Would I be a good fit for Sharfmans? (Description provided:))

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  • #618742
    Futuregirl
    Member

    Ok, last seminary thread from me! (I hope.)

    I am in-between MO and BY: I dress tzniutly, keep Halachah, but I talk to boys, listen to non-Jewish music, very open-minded.

    I come from a very out-of-town place.

    I amn’t really sure how academic I want the school, but certainly not really intense.

    #1196671
    Lilmod Ulelamaid
    Participant

    Not a bad idea. It’s funny – a friend of mine who is indirectly involved with seminaries (she works in a high school) just mentioned Sharfman’s to me on Shabbos when she was discussing the seminaries her students go to.

    I hadn’t heard anyone mention Sharfman’s in years and I had forgotten all about it. It sounds somewhat similar to some of the schools you mentiond. She told me which schools it is the most similar to, but I forgot what she said. Maybe Midreshet Tehilla.

    Other than that, I don’t have much to tell you. There is a lot of hashkafa, I’m not exactly sure where it falls on the academic scale, but definitely not intense, probably somewhere in the middle. I have a vague memory that there may be different levels, but I’m not sure.

    It sounds like the girls are probably coming from similar backgrounds to you, but I can’t say for sure.

    #1196672
    huju
    Participant

    Wasn’t Scharfman’s a kosher ice cream shop on Queens Boulevard? The chairs and counter stools were average-sized, so I am sure you would fit.

    As someone who used “amn’t” in a sentence, you should give some thought to a seminary that will help you with English.

    #1196673
    mommamia22
    Participant

    I did not go to Scharfmans, but very close friends and family of mine did.

    The girls that I know that went there were from a more modern background or slightly frummer.

    Most were active in NCSY and were looking for something frummer than modern.

    They were much like you in background and commitment and chose to become more after spending a year in Israel.

    The school is used to girls who are from a more modern background, so your involvements won’t shock them, though, like most sems, they don’t want the girls hanging out with boys in their free time. That being said, one of my friends met her future husband that year.

    It’s a good program, but not heavily academic, like michlala is known to be.

    #1196674
    Lilmod Ulelamaid
    Participant

    “As someone who used “amn’t” in a sentence”

    I always used to say “amn’t” when I was younger, and my friends always corrected me and said that it’s aren’t. But I don’t get that – I think it’s incorrect to say “aren’t I”. You don’t say “I are”, so how could it be “I aren’t”?

    On the other hand, you do say “I am” & “I am not”, so it should be “I amn’t”. And if it’s not, we should change it.

    also, Futuregirl may not appreciate having her english corrected.

    #1196675
    Meno
    Participant

    As per Google:

    amn’t

    ant,?am?nt/

    contraction

    am not.

    #1196676
    Lilmod Ulelamaid
    Participant

    “Wasn’t Scharfman’s a kosher ice cream shop on Queens Boulevard?”

    She said “Sharfman’s”, not “Scharfman’s”.

    #1196677
    Lilmod Ulelamaid
    Participant

    Most of what Mommamia2 said fits what I know about Sharfman’s. I would just add 2 qualifications:

    1. Even though it’s a very growth-oriented place,they give the girls a lot of freedom to make their own choices about things.

    2. Even though it’s not as academic as Michlalah, I have known girls who were very bright who went there and were happy there.

    However, the above information is based on what Sharfman’s was like over 20 years ago, so you would have to check if it’s still true. I do recall that the freedom thing was an essential part of the school’s philosophy. That is the reason that the girls lived in regular apartments as opposed to a dorm. They also had to make all of their own meals.

    #1196678
    Futuregirl
    Member

    For any of those who know Tomer Devorah (lilmod, so thankful for that suggestion, interested in it in the end), are they both catered to the same type of girl, generally speaking?

    Is Sharfmans good for an out-of-towner?

    I really appreciate all help on CR! I have no seminary counselor really, so just trying to figure this out on my own with others – you included!

