Microsoft word - 45f917eb-1a05-28faec.doc

This is the second in a series of communications that we will be sending you to help you prepare for the upcoming
academic year. This letter focuses on what to bring to the Midrasha and what to expect when you arrive.
A. What to Bring
When packing, please keep in mind the extremes of Israel’s climate. While the summer is very hot, Jerusalem winters are
quite cold and snowfall is not uncommon. You should therefore pack appropriately. Buildings in Israel (including the
Midrasha) are generally not centrally heated and it is advisable to dress warmly indoors. It is especially important to
remember to bring the following: sweaters, sweatshirts, thermal layers, boots, warm slippers, and a warm robe.
The Midrasha provides woolen blankets and pillows. You should bring your own pillowcases, sheets, and towels, as well
as a sleeping bag for tiyulim and vacation periods.
Please be sure that all clothes that you bring conform to our dress code. While we are aware that tzniut is a personal
matter there are basic standards that all students must adhere to. These include wearing skirts that cover the knee, even
while seated, shirts with sleeves to the elbow and which meet the top of the skirt at all times, and appropriate necklines.
Students are expected to dress appropriately at all times, including tiyulim and when outside of the Midrasha.
Please remember that body piercings as well as excessive ear piercings are considered inappropriate for Midrasha
students.
While it is difficult to suggest a detailed packing list, the following items have proven useful to students in the past: pens
and pencils, markers, notebooks, scissors, tape, Band-Aids, sewing kit, soup/oatmeal/cocoa mixes, sunglasses, camera and
film, flashlight, travel iron, radio, aspirin, and decongestants. Please remember that all appliances should be either 220
volts compatible or run smoothly on a voltage converter. You might wish to bring a converter as well as a plug adaptor
with you. Please note that just about anything (and any brand) you need may be purchased in Israel, though prices are
often significantly higher than in Chutz La’Aretz.
B. Health Insurance

The Midrasha provides you with comprehensive health and hospitalization insurance for your stay in Israel. The cost is
included in your tuition. Please note that the coverage is good only in Israel. If you are planning to travel outside the
country at any point during the year, you will be responsible for your own coverage. Since insurance is included in your
tuition payments, only students who have fulfilled their financial obligations can be covered.
If for some reason you have not yet completed your personal medical history forms, please return them to our
office as soon as possible. Please note that no student will be allowed to attend the Midrasha until the medical
history forms are completed and returned to us.
C. Schedule

The daily schedule at the Midrasha is intensive, with studies beginning at 8:30 AM and concluding at 10:00 PM.
Attendance is mandatory at all times, as is participation on all Midrasha sponsored trips and seminars. During the Pesach
and Sukkot vacation periods, students are strongly encouraged to participate on the programs sponsored by the Midrasha.
The seminars planned for immediately after Sukkot and Pessach are not considered part of the vacation period and
participation is mandatory.

The term dates of Midreshet Harova generally follow the traditional Yeshiva calendar. Parents who are planning to visit
their daughters are urged to do so during vacation times. Similarly, students who travel during vacation time are
required to be back on campus at the beginning of term. As a reminder, the term dates are listed below.
Ellul Term:
7th Elul (Tuesday, August 21st) — 11 Tishrei (Sunday, September 23rd)
Winter Term:
25th Tishrei (Sunday, October 7th) — 27 Adar II (Thursday, April 3rd)
Summer Term:
24th Nissan (Tuesday, April 29th) —13th Sivan (Monday, June 16th) [end of term for Northern
Hemisphere students]

