Emet’s Popular Seminary Featuring Rebbetzin Yaeger Completes A Successful Year

• Prev
• 1 of 3
• Next

This past year, Emet Outreach launched the Ateret Emet Seminary, an exciting initiative that caters to its higher-level students’ desire for continued learning and growth. Every Sunday morning, students come to the Emet Learning Center in Jamaica Estates to enjoy breakfast, learning, inspiration, and a warm social atmosphere. The seminary, led by Emet’s popular Women’s Director Shira Fendel, had an extremely successful first year. 

Shira says students were the driving force behind the seminary. “Many of our higher level students spend time in seminary in Eretz Yisrael, and when they come back they want to continue advanced seminary-style learning. In addition to inspiration, they want classes that are text-based and address halacha and other practical topics. Ateret Emet is a direct response to their personal needs.”

Classes are taught by the renowned Rebbetzin Tehilla Yaeger and Rabbi Binyamin Yuhanan, one of Enet’s senior staff members. This past semester, Rebbetzin Yaeger taught tefilla, based on Rav Shimshon Pincus’ sefer Shaarim B’Tefila. Rabbi Yuhanan focuses on halacha. This past year he covered kasrhus, Shabbos, and berachos.

Student Channah Aranova says she was attracted to Ateret Emet by her desire to know more halacha.  “What initially drew me was Rabbi Yuhanan’s class. As a baal-teshuva, I had a tough time getting a handle on hilchot Shabbat, so when I found out Rabbi Yuhanan was teaching that, I jumped at the chance. As it turns out, I’ve grown a lot from Rebbetzin Yaeger too, so this has been a win-win.”

Warm and Pleasant Atmosphere

Shira says that having classes on Sunday morning creates the right atmosphere. “It’s a very special way to start the week. When girls come in, they’re treated to a catered breakfast with hot coffee, and music playing in the background. It’s a warm, and pleasant atmosphere.” She adds, “Unlike weeknights when people come in stressed out from work, Sunday everyone comes in relaxed. In addition, the Emet learning center has a really warm and pleasant
feel.”

In addition to learning, girls develop a close relationship with Rebbetzin Yaeger. They can schedule one-on-one appointments to discuss their questions, personal matters, or anything else on their mind.

One student says that she gained a lot from her connection with the Rebbetzin. “I had a one-on-one meeting with the Rebbetzin in which I discussed various issues in my life. She was really supportive and helpful, and she told me that I could feel free to call her anytime. I’ve taken her up on it more than once, and she’s always very supportive and helps me deal with issues that arise.” She adds, “Rabbi Yuhanan also makes himself readily available for any questions we have regarding halachot. He’s just a text or phone call away.”

On Mother’s Day, the students decided to buy the Rebbetzin flowers to show their appreciation for everything she does. That same week, the Rebbetzin decided to buy the girls gifts, and came in with a sefer Tehillim for each student.

Although she has a very busy schedule, Rebbetzin Yaeger enjoys devoting time to teach for Emet. She sees how special the organization’s students are, and especially appreciates their humility and desire to grow and be makabel what they learn.

Personal Growth

For students, having a chance to witness the greatness and special persona of Rebbetzin Yaeger week after week has had an amazing impact. Their growth and development is often tangible. One married student, who views the Rebbetzin as her role model, recently began covering her hair. Many others now have a greater appreciation of tefila, and daven on a completely different level than before.

One student says the Seminary has helped her grow and develop. “Classes makes me feel empowered to get closer to Hashem, and give me the chizuk to get through the week. Rebbetzin Yaeger is a great role model, and its great to see her embrace Torah in such a special way.”

In addition to weekly classes, Ateret Emet periodically holds Shabbatons. They recently had one in the Five Towns. On Friday night after the meal they had a beautiful oneg. During the day students attended a lecture by Rabbi YY Rubinstein. Shalosh Seudos was held at the home of Rebbetzin Yaeger, and her husband, Rav Naftali Yaeger, the Rosh Yeshiva of Shor Yoshuv, joined for havdalah and gave each student
a beracha.

Shira says that students really look forward to seminary each week, and sometimes go to great lengths to attend. “We recently held a Shabbaton in the Catskills for Step-It-Up, Emet’s advanced learning program,” she says. “Two of the girls on the Shabbaton attend seminary. We had a Sunday activity, and I expected the girls to skip Seminary and remain with the group. They wouldn’t hear of it. We left the Catskills at 6 am so we could make it back to Queens in time.”

Atert Emet is currently accepting enrollments for its upcoming September semester. To join or to learn more information, contact Shira Fendel at 917 628 3170.