    #1196679
    Lilmod Ulelamaid
    Participant

    Futuregirl- One important piece of advice that I mentioned recently on another seminary thread: You should apply to at least 2 or 3 seminaries since they can be hard to get into. Obviously, some are harder than others, but I think it’s always kidai to apply to at least two. Also, different schools have different criteria, so you may think it’s easy to get into a certain school, but it might be harder than you think.

    #1196680
    lakewoodwife
    Participant

    I went to sharfman’s (many eons ago) and have friends that are still involved. 20+ years ago sharfman’s was exactly what you are looking for. Now it has a much more modern (almost OTD) crowd from what I’ve heard (and seen- we met some of the girls recently). That being said the teachers and staff are AMAZING and it is a great place to grow as a person and as a yid.

    There is alot less freedom there now then there used to be, curfew, sign-outs, madrichot, etc and they also serve meals these days. If you want more info, find someone who has been recently (like last 5 years) and speak to them.

    Hatzlacha!

    #1196681
    Futuregirl
    Member

    Lakewoodwife: Ok, then I don’t think Sharfmans is for me – I definitely wouldn’t call myself OTD.

    Lilmod: Certainly! TD is my first choice, and I need to find a backup seminary.

    #1196682
    Lilmod Ulelamaid
    Participant

    Futuregirl: “Lakewoodwife: Ok, then I don’t think Sharfmans is for me – I definitely wouldn’t call myself OTD.”

    You may want to check that out, because that is not the impression I got from the friend whom I had spoken to about it. If I have a chance, I will try to ask her again because I don’t remember exactly what she said. I wonder if Lakewoodwife is using the term OTD differently?

    Also, did we talk about Midreshet Tehilla? I don’t remember if we did or what you said about it. It sounds like it’s similar to the other schools you are talking about.

    #1196683
    Lilmod Ulelamaid
    Participant

    Meno – wow! so it’s really a word -cool! And all this time, people have been correcting me. So why in the world does everyone say “Aren’t I?” Where on earth did that come from?

    #1196684
    Lilmod Ulelamaid
    Participant

    btw, when is the deadline for seminary applications?

    #1196685
    Futuregirl
    Member

    Most of the seminaries I am looking into, the deadline is tonight.

    #1196686
    Futuregirl
    Member

    I can apply and then decide, though.

    #1196687
    Futuregirl
    Member

    That would be great, lilmod!

    I spoke to one of the recent teachers/alumnae and she kept on telling me it was for “everyone” not just one frumkeit level. However, this could just be a marketing thing.

    #1196688
    Futuregirl
    Member

    I am looking into MT as well, but don’t like the idea of it being on the Neve campus.

    MMY is still on my list, though. My teacher is encouraging me to go to Michlalah (not my type of girls, which I don’t think she understands), so I think that means I can handle the academics.

    #1196689
    Lilmod Ulelamaid
    Participant

    wow, I didn’t realize the deadline was so soon. I obviously won’t be able to find out before you apply, but like you said, you can decide afterwards. Maybe at the interviews, you’ll be able to get more of an idea of what the schools are like.

    #1196690
    Lilmod Ulelamaid
    Participant

    MMY is more academic than Michlalah. It’s also a very different style of learning. Nearly half the time is spent on Chevrusa learning, and you have Night Seder at night until close to 10:00 pm. Michlalah is classes and homework and you finish at a normal hour (no night seder).

    What’s wrong with being on Neve Campus? I always think of that as a maaleh. It’s a really gorgeous campus, and there are lots of other seminaries there. It’s also a nice experience to get to know the Neve girls.

    #1196691
    Lightbrite
    Participant

    Is there a sheitel gemach place in Israel where women can donate hair during their time in seminary to make wigs for poor kallahs?

    #1196692
    Futuregirl
    Member

    Lilmod, mainly about dorms, food. However, this might not be true, and it shouldn’t be a deciding factor.

    What type of girls go to MT?

    And you’re right, MMY is probably not for me:)

    #1196693
    Lilmod Ulelamaid
    Participant

    I loved the food there. But I might have different tastes than you.

