Application for Admission to the Drisha June Kollel, May 24 – June 24, 2016
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Application for Admission to the Drisha June Kollel, May 24 – June 24, 2016 The June Kollel consists of a core curriculum of intensive Torah study, tefilla, and service. Each morning, shacharit begins at 8:15am. Beginning at 7:30am, we offer a variety of options of hakhanah litfilla (preparation for prayer). Past options have included analysis of the liturgy, study of chasidic texts about prayer, singing of niggunim, and meditation. Participants are required to attend at least one session per week. Breakfast follows tefilla. Morning seder focuses on intensive Talmud study, with shiurim offered on different levels. After mincha, participants choose from a selection of classes. Past offering have included shiurim on Tanakh, Halakhah, Mishpat Ivri, and Jewish spiritual practices. Both morning and afternoon sedarim include chavruta study as well as shiur. There is night seder (followed by maariv) twice a week and optional Wednesday evening programming. The beit midrash remains open every night for those who want to continue to study. Daily Schedule 7:30AM: Hakhana Litfilla (at least one per week) 8:15AM: Shacharit 9AM: Breakfast 9:30AM-1PM: Talmud Seder 1PM-2:15PM: Lunch 2:15PM: Mincha 2:45PM-5:30PM: Choice of classes 5:30PM-6:30PM: Dinner 6:30PM-9PM: Night Seder and Maariv (twice a week) Please note that this year’s Kollel includes a Shavuot Retreat in Honesdale, PA from June 10-13, 2016. As a Fellow, your responsibilities will include: • Participating fully in all aspects of programming, including classes, tefilla, and community service etc. This includes arriving on time in the morning and exhibiting promptness throughout the program. • Partnering with Drisha staff in providing logistical support (toranut) during the Kollel, e.g. organizing the beit midrash, setting up for communal meals, arranging spaces for tefilla, and facilitating evening programming for the broader community. Please note that evening programs occur on Kollel night seder evenings (Tuesdays and Thursdays), as well as other evenings of the week (especially Wednesday evenings). As such, Fellows will be asked to be present at 1-2 Wednesday evening events, where they will anchor the event itself by fully participating in the learning, in addition to providing general logistical support. In general, Fellows are encouraged to participate in Drisha’s community programming. • Engaging in community service on a rotating schedule, staffing the Ansche Chesed and Bnei Jeshurun Homeless Shelters (anschechesed.org/web/guest/ac-men-s-shelter) or assisting in Midnight Runs (midnightrun.org). • Commiting to implement an initiative either on their campuses or in their home communities to advance Torah, avodah, and/or gemillut chassadim. (Examples might include organizing a new learning initiative or new minyan or developing a community service project.) Participants will submit a brief report upon implementation of the project. Fellows are eligible for a full tuition waiver and a living stipend of $1000. $500 will be remitted upon full completion of the program, and the remaining $500 upon completion of the project and submission of the report. 1 Application Form Please insert high-resolution headshot Applications will be evaluated on a rolling basis through April 1, 2016, early applications receive priority. Applications received after April 1 will be considered as space and funding allow. Please contact [email protected] if you have any questions or require additional information. Email completed application to [email protected]. Name: ______________________________________________________________________________ Permanent Home Address: _____________________________________________________________________________________ Street and Apt # _____________________________________________________________________________________ City, State and Zip code Telephone (w/area code): _______________________________________________________________ Email Address (please include primary and non-school email address): ______________________________________________________________________________________ Date of Birth (month/day/year): __________________________________________________________ Are you a US citizen? ☐ yes ☐ no If no, what is your country of citizenship? How long have you lived in the US? Are you a Permanent Resident? ☐ yes ☐ no If no, please describe status: Native language if other than English: ________________________________________________ How did you learn about the Drisha June Kollel? ________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ 2 ACADEMIC HISTORY Name of Institution Dates Attended Major/Field Degree High School: Yeshiva/Midrasha, if attended: College/University: Graduate/Rabbinical School, if applicable: Academic honors received, including scholarships, fellowships, or prizes: LEARNING SKILLS I. Tanakh Please describe your previous experience learning Tanakh (Please include institutions/classes in which you have studied and your facility with traditional commentaries): II. Talmud Please describe your previous experience learning Talmud: (Please include institutions/classes in which you have studied and your facility with rishonim): III. Hebrew Language Facility Reading: ☐ Fluent ☐ Semi-fluent ☐ Basic Proficiency ☐ Rudimentary Conversational: ☐ Fluent ☐ Semi-fluent ☐ Basic Proficiency ☐ None 3 ACTIVITIES AND INTERESTS Please list your school, community, and leadership activities, beginning with the one most important to you: Activity Office(s) held Time Span or honors received Tefilla Participants in the Kollel are a core part of the minyanim that reflect their commitments. Please indicate which of the following best accords with your own commitments: ___ Traditional (traditional nusach; only men count toward the minyan, serve as shelichei tzibur, and read Torah; mechitza) ___ Egalitarian (traditional nusach; men and women count toward the minyan, serve as shelichei tzibur, and read Torah; no mechitza) ___ Partnership (traditional nusach; only men count toward the minyan and serve as shelichei tzibur; men and women lead pesuqei dezimra and read Torah; mechitza) ___ Other – please describe: ______________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ Please indicate in which other minyanim, if any, you would be willing to participate (for example, if your chosen kind of minyan is not available or if another minyan is in need of participants): ___ Traditional ___ Egalitarian ___ Partnership ___ Other 4 Personal Statement (500-800 words) Drisha programs are fueled by a vision of Torah study as an integral component of our individual and communal Jewish experience, which informs our decisions, fosters honest reflection, and stakes real claims on our lives. Given this vision, as well as the particular details of the Drisha June Kollel, please articulate why you want to participate in this program. Please address the following: • your past learning experiences • your goals for the month • what you will contribute to the program • challenges you anticipate encountering Is there anything else you would like us to know? Your application will be reviewed upon receipt of all of the following: 1. Completed application form (please type) 2. Two letters of recommendation The recommendations should be written by individuals (such as teachers, rabbis, and Hillel staff) who can speak to your character, facility with classic Jewish texts, academic abilities, and leadership potential. Applications are reviewed once all of your materials have been received; it is the responsibility of those applying to ensure that the letters of recommendation are submitted in a timely fashion. Please provide the following information: In what capacity Contact Information Name of Institutional does this person Reference Affiliation know you? (Email and Phone #) 5 RECOMMENDATION FORM: Complete applications are reviewed on a rolling basis through April 1, 2016. Early applications receive priority; please submit your recommendation in a timely fashion. Name: Contact Information: Institutional Affiliation: Name of Applicant: Relationship to Applicant: Drisha’s June Kollel consists of a core curriculum of intensive Jewish text study, prayer, and service. For more information, see http://drisha.org/collegiateprograms.php and/or email us at [email protected]. Please speak to the following points in your recommendation, and include any other information you think we should consider when evaluating the application: applicant’s character, facility with classical Jewish text study, academic ability, and leadership potential. Please submit your letter of recommendation to [email protected] or mail it to: Neesa Berezin-Bahr Drisha Institute 37 W 65th St, 5th Floor New York, NY 10023 Thank you for your time and consideration in preparing this recommendation. 6 .