat approaching and the countdown to Purim begins, the girls began this week well rested and super motivated for great learning!

 

 

See the latest photos on our website: http://midreshetmoriah.com/galleries/

 

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Alumnae News

 

NEW VBM COURSE ON MEGILLAT RUTH  

 

The VBM (Yeshivat Har Etzion Israel Koschitzky Virtual Beit Midrash) is pleased to announce a new series on Megillat Ruth taught by Dr. Yael Ziegler  

of HerzogCollege to be launched in mid-February.

 

Subscribe here:  

http://vbm-torah.org/courses. 

 

In the tradition of the VBM approach to Tanakh, this course employs literary and exegetical tools to uncover the text’s theological messages.

 

It pays special attention to the interaction between  

Megillat Ruth and other stories in Tanakh, midrashic  

interpretations of Ruth,  

and Ruth’s impact upon our understanding of kingship.

 

 

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Making Room for Song 

Mrs. Michal Porath Zibman

The events that make up the glorious story of Yetziyat Mitzrayim are full of action, drama, suspense, powerful visual effects, and excitement.  I find that one of the last events, is actually   the most powerful scene of all. After the dramatic splitting of the sea and victory over the Egyptians, Moshe and Bnei Yisrael sing the very beautiful "Az Yashir' which is so powerful, that it's echoed in our individual Tefillot till this very day. That event seems to be the fitting one to end off such an intense time period and salvation. And yet, it isn't. Right before Bnei Yisrael begin their long journey in the desert, we have another event; the song of the women, led by Miriam and accompanied by musical instruments and dance. What was so special about this performance, this encore, that it was included in the overall story and therefore preserved for generations?

Rashi questions the fact that these women had musical instruments. They had, after all, just been released from hundreds of years of slavery! He comments that the women were so convinced that they were going to be redeemed, that they wanted to be ready to praise G-d when that redemption came. So during the chaos of the darkness of Egypt, while sheep were being gathered for the first korban pesach, matza was being baked, a new moon was being sanctified, and the tremendous anticipation was in the air, these women went around collecting... instruments.

What an incredible display of emunah, of not only believing in Geulah but taking practical steps towards it! I would like to suggest that within Miriam's name, we can find the secret to her ability to rise above the times and inspire and lead these women. The word 'name', in Hebrew, (shem) can be seen as the possible root for the word 'neshama' - soul. One could suggest that within the name of an individual contains the essence of ones soul. There are 2 ways to see the root of Miriam's name. One is 'Mar"- bitterness. That is certainly understandable. She was born at a time of enslavement and an almost loss of hope, so its no wonder that her parents' possibly chose a name that reflected the time. That may have been her fate; to live in a time of bitterness, to be bitter about the times. However, another option for the root of the name Miriam is 'Meri'- which in English translates as rebellion. Therein, lays the secret to Miriam's success. Miriam was born into a difficult time. That was her fate. But, as Rav Soloveitchik so beautifully taught us in his timeless essay 'Kol Dodi Dofek' - one is born into fate, but one may choose his own destiny. Miriam did not allow the circumstances of her birth to dictate the future. She refused to be bitter. She refused to succumb. Instead she rebelled against hopelessness, against apathy, against a passive Geulah, against slavery. She showed the women, that there is - there must be - a place for song and dance within ones life, and the life of the nation. She had 2 options reflected in her name: to be bitter, or to embrace the reality and rise above it in a rebellion expressed in undying faith, unwavering commitment and inspiration to her fellow women. They would express their response to the salvation not only through a passive means, but rather through a very active one; one of beautiful song and dance.

Even when the original song had ended, Miriam and the women wanted to praise more, praise differently. They wanted to praise in their own unique way, and so they did. Miriam's song serves as eternal inspiration for us. Even when the event is behind us, there is still and always room to add the collective power of our voices and ourselves coming together in song and dance, in praise of G-d and His salvation. It is because she rejected the bitterness, and chose the rebellion, that she had the ability to serve as a role model, in one of Am Yisrael's darkest times.

