First Shalhevet alumni reunion in Israel

In another first, Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Zev and Mrs. Renee Friedman met this week in Jerusalem with the girls of the first alumni class of Shalhevet High School for Girls.

“We went to visit the students learning in Israel to keep the kesher (connection),” Rabbi Friedman wrote in an email. “Also (we went) during this time to show solidarity with the people of Israel.” The Friedmans visited with the students a few days after the cease-fire brought a halt to the incessant barrage of rockets fired at Israel from Gaza.

Rabbi Friedman noted that all of the graduates studying in Israel came except for two who were on a trip with their school. The students met with the Friedmans in Jerusalem and ate pizza, chummos, and cookies baked by one of the students, Gavriella Pearl.

“The purpose of the trip was to visit them and see how they were doing,” explained Rabbi Friedman. “All of them were learning well and growing.” He said that all of the girls are doing well.

“Being that we came during and in the aftermath of the crisis in Gaza,” he added, “everyone we met was appreciative of the support of the American Jewish community. It is a small gesture…let’s think of the sacrifices our brothers and sisters are making for World Jewry on an ongoing basis.”

Midreshet Shalhevet expects that at least 90% of their second graduating class of 20 students will study in Israel next year. The students will be attending MMY, Shaalvim, Migdal Oz, Harova, Tiferet and Nishmat.

Rabbi Friedman plans to maintain a connection with the Shalhevet alumni when they return to the States next year by inviting them and setting up “learning time with them,” he said.

He noted that as Rosh Mesivta at Rambam he also spent time with the Rambam students in Israel, as well. He visited 12 yeshivot and gave shiurim to American students in some of them. The Rambam graduates learning in Israel join Rabbi Friedman for an annual Shabbaton as well.