Ninth-grade registration is now underway at a year-old
Jerusalem high school for girls that combines Bais Yaakov
learning with a warm, personalized environment.
Unlike the city's large high schools which enroll up to 50
girls per class, Seminar Tiferes Rivkah in Neve Yaakov
accepts a maximum of 25 girls per class and fosters a strong
rapport between students, teachers, and parents to monitor
individual progress in learning and middos development.
"The level of learning is in keeping with the standard of
Bais Yaakov, but because there are fewer girls per class, we
can cover more academic ground with less pressure," explains
Mrs. Sima Gordon, director. "In addition, many girls are
coming out of Jerusalem elementary schools -- many of which
have up to 40 girls per class -- without having had the
opportunity to develop their individual talents. Here, they
realize their own potential while being part of a group."
An end-of-the-year exhibition staged by the students for
their mothers and teachers reflected the school's founding
vision. Each ninth-grader chose a subject she had learned
during the year and designed a unique way to present it. For
the subject of tefilloh, for example, one girl
recorded a musical tape that challenged listeners to identify
important phrases in the Shemoneh Esrei. Each student
designed a Hebrew storybook using newly-learned computer
graphics skills.
Small class size and varied learning activities unified
students from different backgrounds into a cohesive group.
The history class took walking tours of Jerusalem to
concretize their studies. Yemei iyun explored the
subject of kashrus in the rural setting of Moshav Beit
Meir. The teaching staff, headed by Rebbetzin Sara Bamberger,
principal, also offered weekly swimming, art, choir, and
exercise classes.
Tiferes Rivkah received enthusiastic support and guidance in
its formative stages from HaRav Yisroel Gans, HaRav Tzvi
Weber, and HaRav Nachman Bulman, zt"l. For more
information, please call Mrs. Gordon at (02) 585-1512.
