Midreshet Tehillah Alumnae Newsletter
Summer 2014 - Page 5
An Interview with...
Chana Lombardo
Silver Spring, MD, USA
MT ‘13-’14
MT: How did you make
your way to Midreshet
Tehillah?
Word of mouth! I had
heard all about MT
from girls in grades
above me, so it was on
my radar. I decided to
apply after Rabbi Kagan
presented at my high
school. His ideas really
resonated with me and I
felt drawn to Midreshet
Tehillah. It was not the
only seminary I was
accepted to so I had a
hard choice to make,
but MT felt like the
right place for me. I’m
so glad I made that choice!
MT: Tell me what you love
most about MT.
I love the diversity amongst the
girls. Coming from a very diverse
high school, this was a priority for
me. I needed a place that is not
cookie-cutter and would let me
grow in my own way, rather than
trying to make me into something
specific.
Additionally, I LOVE the classes.
The emphases are on learning
lishmah (for its own sake) and
personal growth. Tests and
homework are really peripheral,
MT: Is there a
particular class
or teacher that
you especially
connect to?
which is a nice break after high
school! The teachers are involved
and interested in our lives and not
afraid of any questions we throw
at them. And I don’t have to tell
everyone how amazing the Kagans
are.
MT: What was your biggest
surprise at MT?
Two words: Israeli mattresses! But
seriously, nothing has shocked me
too much. And anyway, I didn’t
come in with a lot of preconceived
notions of what seminary was
supposed to be.
I am in love with
the Shir HaShirim
class taught by Mrs.
Foxbrunner. This is
a sefer I’ve never learned before,
and I’ve never been in a class with
such a huge array of mefarshim
(commentaries)! It’s very text-based
and I’m enjoying it immensely.
On a personal level, I really connect
with our rakezet (advisor) Mrs.
Rudman. I appreciate that in
addition to her caring about us all
deeply, she is down-to-earth and
easy to relate to.
MT: What was your
favorite tiyul or event?
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