    I’m not sure what type of girls go to MT, but I had a vague impression that they might actually be more your type than TD. I actually also had the impression that Sharfman’s girls might be more your type than TD, but I am really not sure of any of this.

    Even if I could get more information about that, I’m not sure if I’m comfortable posting it online. I’ve been trying to stick to neutral subjective comparisons of schools, but I’m concerned that it may be LH to start comparing how modern girls in different schools are (since that may be considered objectively negative). It’s the type of thing that would be okay in a 1-on-1 conversation (since it’s for toeles) but online may be different.

    #1196694
    Futuregirl
    Member

    You’re right lilmod, it probably would be best if this convo. didn’t take that turn:)

    #1196696
    Futuregirl
    Member

    Another thing about MT is that it is together with many other seminaries for meals and such. I want somewhere that is smaller and homier.

    #1196697
    Lilmod Ulelamaid
    Participant

    “You’re right lilmod, it probably would be best if this convo. didn’t take that turn:)”

    too bad there’s no way to do this one-on-one. I would love to be able to help more.

    #1196698
    Lilmod Ulelamaid
    Participant

    “Another thing about MT is that it is together with many other seminaries for meals and such. I want somewhere that is smaller and homier.”

    I’ve worked on Neve campus, although not with MT. My impression of the seminaries there is that they still have that feeling of being small and homey despite being on this huge campus, because for the most part, each school really is its own place, with its own dorm and its own section of the building for classes and offices. It’s only for the meals that they are in the same room, but even then, the girls in each school usually eat separately.

    But I can’t say for sure – you would have to speak to girls who have been there. Even a girl who has been to one of the other sems there (one of the warmer ones like Bnos Sara or Michlelet Esther) should be be able to tell you.

    Do you know girls who have been to any of those schools whom you can ask?

    btw, if you feel that way about Midreshet Tehilla, then Michlala is definitely not for you! That was one of the main reasons I didn’t think it’s for you.

    #1196699
    Lilmod Ulelamaid
    Participant

    Did you send out applications to any schools yet? Which ones did you end up applying to?

    #1196700
    Futuregirl
    Member

    I applied to TD and BM/Maayonot, though I’m beginning to realize, after talking to some people who know of it, that BM, though a great school, isn’t really for me.

    I am also likely going to apply to an arts seminary: Emunah V’Omanut.

    #1196701
    Lilmod Ulelamaid
    Participant

    Is Emunah V’Omanut American or Israeli?

    What happened with Sharfman’s and Midreshet Tehilla? I thought they sounded like good choices.

    #1196702
    Futuregirl
    Member

    Emunah V’Omanut is in Israel but American-run.

    MT: deadline is in a little while (actually, I don’t even know when the deadline is, but I still have time).

    Sharfmans: I have some “concerns” that I need cleared first – working on that.

    #1196703
    Lilmod Ulelamaid
    Participant

    I just checked out the Emunah V’Omanut website. It seems like a very different type of school than the others you have been talking about.It seems to me that Sharfman’s is probably more your type. I can’t say for sure since I don’t enough about you, Sharfman’s or Emunah V’Omanut, but check out Sharfman’s and Emunah V’Omanut carefully before you decide.

    I’m glad to hear that you haven’t ruled out Sharfman’s or MT.

    #1196704
    Futuregirl
    Member

    The reason I am interested in Emunah V’Omanut is I have a big background/interest in music, as well as dance and drama. Certainly, though, it is a much different school than the rest – the reason I am interested is purely the arts program, but I am unsure about the students.

    #1196705
    Futuregirl
    Member

    Oh boy, I can’t wait till next year, when this will be all sorted out! 🙂

    #1196706
    Lilmod Ulelamaid
    Participant

    It doesn’t seem like it’s the right type of school for you religiously. Not just the students, but also the hashkafa of the school and the teachers. I know you are tzioni, but within the dati-leumi world, there is a huge range of hashakfa/level of Frumkeit. You seem to be more the MMY type in terms of hashkafa, and this school seems to be very different from MMY.

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