Chayala Cohen is studying at Michlalah in Jerusalem. She grew up in Passaic, attended Yeshivas Beis Hillel for elementary school and BY Machon Ora for high school. Her family davens at Tiferes. In the summers she has attended different camps, including Sternberg and The Zone.

Her next stop? Back to Manhattan for college.

Why did you choose to study at Michlalah?

I chose to attend this program because I’ve seen many girls who have finished their year in this program, and they each appear to have a strong love for Torah and a desire to live a Torah-true lifestyle. I understood that Michlalah encourages each of their students to recognize her unique potential and build upon this in order to gain a deeper understanding of herself and what she can contribute to her community.

What kind of goals do you have for the year?

Going into my seminary year, I was looking forward to learning in a way where I could appreciate the depth and beauty of the Torah. I was also looking forward to forming relationships with the incredible teachers, and of course with the other students at Michlalah from whom I can learn a tremendous amount.

What have been some of the highlights of your year so far?

Michlalah invests a lot of effort in making sure this is not only a year of learning in the classroom setting, but also to give us the opportunity to learn outside the classroom. After one of our first trips we went to a park where we heard from a panel of students on the topic of teshuva, and we then had a kumzitz. It was an incredibly meaningful experience, and I had the opportunity to see the strength of the individuals and at the same time the power we have when we join together. For Parshat Noach, Michlalah brought us to Tzfat for Shabbat, where we had the opportunity to spend time together, hear from a few residents, and experience the atmosphere of the ancient city. On Erev Shabbat, we had the opportunity to daven at a few of the graves of Torah giants of previous generations. Being in the place where these great people lived or passed through brought our history to life. I was then able to see another dimension that encompasses the lives of the people whose Torah I’ve learned.

What kind of challenges have you faced coming to Israel?

Having my family 6,000 miles away and in a different time zone is definitely a challenge, but thanks to today’s technology, the gap has been bridged tremendously.

How has your year been different from your expectations?

To be honest, I didn’t come in with too many expectations of the school, but I did come in with hopes and aspirations for my own personal growth. I have been pleasantly surprised by the classes offered, the warmth, accommodation, and interest the staff has in each student.

Where is your favorite place to go for weekends/Shabbat so far?

As I mentioned earlier, Tzfat was a really nice place to spend Shabbat. I have also spent Shabbatot in Ramat Beit Shemesh, Rechavia, Ramot, etc. It is interesting spend Shabbatot in different communities and to see the similarities and differences within each community and the way in which each person chooses to live a Torah life.

Who is a teacher at Michlalah you connect to especially well?

It is too early on for me to say, but I am looking forward to forming connections with some of the incredible teachers we have here.

Which is one of your favorite classes at Michlalah?

One of the many aspects Michlalah has to offer is that each girl has the opportunity to put together her own unique schedule, and can choose the classes that interest her most. I now have a schedule full of incredible classes I really enjoy. Therefore, it is hard for me to come up with one class. There is a class I find fascinating called Medical Ethics, which is taught by Rabbi Avishai David. We discuss current questions that come up in halacha related to the medical field and we analyze the ideas by going through sources and looking at it from a Torah perspective.

What are you most looking forward to for the rest of the year?

I look forward to deepening my connections, exploring new places, meeting new people, learning new things, and just being here in Eretz Yisrael is an incredible opportunity.