Lauren Aduculesi is studying at Tiferet Center in Ramat Bet Shemesh. She grew up in Teaneck, attended Moriah for elementary school and Frisch for high school. She attended Camp Morasha in the summers. Her family davens at Congregation Bnai Yeshurun.

Her next stop? Stern College for Women, where she plans on majoring in biology.

Why did you choose to study at Tiferet?

I chose to learn in Tiferet because most of the teachers all live in the Ramat Beit Shemesh area, very close to our school. This gives me a great opportunity to build strong relationships with rabeim and faculty, to meet their families and to feel like they’re always here for me.

What kind of goals do you have for the year?

Some of my goals were to grow in my spirituality and be able to carry that with me through life. Also, I want to acquire as much knowledge as possible about Judaism and Torah.

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

A few weeks ago, Tiferet took us on a shabbaton to Tzfat. On Shabbos day, we went on a walking tour and our last destination was the cave of music. When we got into the cave, it was completely dark and I did not know what to expect. However, as we walked farther in there was a large opening on top that gave enough light to see. We all gathered around in a circle and started singing. The echos from the cave made our voices so powerful and beautiful.

What kind of challenges have you faced coming to Israel?

Israel’s culture is extremely different from America and what I am used to. It’s difficult to communicate with those around me because of the language barrier, and getting around Israel is always an adventure using the buses. You never know where you might end up!

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

My favorite place to go for Shabbos is Yerushalayim. Davening at the Kotel on Friday night is an unbelievable experience. I always feel most connected to God when I daven there with so many different types of people.

Who is a teacher at Tiferet who you connect with especially well?

I connect well with Mrs. Esses. She is very inspirational because she is always extremely careful with her speech. I learn from her to limit my lashon hara as much as possible.

Which is one of your favorite classes at Tiferet?

One of my favorite classes is Tehillim.

What are your plans for your Thanksgiving in Israel?

For Thanksgiving I am planning to have a meal with friends in school. We have kitchens so it makes it very easy to cook and enjoy food together.

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

I am looking forward to experiencing the Land of Israel as a whole. I hope to go on many tiyulim all around Israel. I hope to reach the goals that I set for myself in the beginning of this year.