Kedma Newsletter: Winter 2019 Edition

At Kedma, we build communities based on the joy of giving through such programs as the annual Kedma-YU inter-seminary choir competition that attracted over 1500 women and raised money for Atara, a non-profit that helps women at risk.

A Letter from Our Director, Orit Seif:

On a brisk Saturday night at the end of January, over 1500 women gathered for the Annual Kedma-YU Inter-Seminary Choir Competition at the Ramada Hotel in Jerusalem. The positive energy of the room pulsed as thirteen choir groups took the stage to perform numbers related to the theme of “Shirei Hodaya,” song of thanks and gratitude. After careful consideration of each performance, the judges awarded third place to Tiferet, second place to Michlalah, and first place to Sharfmans-Bnot Torah.

As a first-time Choir Competition attendee, the highlight of the evening was seeing the students’ self expression and creativity shine in their performances. During their gap year, these women are immersed in Torah study and spiritual growth. The choir competition complements these experiences by offering alternate avenues for growth: the participants spend weeks developing programs rich with song, dance, and design.

In addition to cultivating the students’ creativity, one of the primarily goals of the choir competition is building an inter-seminary community — both by strengthening the bonds of the individual teams, and, more importantly, by fostering the growth of a community based on the joy of giving. Historically, the proceeds of the choir competition have gone to charities focused on women in need, such as hachnasat kallah funds (charities aiding destitute brides). This year the seminaries raised money for Atara, an organization that helps women at risk. The importance of engaging in a community based on the joy of giving aligns with Kedma’s mission.

Kedma works with seminary students by creating programming that is both individually fulfilling and community building. Based on the success of the choir competition, Kedma and YU are piloting the “DIscover Israel” Shabbaton program at the end of March. All seminaries are invited to participate in a Shabbaton where the students are embedded in the Garin Torani (small group of religious families that work with the secular families in the city) in Migdal HaEmek. Over Shabbat, the women will hear from community rabbis, as well as from the women of the Garin who embody the values of giving and community building.

Kedma continues to further its mission of raising an awareness around the importance of giving within gap year seminaries. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to make a real difference for our participants and recipient organizations as Kedma enters its twenty-third year!

Thank you!

Orit

Student's Corner:

My name is Leah Weiss, and I’m currently studying in MMY (Michlelet Mevaseret Yerushalayim) for my year in Israel.

Ever since I was in middle school I was incredibly self-conscious of my voice. Many of my friends and family always told me that I had a beautiful voice, but I never believed them. I was always scared to sing in front of people, and this fear stayed with me through high school. When it was time for our school-wide performance I tried out for dance instead of the choir.  Dance was within my comfort zone and Baruch Hashem I was good at it, but I never faced my fear of singing.

When I heard about the Kedma-YU inter-seminary choir competition I knew this could be my opportunity to face my insecurity, as well as to use leadership skills that I learned throughout my life. I was chosen to be one of the heads and it was stressful, fun, and an eye-opening experience. Everything that my seminary did, could not have happened without my amazing co-heads and friends who helped with the harmonies and song arrangements. We found songs, rewrote lyrics, taught about thirty girls, learned to use many “people skills”, and we gained new friendships as well. On a personal level, I was given a huge opportunity to open up the night with a Dvar Torah, sing the first solo in my choir, and I was privileged to be able to speak again on on behalf of all of the choir heads. I stepped up in a way I never thought that I could.

I firmly believe I have gained a new found confidence by participating and being proactive in the Kedma-YU Inter-Seminary Choir competition. Even though it would’ve been nice to win the competition, I don’t think I would change anything we did. I slowly began to realize it was a lot more than winning. It was about supporting those around me and cheering on my friends from my seminary and other seminaries.  We are here in Israel to learn, grow, and help those around us. I personally believe I was able to achieve those goals in one night — and I was given the foundation and direction to do so by participating in the inter-seminary competition. The ability to express my gratitude to Hashem through singing, raising money for underprivileged women in Israel, and letting go of my insecurities was priceless. The Kedma-YU choir competition was a night filled with breakthroughs, Tzedakah, and Hodaya. Thank you for providing me, and all those who it helped, with such an incredible opportunity! I don’t think I’ll ever forget what that night meant to me.