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 lumni
and friends of Darche Noam know that Midreshet
Rachel and Shapell's are both unique institutions
that promote "many paths" to Torah. But few
know how this approach creates a comprehensive
environment where married couples can learn
and grow together in their Judaism. Rabbi
Shaya Karlinsky, Dean, points out that the
married couples program is unique in Israel's
yeshiva world. "Learning and interacting with
other couples helps to set the tone for their
family life long after they have left Darche
Noam," says Rabbi Karlinsky. Through special
shiurim, couples Shabbatonim, flexible schedules,
and comfortable kollel apartments, Darche
Noam has created a program with the specific
goals of improving the quality of a couple's
relationship and of their learning.
Lynn
Finson, Educational Director of Midreshet
Rachel, emphasizes the opportunities afforded
by the married couples program for nurturing
Shalom Bayit and for sharing learning and
growth with others."By providing a Torah foundation
for couples, we enable the participants to
come away with a framework for living. Equally
important is to experience this growth with
other couples dealing with similar issues."
Further, Mrs. Finson describes how the program's
reason for existing is to allow couples to
build a Jewish family within the confines
of a yeshiva. "They not only learn from their
rabbis, but through growth in the program,
they in turn provide positive role models
for the single students," she says.
Terry
and Aram Nadell study at Midreshet Rachel
and Shapell's and live in one of the married
student apartments. "The program provides
positive role models for married couples,"
explains Terry. "Darche Noam pushes you to
ask: what's my relationship with my spouse
like? How can I improve it? Both she and her
husband have classes at their respective schools
with the same rabbis; a situation which allows
for deeper, Torah-based discussions. "Here
at Darche Noam we can build a foundation for
our marriage and for our learning on common
ground."
Perry
and Caroline Saul hail from London, England
and spent the first eleven months of their
marriage living in Jerusalem, learning at
Darche Noam. "What attracted us was the fact
that we could come away from our yeshiva education
with similar viewpoints," explains Perry.
"This is unique program -- we shopped around
at other yeshivas, but found nothing close
to it." Perry and Caroline feel they will
leave Darche Noam with a renewed sense of
purpose and know what they've "grown together"
in the program.
A
recent couples shiur provides an excellent
example of the Darche Noam couples program
at work. Seven married student couples gathered
at the home of Shapell's student Morty Fertel
and his wife Ari. After schmoozing and noshing,
Rabbi Karlinsky led a detailed discussion
of the parshat hashavua (Chukat), and its
connection to married life. Rabbi Karlinsky
explained that Rashi's comments about the
tent openings of the Israelites not facing
each other referred to the importance of privacy
within communal life. "Instead of peeking
into their neighbours' tents to compare themselves
to their peers, or nosing into their business,
they Jewish families focused inward on their
own potential and responsibilities. It is
within such an environment that G-d find a
dwelling place," he said. Forging strong bonds
between married couples and the Torah way
of life is one important aspect of Darche
Noam's program.
Darche
Noam has committed itself to helping couples
further their learning skills and to growing
in their relationship. We look forward to
seeing how this program continues to evolve
and to welcoming new families to enjoy its
unique benefits!
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