Tamar Nissel is studying in Michlelet Mevaseret Yerushalayim (MMY). She is from Teaneck, New Jersey, attended the Rosenbaum Yeshiva of North Jersey for elementary school and Maayanot for high school. Her family davens at Congregation Rinat Yisrael. Tamar is also the daughter of JLNJ contributor Andrea Nissel

Her plans for next year? Possibly one semester of shana bet at MMY, followed by Stern College for Women.

Why did you choose to learn at MMY?

I chose MMY because I love how the school provides such a range of topics to learn about, all within an intellectual framework. It also appealed to me because of the open-minded outlook and the multiple opinions provided on any given topic.

What kind of goals did you have for your year?

Coming into seminary, I mainly wanted to work on my learning skills so that I would have techniques to take with me in my future learning. I also came in hoping to be inspired and to feel a more personal connection to Eretz Yisrael.

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

One of the highlights of my year so far was spending Shabbat in the Old City, with 22 of my classmates and our rakezet. Shabbat was filled with incredible signing and ruach. I davened all three tefillot at the Kotel, including a nearly-empty Friday night davening in the rain, and netz (vatikin/sunrise) Shacharit after singing, leaning and talking all night. I really felt a strong love for Israel over Shabbat, and it gave me an incredible boost for the week to come.

What kind of challenges have you faced coming to Israel?

It may sound small, but having school on Sundays was a big adjustment for me. While I love that Friday is a day off in Israel, as it really allows people to prepare for Shabbat, it’s still a short day and it’s difficult to get everything done when there’s not a full day off. Baruch Hashem, I have adjusted, though.

Who are some of the teachers whom you connect to the most at MMY?

I feel like I really connect to Mrs. Mali Brofsky from Alon Shvut. I took her class on “Lonely Man of Faith” this past semester, and I’m currently in her Megilla class. She has a really respectable outlook on Judaism and I value her opinion and advice very much.

How has being here been different from your expectations? Did you feel prepared for your experience or did you have culture shock, and how so?

Before seminary, I don’t think I could have really understood how much I would gain out of the year, so that was a pleasant surprise. In terms of Israeli culture, some aspects, such as the bluntness, came as a bit of a shock to me, but that is definitely overpowered by the sense of love and community that fills the country.

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

I love going to Neve Daniel. The community is very kind and welcoming and it’s evident that they try to live Torah-oriented lives.

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

The saying goes “Go big or go home,” but I think people are going to think of it more as “Go big before going home.” It’s the last few months of the year and I can’t wait to see everyone’s drive and passion as the year comes to a close.

Have a relative, friend or neighbor learning in Israel this year who’d like to be featured in JLNJ’s Israel Spotlight? Please contact JLNJ’s Israel desk ([email protected]) or your local editor for more information.

By Tzvi Silver, JLNJ Israel