Talya Markowitz is studying at Michlelet Mevaseret Yerushalayim (MMY) in Baka, Jerusalem. She grew up in Bergenfield, attended RYNJ for elementary school and Bruriah for high school.
Her next stop? Stern College for Women.
Why did you choose to study at MMY?
I chose to go to MMY because I really wanted to strengthen my skills of learning Torah as well as learning about Eretz Yisrael and ahavat Yisrael.
What kind of goals do you have for the year?
My biggest goal for this year is to gain the skills to learn independently, because this is something that I know will stick with me for many years to come. I also want to learn to appreciate Eretz Yisrael and our amazing resources here.
What have been some of the highlights of your year so far?
So far, my highlight has been hiking Har Arbel. It was a really tough hike, climbing on pegs and walking on the edge of the mountain, but seeing the view from on top of the mountain was just amazing: it was a breathtaking view of the Kineret and the surrounding cities, just a beautiful sight to see.
What kind of challenges have you faced coming to Israel?
I think my biggest difficulty coming into the year was becoming more independent and figuring out how to get around the country. At first it was weird using a bus as my main mode of transportation instead of a car, but now it’s so normal to just hop on the bus and get to wherever I need to go.
How has your year been different from your expectations?
I think I was very much prepared for this experience. I spoke to a few people who were in MMY in the past couple of years and I was able to get a feel of what the school was and what I was coming into. I think MMY made the transition a lot easier than I expected it to be, and that really helped us with our integration.
Which is one of your favorite classes at MMY?
One of my favorite classes is Mrs. Moskowitz’s Ozter Mefarshei Rashi class. We learn a story from Chumash and look at the commentary there, and then we look deeper into the Rashi by learning commentaries on the commentary. The class is really interesting because we learn different meanings to the stories that we learned in elementary school, and Mrs. Moskowitz always keeps us engaged and makes sure we understand everything.
What are you most looking forward to for the rest of the year?
Over the course of the rest of the year I hope to further develop my learning skills and to challenge myself by learning things that I wouldn’t necessarily pick as my first option. I also hope to visit places in Israel that I have not been to yet, to really explore the country, and spend more time with my family that lives here.
