At open house, Shalhevet offers an opportunity

At its open house on Nov. 6, Midreshet Shalhevet High School (sister school to Rambam Mesivta, a National Blue Ribbon School), asked prospective students: Would you like your high school learning to be an obligation or an opportunity? 

“What if you were taught that your questions and interests in Judaism, math, science, art and literature were of utmost importance?” shared senior Michal Beer of West Hempstead. “What if the teachers’ top priority was how hard you worked to understand, and how much you grew as a person from the lessons you learned? In Midreshet Shalhevet, this is certainly the philosophy, and the effect it has on the classroom environment is immense.”

Girls from 15 schools around Long Island, Queens, and Brooklyn, came to see what Shalhevet is all about. 

Ninth grader, Basya Borenstein of Queens began the program by expressing her love of Shalhevet after only a few months. Assistant Principal, Mrs. Shaindy Lisker, spoke about what makes a Shalhevet girl stand out — exemplifying midot, chesed and ahavat Yisroel.

Sophomore Avygayl Zucker of Far Rockaway raved about all of the incredible extra-curricular activities — sports, mock trial, school play, art, and more. Avygayl emphasized that with so many opportunities, each student  can get involved in something she wants. 

Tamar Lichter, a Shalhevet 2013 graduate, currently a senior in Macaulay Honors at Queens College, described how Shalhevet prepared her well for a secular college education. She recently received the prestigious Goldwater Scholarship, a national award for undergraduates who plan to pursue a career of research in STEM (science, technology, engineering, math). Since graduating from Shalhevet, Tamar has done original research in math and computer science, including, a project in gesture authentication for smartphones at Rutgers University. She thanked Shalhevet for preparing her for these endeavors, “but more importantly, Midreshet Shalhevet prepared me for being a Torah Jew in the professional world.”

Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Zev Meir Friedman, then shared Shalhevet’s mission: a small school that does not fit any specific mold, a school incredibly adept at customizing for the needs of each student. The school is warm and nurturing and inspires individual growth, encouraging girls to pursue any profession they choose while adhering to a Torah framework, he said.

The school’s guiding principle is that its girls should not be intimidated by the secular world, but should be prepared for it. Rabbi Friedman stressed that at Shalhevet the focus on the core values of tzniut, both in how a person behaves as well as in dress, kavod habriyot, ahavat yisrael, hakarat hatov, yosher (learning to admit mistakes and apologize), and, very importantly, ahavat Eretz Yisrael.

Shalhevet prides itself on our Israel activism. The girls actively participate in rallies multiple times each year, and many are involved in the Committee for Israel Activism, which bringing in speakers, plans and executes programs, and educates the entire student body on what has and is happening in Israel and around the world so that they will be prepared to answer tough questions when prompted.

“In Midreshet Shalhevet, we are constantly being challenged,” said senior Michal Beer. “Because of the individualized environment, I have grown so close with many of my teachers. They play a crucial role in the person I have become today [and] learning has become a fundamental and enjoyable part of my life.”

Michal also discussed Shalhevet students’ impressive SAT and ACT scores and said that each student is guided in selecting the right Israel program and college. She also mentioned how the office of the principal, Esther Eisenman, is always open and how she finds the time to address the needs of each student. 

Mrs. Eisenman concluded the speeches by expressing how remarkable all of the girls in Shalhevet are, the top-notch colleges and seminaries that they are accepted to, and their true love for all of am Yisroel. She read statements from alumnae in Israel who expressed their thanks to Shalhevet for preparing them for life after high school, as well as statements from Israel programs and college deans  highlighting the students as open minded individuals who love intellectual challenges. 

“We are a smaller school by design, with big school opportunities both academic and extracurricular,” Mrs. Eisenman concluded.

Following the speeches, the parents and students took part in mini class lessons led by Zionism coordinator, Rabbi Yotav Eliach; chumash teacher, Andrea Schulman; math teacher, Mike Kelly; TSBP  teacher, Rabbi Matt Schneeweiss, and science teacher Menachem Borenstein. 

The classes that they participated in were just a taste of the excitement and energy found throughout Midreshet Shalhevet on a daily basis. The parents and students were then invited to the ballroom where they enjoyed a buffet, with Shalhevet teachers, parents, and students present to answer questions and convey more information about Shalhevet.

Those who missed the Midreshet Shalhevet open house are invited to visit for a personal tour. To schedule a visit, contact Shani Seewald, director of communications, at 516-224-0240 x204 or sseewald@shalhevethsg.org.