"As a woman in
my late 20s who wanted to study Torah, I was hoping to find a safe &
welcoming space where my age and life experiences were not only accepted, but
celebrated. At Mayanot, I found that and so much more. The more I learned about
Judaism, the more I learned about myself, who I was, who I wanted to
be, and how to get there"
When did you attend Mayanot and what are you up to now?
I initially attended Mayanot for the
summer of 2016 and returned almost immediately in October 2016 for the full
year program, until June 2017. I am currently working in Business Development
at a Software company in Queens, NY.
What were the most valuable tools you
took away from the program, academically and otherwise?
My favorite part of the Mayanot
program was living & learning with like minded women.
Learning how to learn- which means
acquiring the skills and confidence to open up a traditional Jewish book with
no English and feel that I can tackle it, which I never would have attempted
prior to Mayanot, these textual skills are priceless to me.
How do you use what you have learnt at
Mayanot to help you in your life since you left?
Mayanot reminded me to be respectful
and mindful of all Jews no matter where they are in their Jewish journey. Each
one of us is a gift from G-d, and living with so many different and inspiring
women taught me that although we are all from different walks of life, we are
all headed towards the same path of bringing light and love to this world.
Also, since leaving Mayanot I plan on
running a strong Jewish home with a large & warm family, thanks to the
skills and inspiration I gained, while there.
In terms of being a light and helping
other people connect to Judaism, how do you see your Mayanot experience
impacting you?
At Mayanot, we walked around with our
heads held high as the staff and teachers constantly reminded us what powerful
Jewish women we are. I continue to walk around feeling that way. All the
confidence and growth I gained while at Mayanot has definitely stayed with me.
I feel that confidence alone attracts people to find out what drives me,
motivates me, and keeps me going. I find ways to relate to all Jews using
Chassidus to infuse physical lives with spirituality.
If you could come back to Mayanot to
learn, would you?
Of course! 100 times yes! I dream
about my full time learning opportunity often and miss Mayanot every day!
