Neve Yerushalayim

Elul is in the air!

🌟

You asked, we responded! Last week’s featuring Neve students learning Hebrew had many of you requesting a picture of the brilliant Rebbetzin Tziporah (Heller) Gottlieb—and here it is from her ulpan days! 📸

As mentioned last week, back in the 70s, she was hired to teach Hebrew, but it’s ironic to think that the Rebbetzin who would go on to become a leading figure in Jewish philosophy and thought began with Aleph-Bet.

We’re honored to have her as part of the Neve family. 🌸

📚The Desire to Learn Never Stops 🕰️

Even during their lunch break, our dedicated students are in the library, diving into Hebrew lessons with Toby Stern, head of the tutorial department and one of our most dedicated and beloved teachers! 🌟📖

Whether it's mastering Hebrew or connecting to our rich heritage, our students are always finding ways to grow.

This Girl is on Fire Shabbatone with Olami Souled

Rabbi Avraham Edelstein spent Shabbos in NYC at the Olami Souled Shabbatone, where he was reunited with many of his former students.

to the 1970s! 🌟

Take a look at this gem—a group of Neve students with some fabulous 70s hairstyles, deeply engaged in their Hebrew lessons. 📚✌️

Our brilliant Rebbetzin Tziporah (Heller) Gottlieb, now renowned for teaching every aspect of Jewish philosophy and thought, was originally hired to teach... Hebrew! How ironic is that? Little did we know that the teacher who would illuminate the minds of countless students on profound Jewish concepts started with Aleph-Bet at Neve!

Thousands of Israelis are still displaced, many living in cramped hotel rooms far from home due to the shelling up North. Among them is the community of Shloimi, near the Lebanese border. Since October, 60 children, aged 6-15, have been cooped up in the Kings Hotel.

🎉 Yesterday, our Neve students hosted these incredible kids at Gan Soccer to celebrate all the summer birthdays. It filled with laughter, games, and heartfelt moments—a reminder that even in difficult times, we can bring light to those who need it most.

🤝 This Elul please be reminder that every act of kindness makes a difference.

✨ Creating our Future, One Vision Board at a Time ✨

Last night, our students gathered for an evening of creativity and reflection as they designed their vision boards. Each board is a unique expression of their hopes, dreams, and goals as they continue their journey in discovering their Jewish heritage.

Mazal Tov Monday

Mazal Tov
Ruth (Quintero) Ben Aarosh, Neve '22 & '24, upon the birth of a baby boy.
Aliza (Camrass) Hodges, Neve '94 & '95 - '97, upon the birth of a grandson.
Katie (Ranish) Goldstein, Neve '16, '17 -'18 & '19, upon the chalakah of her son.
Melaine (Solomon) Wallace, Neve '16 & '19, upon the bris of her son.
Amanda (Jacob) Kaufman, Neve '06 - '07, & Shari (Bloom) Kaufman, Neve '83 upon the bar mitzvah of her son/grandson.
Karen (Epstein) Grafstein, Neve '98 - '91, upon the birth of of a first grandchild, a grandson.

Not Pictured:
Dina (Okladek) Mensch, Neve '85 - '86, upon the bas mitzvah of her daughter.
Lexi Schwartz Yoffie, Neve '21 & '22, on the birth of a baby boy.
Rabbi Eliezer Liff, upon the engagement of his grandson.
Mrs. Chaya Levine, Dean of Students, upon the chalakah of her grandson.

The Neve Yerushalayim family joins Am Yisrael in deep grief over the tragic loss of the six hostages found in Gaza. Our hearts are broken as we mourn with their families and all of Klal Yisrael. In these painful moments, we are reminded of the unbreakable unity that binds us as a nation—or really, as a family. May we find strength and comfort in our shared sorrow and may their memories be a blessing.

Pictured Below: Saying Good-Bye to Israeli-American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin as thousands attended his funeral in Jerusalem yesterday.

המקום ינחם אתכם בתוך שאר אבלי ציון וירושלים

As we approach Elul, remember 👇!

Throwback Thursday

**Honoring Housemother
Breindy Sigler!**

Today, we're looking back when Breindy Sigler, housemother par excellence, stepped into her role at Neve Yerushalayim. Beloved by all who met her, Breindy exemplified the essence of a caring Jewish woman. Her warmth and dedication touched the hearts of countless students, creating a nurturing environment that felt like home away from home. We are forever grateful for her lasting impact on the Neve family.

Share your memories of Breindy in the comments below! 💖

✨ Celebrating a Special Milestone at Neve Yerushalayim! ✨

We recently had the privilege of hosting a beautiful bas mitzvah celebration for Margaux, a young woman who never had the opportunity to celebrate this significant milestone before. 🎉

The event was filled with joy and reflection as we recognized the importance of a bas mitzvah—a time when a young woman embraces her role in taking on the responsibilities of the mitzvot. Our students were inspired by this special moment as Margaux decided to try and commit to starting each day with the mitzvah of saying "Modeh Ani" upon waking, expressing gratitude for the gift of life.

May we all continue to grow in our commitment to mitzvot and find meaning in each step of our spiritual journey.

Mazal Tov to Margaux (sitting on the right)! 💖

Rabbi Yonah and Yehudis Refson and Rabbi and Mrs. Dovid Refson, upon the engagement of their son/grandson!

