#drisha

[writtenfoxscreams]

Other kids at the Jewish learning program I went to last month: *packed one dictionary, or maybe just assumed the program would have*

My mom:

(this isn’t a brag, I just think it’s funny.)

(and yeah, I only ended up using one—the smallest😅.)

[mirrific]

I'm going to drisha this summer, do you have any advice?

Have a really good time! I don’t know what specifically you want to know– I have some info on some people who’ll be there (some from last year going again, some of their siblings) which I can find out and tell you over pm if you’re interested. Also, feel free to send me any follow-up messages with more specific questions if you’re interested!

Don’t worry about your level of learning going in, if you got in that means it will be very fine and they’re good at supporting different levels of experience.It’s good, intensive learning, really lovely madrichot and really lovely students. There’s very little free time but good programmed activities in New York. I was 18 last summer, and the majority of others were more like 16, but it didn’t matter very much, if that’s something you’re worried about.While Drisha is non-denominational as an institution, the general flavour of the faculty and the students there is quite American Modern Orthodox (though there were also Canadians, Israelis and Brits there), which can be quite intimidating, I guess. I wore my tzitzit tucked in for the first few days because I felt a draw to be similar to others, you know? I’d definitely advise being open about things you’re not comfortable with and ways you’ve felt different, etc, because everyone was completely lovely about my loud, queer, conservoprax, not-especially-theist things and I hope that’s reassuring to know going in. A couple days in we started picking​ ideas first divrei torah (i.e., in this context, written essay-like ones to be collected at the end) and everyone had these hi good, difficult q questions about things that interested or bothered them in texts or in halachah etc– it’s ok from the offset to talk about things bothering you.

Also, remember to bring stationery!

[he-harim]

Hey so I'm doing the drisha high school program, any advice?

:O :O :O :O

bring adequate notebooks, because I did not?

prepare to have a great time!!!! :) :) :)- @mirrific did it last year & may have more current advice than me

[thelesbianarchivist]

lowkey really excited for this summer bc i’m going to be studying for a month with a bunch of other high school girls and i can’t wait

[ameliarating]

» June Kollel

Tuesday, May 24 – Friday, June 24, 2016 Participants in the Kollel engage in an intensive learning environment in which Torah is studied with passion, rigor, and commitment. Faculty members incorporate a broad range of approaches to the study of biblical, rabbinic, and philosophical texts, and invite participants to consider how these texts and ideas speak to them. Thrice-daily minyanim are complemented by morning hachanah l’tefillah — workshops in which approaches and techniques for deepening our davening experiences are explored. All participants engage in community service (e.g. staffing a nearby homeless shelter), and are encouraged to reflect upon the relationship between this service and their learning and prayer. The June Kollel is open to college students and recent graduates (graduate and rabbinical students included).

Hey guys! 

Who wants to attend a stipended program to study Torah and do acts of community service in NYC this summer! 

Drisha offers two Kollels - June, for all genders, and July, for women only. The study is traditional but open-minded and the people are brilliant. There are egalitarian and traditional davening options. 

Both Kollels are still accepting applications as space and funding allows. You can also apply to audit classes!

[he-harim]

are u doing the drisha summer program this summer?

No :( Unfortunately, English school dates are such that I would have approximately 6 days in the program.

[he-harim]

Hi, so I was looking at the Drisha high school program, it looks super cool and like something I would enjoy. Just to make sure because the website doesn't make it very clear, what grades is it for/ what ages attend?

all of high school! nominally 14 to 18 but 18-year-olds didn’t really go because most of them would do a year in midrasha/sem between school & college/uni so they’d be doing a year of learning directly after summer anyway so they sort of just wanted to prepare and see their families and stuff i guess. also there weren’t 14-year-olds because they hadn’t gone to high school yet. there was one 14-year-old; as far as i saw she had no issues with the level of the classes or any social issues, so i think you’re fine if you’re 14 and want to go. this is all a guess though bc i didn’t really ask ages and the grade names don’t really make sense to me? i am english, we have “year 11” etc

15, 16, and 17 were the main ages. but, to be honest, it won’t matter? everyone is ridiculously nice and makes you feel super comfortable no matter your age.

you should go, it is a lot of fun <3

[he-harim]

Attn all college-aged followers who are MO-leaning and free over the summer

This beautiful American program, Drisha, that I did the High School version of has an amazing opportunity for you guys. 

Drisha is holding two College Kollels over the summer, in the Drisha building in New York. The June one is coed and requires a commitment to developing “a program or project either on their campus or in their home communities to advance Torah, avodah or gemillut chassadim”, and the one in July is women-only and does not. They are both are free to learn at and give a living stipend of $1000. Go go go!!!