15/11/2012
Dear Supporters and Friends of Shirat Devorah:
It is with sadness we are writing to tell you of the closing of Shirat Devorah.
Every beginning seminary and yeshiva, even the largest ones you know of, started small, and endured lean times where they asked themselves if they should, or could, continue to remain open. The challenge of our current economic times makes the answer to those questions harder than ever. The reality of Shirat Devorah's economic situation today is that we have reached the end of the road.
While Shirat Devorah has closed its doors, its impact and influence will continue. We have had an effect on the world of Torah learning institutions and places have had to sit up and take notice. We expect that more Shirat Devorah-like institutions will be popping up, and more current institutions will start adding some of the innovative programming we introduced.
Shirat Devorah is an idea whose time has come. Am Yisrael so desperately needs places where young women can come and learn Torah in a more autonomous and holistic environment with others who value the same things they do -- organics, environment, sustainability, creativity, social action and social justice. A higher value must be placed on integration and process, and Shirat Devorah innovated many different programs toward that end. Our Arts and Integration program, our Yoga classes, last year's Dynamic Processing Group, and this year's Hands-On Torah workshop all addressed these values. We provided an environment that was all about connecting to Am Yisrael in the land of Israel, and viewing that as a next redemptive step for our people and the world. Finally, and most importantly, we told our students that Am Yisrael is waiting for the gifts that they bring to the table, gifts they may have gained from developing their valuable talents in the larger non-religious world. These gifts are prized not despised, and are crucial in their service of HaShem.
It is no coincidence that so many of our students chose to make Aliyah. Perhaps it is also no coincidence that many of our students felt ready to take on the commitment of marriage and Jewish family and so many weddings have already taken place considering our small numbers. We already have the first member of the next Shirat Devorah generation!
We may be closing but we are celebrating our accomplishments and pray that there will be a ripple effect in our people. Shirat Devorah was only a beginning. Thought forms ripple throughout group consciousness and suddenly things that were not possible before become highly possible. Perhaps Shirat Devorah is preparing to morph into a more sustainable form in the future.
We all feel privileged to have been a part of this endeavor. Your support and participation has been what has sustained us until now and allowed all the above to blossom. We thank you, and Am Yisrael thanks you.
Gratefully and Sincerely,
Yehudit Feld, Aaron Liebowitz,
Former Director, Shirat Devorah Dean, HaOhel Institutions