Mazal Tov Monday

Arielle Cohen, Neve '24, upon her aliyah.
Aviva Chertok) Li, Neve '16, upon the birth of a baby boy.
Lisa (Kammermon) Schwadron, Neve '83, upon the birth of twin grandchildren.
Rebbecca Klaman, Madracha '22, upon her vort with all her Neve friends!

Not pictured:
Ada (Sefton) Apfelbaum, Neve '96 - '98, upon her aliayh after living in Brazil for 22 years.
Chana (Robin Fisher), Neve '97 - '98, upon the engagement of her son.
Gabi (Ferreira) Weber, Neve '16 - '19, upon the birth of a baby boy.
Melanie (Solomon) Wallace, Neve '16 & '19, upon the birth of a baby boy.
Esti Bear, Neve Madracha, upon the birth of a baby girl.
Davina Milton, Neve '18 - '19, upon the birth of a baby girl.

Please send your mazal tov's to [email protected] and write mazal tov in the subject line.

Shabbat Shalom

🌟 A Powerful Journey: Neve Yerushalayim's Visit to Hostage Square and Sheba Hospital 🌟

This week, our students had the profound opportunity to visit Hostage Square in Tel Aviv and Sheba Hospital, experiences that left a lasting impact on all of us.

At Hostage Square, we were welcomed by dedicated volunteers who provided us with an insightful tour. In the square long table are set up, where each hostage's family had brought a chair, decorated uniquely to reflect their loved one's personality. This powerful display gave a face to those who are still missing. Various tents were also set up, symbolizing the incredible diversity of the Jewish people, ensuring that everyone who visits feels a sense of belonging.

The night before our visit to Sheba Hospital, our students baked cookies, which they later gave to the soldiers after hearing from Leah Spitz. Leah shared the inspiring story of her son, Ari, an injured soldier who was sedated and ventilated for a month. Despite losing three limbs, he never lost his smile. When asked what message they would give to the world, the soldiers responded with a powerful statement: "Always continue to hope, despite any challenges you face."

This was a heavy yet deeply meaningful trip, one that we will carry with us as we continue to learn, grow, and support one another.

Tu B'Av the Neve Way
Here at Neve, we celebrated Tu B'Av with a rooftop dance extravaganza featuring the incredible DJ Rivkah Adinah. The event was filled with joy as we danced to uplifting music, enjoyed wine and cheese, and used tambourines to tap into the true spirit of Tu B'Av. It was a beautiful evening of unity and camaraderie, set against the beautiful backdrop of the Jerusalem sky, which is a memory that will last a lifetime.

Attached we are happy to share a tefilla for shidduchim. May our prayer be answered and may we always join together in simchot!

Parshat Nachamu - Shabbat Shalom

Throwback Thursday
Housemothers Continued

The originals, Rebbetzin Lea Feldman and Rebbetzin Sarah Rottman

We cannot continue our housemother series without recognizing the original housemothers, Rebbetzin Lea Feldman and Rebbetzin Sarah Rottman. These incredible women nurtured us through our journey as newly religious, at a time when this path was still new to our communities, they were the trailblazers!

From offering guidance on being newly religious to shidduchim and after, they provided unwavering support, they were always there for us, truly going above and beyond.

Please like and comment if these women have touched your lives!

Yesterday, on Tisha B'Av, the students at Neve Yerushalayim had an incredibly moving and unforgettable experience. After reading Eicha in the evening, Rebbetzin Tziporah Gottlieb took them on a powerful bus tour to give them a different perspective on the perimeters of Har HaBayis. This unique vantage point allowed them to fully grasp the historical and spiritual significance of the place where the Beit HaMikdash once stood.

The next day as Tisha B'Av came to an end, our students gathered at the Kotel, joining thousands in pray, unity and song. The sense of togetherness (achdus) was overwhelming. When the fast ended cake and drinks were passed around, allowing everyone to break their fast together, making it an experience that will be cherished forever.

May everyone have a peaceful, joyous and meaningful Shabbos.

Throwback Thursday
The Housemothers
Gitty (Twersky) Appel, Susan (Kendal) Kagan, Tehila (Courtney) Schwab

For many years we were blessed to have a dream team of housemothers living on campus, serving as nurturing role models for our students on how to embody the essence of a Jewish woman.

Yesterday, our students visited Yad Vashem. We felt it was appropriate to go during the Nine Days, leading us up to Tisha B'Av. During this period we deepen our understanding of our collective Jewish history, helping us to feel the weight of exile and the yearning for a complete redemption.
Next year in Jerusalem.

A Tale of Two Romys
Meet Romy and Romy, both from Vancouver, who never crossed paths until they came back to visit Neve as alumnae! It’s heartwarming to see our former students form connections and friendships, even years after their time at Neve.

As our pomegranates bloom on campus, I'm reminded of Elul and Rosh Hashanah and the symbolic fruits we enjoy. We eat pomegranates on Rosh Hashanah because they symbolize abundance and our hope that our merits will be as numerous as the seeds of the fruit. As the Nine Days and Tisha B’Av approach, and with the specter of war looming ominously on the horizon, let us draw strength from our collective merits and cling to the hope of a brighter tomorrow.
Let us envision this Tisha B’Av as the final one, leading us towards the true geula. May our prayers be answered, and may peace prevail in our hearts and in the world around us.