From January 2 to January 27, a group of students from the Yeshiva University High School for Girls (Central) traveled to the south of Israel and joined Ulpanat Bnei Akiva Lachish to attend school and experience life as an Israeli student, as a part of the Central Ba’aretz Program.
Sophomores Maya Goykadosh, Aden Muskat, Bailey Rosenstock, and Orly Spinner traveled as part of the group this year, as did juniors Hannah Austin, Kayla Brukner, Shira Canter, Atara Feldman, Tamar Frankel, Malka Lavner, Meira Levine, and Gila Moskowitz. The group was accompanied by YUHSG Programming Director and Judaic Studies faculty member Ms. Sydney Daitch.
“The Central Ba’aretz Program is a chance for our students to get to know kids their own age in Israel, and to step into their lives,” Ms. Daitch said. “This experience is different from going on a summer trip or touring around – the students attend an Israeli school and live in the school’s dorms. So much is different, in terms of lifestyle, and yet so much is the same. The kids are still kids. To see our students connect with students from our sister school, even though their lives are so different, is really powerful.”
As a part of the program, YUHSG students lived with local families, attended classes at Ulpanat Lachish, and studied limudei kodesh with their new classmates. For these students, the experience was formative.
“I feel that I grew in many different ways,” said junior Eliana Goldman. “One of these ways that I grew was my Hebrew skills. This was the first time I was “forced” to use my Hebrew, and I really saw a difference in my ability to speak the language. I also created bonds and was immersed in Israeli culture, which is so different from American culture. Families are huge, and everyone is one big Jewish community – it was incredibly inspiring to see.”
Junior Tamar Frankel agreed that the trip fostered a new ease with conversational Hebrew, among other things. “I made new friends, experienced Israeli culture, and learned a lot of Hebrew,” she reflected. “Some days we went to their classes, while other days we went on trips. Every single day added to the experience, creating memories that I will look back on forever.”
The students walked away from this year’s program with broadened horizons and a deepened worldview. “I’ve seen a lot of the students come out of their shells – overcoming the language barrier might have something to do with it,” Ms. Daitch continued. “And interacting with girls whose lives are so different might have something to do with it, too. Through this program, there is a strengthening in the students’ connection to the land and the people and everything happening in Israel.”
Highlights included a visit to the Har Hertzel military cemetery, a tour of the Knesset and a meeting with a local MP, a trip to a local archeological site, and a concert and meet-and-greet with Israeli musician Yishay Ribo. Next week, YUHSG’s beloved sister school will return the favor: two sophomores and two juniors from Ulpanat Bnei Akiva Lachish will arrive in New York to experience life as a New Yorker and as a YUHSG student. We cannot wait to host them!
