Midrasha Mayim Chaim
The Mayim Chaim Midrasha or study center for young women is situated in the Menachem Begin neighborhood of Safed. The Midrasha was founded by Tamar and Shlomo Eshed in 2007 to enable young Israeli ba'al teshuva woman to learn Torah in a conducive environment.
Who Is It For?
This midrasha is aimed at young women in their late twenties and early thirties who "return to Jewish observance" and are interested in following the path of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov. The Midrasha also offers accommodation that is more suitable for the older student. There are around sixteen students in the study center, with four women in each apartment or house, two to a room, with a shared living/dining room and kitchen. Evening meals are eaten communally in the Midrasha study house which is situated on the edge of the neighborhood with a beautiful view of the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee).
The Studies
Tamar and Shlomo are adherents of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov and the philosophy behind the Midrasha steams from the teachings of Rabbi Nachman and is grounded in the laws of the Torah. Classes, all conducted in Hebrew, include halacha, the parsha of the week, how to build a Jewish home, Rabbi Nachman's stories and a combination of spiritual and practical teachings. As well as self study, there are about 10 teachers and guest lecturers who help the students with their lessons. Studies take place in the afternoons and evenings from 4.15pm -10.00pm to enable the students to work in the mornings if they wish or devote more time to private study. Apart from Torah studies there are also a variety of creative classes offered like dance and art.
Hitbodedut
One of the major tenets of Breslov is hitbodedut, the idea of speaking privately out loud to God in nature every day. Rabbi Shlomo encourages students to take on this practice and express themselves to God by going outside in the beautiful countryside. There they get in touch with their inner depths, even if it means crying or getting angry. Rabbi Nachman teaches that the rest of the time one should express simcha - (happiness). According to him it is a mitzva to be happy, and even if you don't feel it, you should act joyfully and do everything with simcha and then gradually you are able to be happy.
Living Example
Tamar and Sholmo have a family of 11 and lead by example. Being long-term ba'al teshuva (returnees to the faith) themselves, they believe that it is very important for people to find their own inner truth and understand their reasons for their religious return. Part of this process is to learn how to move from putting themselves at the center of their lives to putting God at the center and to put others before themselves.
The Eshed's run an open home and the young women are welcome to come into their home whenever they wish to discuss their problems or ask advice. In this way, the women can use the Eshed's own family example as something to amplify. The family and the students all eat together on Friday nights and create a special Shabbat atmosphere.
The Eshed's also give advice and help in shidduchim, i.e. advising on and arranging for the women to meet possible marriage partners. So far three of the students have gotten married through these matches and three more are engaged.
Costs
Students pay a basic 1,200 shks a month which covers accommodation, food, and tuition. As Rabbi Nachman teaches about giving and receiving charity, a lot of the supplies are donated, and many of the teachers give their time for free as part of their chessed (loving-kindness).
For more information please contact: cell phone 050 412 0497 or tel 077 350 0148