Parents who will be visiting while classes are in session are strongly encouraged to spend part of their time studying with
their daughters in the Midrasha. Parents are welcome to sit in on any class they wish, as well as to learn b’chavruta in the
Beit Midrash. Please note that in order to minimize disruption to the program, students are limited in the time they
are allowed to miss from classes. As a rule, students may miss a maximum of four days of classes for personal reasons.
A full year schedule, including vacation periods, will be sent to you in a future mailing. It is also included in the Student
Guide, which is distributed during registration.
Parents are requested not to take groups of more than four students out to dinner, in order to prevent unnecessary financial
hardship for visiting families. Thank you for your cooperation.
Students are not permitted to leave the Midrasha for either visits abroad, or extended visits with family in Israel,
without the authorization of the Midrasha. Failure to comply with this regulation is grounds for disciplinary
action up to and including dismissal from the program.
D. Meals
The Midrasha provides you with three meals daily, served in the dining hall located in the Sapir Center. The menu is
varied and nutritious. Students are expected to do occasional toranut in the kitchen during the week and on Shabbatot. A
toranut list is posted in the Midrasha. Further details regarding the nature of toranut are included in the Student Guide.
Students looking for a change of pace can find different food options scattered around the Rova, within easy walking
distance of the Midrasha.
E. Communications
Students are strongly encouraged to rent a cell phone for their personal use while in Israel. In a separate mailing we will
provide detailed information on the rental program that we recommend. Please note that we only recommend a program,
and you are free to choose any company that you wish.
Faxes may be sent to 972-2-628-4690. E-mail service is also provided, and is included in your tuition payments. The e-
mail address at the Midrasha is: students@midreshetharova.org.il, or students may use personal accounts on any web
based email system. In case of emergency, you should call the office directly on 972-2-628-7239 ext. 206. During non-
office hours, please call Rav Milston at 972-52-357-1362 or 972-2-930-9760.
F. Transcripts
All students successfully completing their coursework at Midreshet HaRova earn a transcript certifying their work. The
standard transcript is Pass/Fail, based upon class work and faculty recommendations. Students who wish to have letter
grades may earn them by taking exams or submitting projects, as required by the instructor. It should be noted that
Midreshet Harova is a partner in the Joint Program with Stern College.
G. Sefarim

Since course registration only takes place during orientation, it is difficult to provide a precise book list needed by each
individual student. A book sale (at a discount) is held after registration to enable students to purchase books required for
all their classes. In any case, students should be sure to bring a siddur, Tenach, and Machzorim (Rosh Hashana and Yom
Kippur) with them. In addition, as part of the Bekiut Halacha program, students are required to have a set of
Mishna Berura (or a Kitzur Shulchan Aruch for students in basic levels).
H. Spending Money
As all your basic expenses are covered by your tuition payments, you will only require spending money for laundry, free
time, travel, gifts and books. The amount needed varies from person to person.
The Midrasha makes both washing machines and dryers available for student use. The cost is roughly US$1.50 for one
load of laundry and a similar amount for drying. The machines are located in the Sapir Center. For those who prefer,
there are also private services that pick up and return your laundry.
I. Visa Renewal

Travelers arriving in Israel are standardly given a three month tourist visa upon arrival at Ben Gurion airport. Since you
will be staying for at least ten months you will need a student visa. This visa can either be obtained in Israel or through
certain branches of the Israeli consulate abroad. In a future mailing we will advise you of how to obtain the necessary visa
with (we hope) a minimum of red tape. In any case, your passport should be valid for at least a full year after your arrival
in Israel. If you do not yet hold a passport you should apply for one as soon as possible to avoid last minute hassles.

If you hold Israeli citizenship, you may be required to obtain an Israeli passport when you renew your visa. It is
advisable to check into this before you come to Israel. You also may be liable to be drafted by the IDF. You can
receive an exemption by filing the necessary request at the Israel Consulate nearest your home. The procedures
are not complicated, and will save you a great deal of headache in Israel.
For further information, please feel free to contact our office at any time. You may email us at
office@midreshetharova.org.il, davidmilston@hotmail.com, or susman@midreshetharova.org.il. We can also be reached
by phone at 972-2-628-7239 ext. 205 (Rav Milston), ext. 206 (Overseas office) or ext 225 (Rav Susman).
Sincerely Yours,
Rabbi David Milston
Director, Overseas Programs

Source: http://www.midreshetharova.org.il/letters/letter25768.pdf