Beginning about a month or so before Purim, every school pops the question:

Shana Bet?

Those outside of the seminary/yeshiva circles do not quite realize the plug made for and emphasis placed on the value of “Shana Bet.” Between both explicit information sessions and implicit statements said by teachers “in passing” about the long-lasting and even life-changing benefits for students who stay for a second year of study, widespread discussion has been stirring between students of all schools about the pros and cons of remaining in Israel for the following year.

Who?: For Shana Alef (first year) students, many seminaries have a Shana Bet option for current students in the following semester.

What?: An additional year of Judaic study in Israel, filled with more challenging classes and incredible experiences, building upon the foundations of the first year.

Where?: Eretz Yisrael, The Holy Land (the only place to be!).

When?: Anywhere between six months to a full year—the duration is up to you!

How?: No matter the family’s financial situation, schools say that they will work with you. (After all, six months is already half of the original price!) In addition, there are options offered through Touro College Israel and others to take a few secular college courses during the course of the year to gain college credits, and the Jewish colleges accept Shana Bet credits as well.

Why?: As they say, Shana Bet is “what separates the women from the girls!” Motivations behind staying for the second year vary from wanting to further Torah study, spend more time in Israel or delay the pending college decisions, and everything in between.

…And let the parent-student conversations begin!

For the majority of the “klal,” though, for whom the concept of Shana Bet is neither an ideal nor a possibility, the talk has turned to college decisions and majors, and most are grateful for the quick successions of Chagim on our plate. Though Purim and Pesach are two uniquely different experiences here—a core factor being the small number of American students in the country over Pesach—the unifying factor is the pure simcha almost tangible in the air.

As Purim is the only holiday that one can keep for two days in Israel, outside of Jerusalem on the 14th of Adar (“Purim”) and in Jerusalem on the 15th of Adar (“Shushan Purim”), celebrate twice we did. Though we suspected that most families actually living in Israel do not extend an already packed Purim into two days, we seminary and yeshiva students took advantage of the once-in-a-lifetime two-day Purim celebration. Some kept all four mitzvot of the day (megillah, mishloach manot, matanot l’evyonim and seudah) twice by sleeping over in the correct city during their Purim, though I personally did not, while others took day trips to witness the festivities even on the day that was not their “official” Purim. Mishloach manot packages were sold in every store and street corner; kids were dressed up even days before, running through the streets and on public transportation in anticipation; buses were crowded with kids and adults alike in costumes during the day, and drunk yeshiva bachurim singing at night. Mini concerts outside of Jerusalem’s Central Bus Station playing Jewish holiday music and niggunim went on all day Purim and through Pesach as well.

When school for American students ends each year about two weeks prior to Pesach, it has become the common practice for many, if not the majority of, students to return to America for the Chag. Many American couples and families who have made aliyah return to their families in Chutz La’Aretz as well. I feel genuinely fortunate to be able to have stayed in Israel for Pesach, and be’ezrat Hashem, for the “package” of all of the Shalosh Regalim. This year in particular, American Jews were lucky because the 8th day of the Chag fell out on a Shabbos, and so the whole country was forced to join the much-pitied Americans in keeping an extra day of not having chametz. Going against the flow and remaining in Israel for Pesach will definitely be a stand-out experience in the grand picture of my year, and I would highly recommend creating a renewed common path.

To put it simply: Pesach in Eretz Yisrael was a beautiful experience. My two highlights were the packed Kotel at the Birkat Kohanim on the first day of Chol Hamoed, a modern-day picture of Aliyah L’Regel, as well as finding out that there is a law in Yerushalayim that chametz is not allowed to be visible in public places. Ironically, there are more products that are kosher for Pesach only for those who eat kitniyot than for those who do not! (Like it or not…potato chips is the way to go!) All Chol Hamoed activities were swarming with people; it was not just “the Jews,” but the entire country! A step in any direction, from Teveria to Tel Aviv to Bnei Brak, leads to all types of Jews enjoying the Chag, bonding together with their families and friends, and taking advantage of the opportunities that Israel has to offer. In America, we naturally gravitate toward and feel an instant connection to the next lone Jew on the street; in Israel, we are enveloped in and yet an inseparable part of an upstanding throng of the Jewish nation. The unity is incomparable.

With every Jewish holiday and experience that comes our way yearly, the message hits home time and again: Israel is the only place centered around, built for and most conducive to the Jewish home.

L’shana haba’a b’Yerushalayim ha’b’nuyah!

By Rachel Goldberg

Rachel Goldberg is a Teaneck resident who is studying in Israel for her gap year.