Yehi Ratzon that we be inspired, this week and always, to follow Miriam's example, and to rebel against those, including our own selves, who suggest that we succumb to bitterness, to exile, and to hopelessness. Instead, let us embrace through song, dance, or whatever talents and means we have, the preparation for the upcoming redemption of both the individual and the nation. 

Shabbat Shalom.

 

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Mazel Tov!               

 

Engagements:

Sivan Kerem ('05-'06,  Madricha '10-'11) and Shy Krugon on the occasion of their engagement  

Yhi ratzon shetivnu bayit ne'eman bYisrael

 

Avi Varnai ('07-'08) and Ashy Levinson on the occasion of their engagement  

Yhi ratzon shetivnu bayit ne'eman bYisrael

 

Dena Shandalov ('08-'09) and Chaim Katz (and to Chaims cousin- current Midmo student Michelle Katz!) on the occasion of their engagement  

Yhi ratzon shetivnu bayit ne'eman bYisrael

 

   

Please help us stay informed - http://midreshetmoriah.org/send-mazaltov.asp

 

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Mi SheBerach List

 

We have started a new list. Please email midmoriah@gmail.com if there is a name you would like to add.  

 

Miriam Henya bat Rivka (19/1)

Reuven ben Tova Chaya (12/1)

Sorah Leah bat Gittel Chana (5/1) 

Chana bat Sorah (5/1)

Rachel Yehudit bat Minsha Zissel (5/1)

Chaya Shaindel bat Kraindel (5/1)

Leah Golda bat Esther Frimmet (5/1)

Feiga bat Sophie (5/1)

Chane Chaim HaCohen ben Perel (29/12)

Zelda bat Rachel (20/12)

Hayeled Eitan Ze'ev HaCohen ben Leah Binah (29/12)

Batya Emunah bat Bracha Chaya (22/12)

Yosef Dov ben Frieda (22/12)

Chana Fraida bas Faiga Zelda (22/12)

Dorit Chaya Bat Geulah (15/12)

Briget Joan bat Marion Patricia (15/12)

Dorit Chaya bat Geula (15/12)

Dovid Chaim ben Brina (15/12)

Avraham ben Esther (15/12)

Adina bat Rivka (15/12)

Moriel Raizie bat Feige Kaylee (13/12)

Rachel Yehudit bat Mancha Zaisel (8/12)

Aron ben Reizel (1/12)

Yehudah ben Shoshanna (1/12)

Haddasah Leah bat Shoshana (24/11)

Baruch Yehudah ben Leah (17/11)

Charna Leah bat Shaindel (17/11)

Mazal bat Pircha (3/11/11)

Malka bat Tova (10/10/11)

Shimon Dovid Yehoshua bat Rena (6/10/11)

Rifaela Chana Rivka bat Shayna Dena (6/10/11)- diagnosed with Non-Hodgken's Lymphoma

Rachel bat Mindel (6/10/11) - Lymphoma

Tzuriya Kochevet bat Sara - mother of 4 with inoperable stomach cancer (25/9/11)

Chaya bat Zecil (22/9/11)

Perel bat Malka (21/9/11)

Rachaylle bat Turan (21/9/11)

Miriam Leah bat Reizel Dena (21/9/11)

Zechariya Kalman Hakohen ben Yael Margolit (18/9/11)
Refael Matityahu Yaakov ben Gittel Rivka (18/9/11)

Tzipora Sara bat Esther Leah (18/9/11)

David ben Miriam (18/9/11)

David ben Rachel (18/9/11)

Rachel bat Kochava (18/9/11)
Hilda bat Yaffa (18/9/11)

Chana Gitel bat Sarah Chana (18/9/11)
Sarah Sipora bat Shifra (18/9/11)

Moshe Eliezer ben Esther Miriam (18/9/11)
Hilda bat Yaffa (18/9/11)
Moshe Yitzchak ben Shoshana (18/9/11)

Aviva Miriam bat Esther ( 11/9/11)

Osnat bat Clara (11/9/11)

Avraham Yehuda ben Davida Yehudit (11/9/11)

Tziporah Faiga Bat Sima Shaindel (11/9/11)

Chava Deena Etya Bat Chaya Tziporah Sheva (11/9/11)