Seminary is a familiar word that we constantly heard for many years. However, the senior year of High School was when we listened to many speeches and discussions about it. It was a time where we looked into our future and we decided on a path that will help us reach our goals. We chose Ohel Chana Seminary of Melbourne, Australia and many of us still can’t believe that the time has come and we are actually here! Australia is so different from other places we’ve seen. The cars drive on the wrong side of the road, and there’s a tram that can get us to Target. J We were very thankful to hear that we would be getting a day to settle in after our long trip before classes start so that we could adjust to the new time. The classes here are incredible and every Rabbi/Teacher is extremely knowledgeable and entertaining. We’ve learned so much already and we just started! Our teachers are:

Rabbi Abenaim: Pirkei Avos
Mr. Aron: Historia
Rabbi Blesofsky: Sefer Hashlichus
Rabbi Broh: Parsha
Rabbi Cohen: Seder Birchas Hanehnin
Rabbi Glasman: Maamorim
Rabbi Glick: Tanya
Rabbi Gutnick: Hilchos Kashrus
Rabbi Kluwgant: Gemorah
Rabbi Krasnjanski: Advanced Chassidus
Rabbi Nurenberg: Hilchos Shabbos
Rabbi Szmerling: Yomim Tovim
Rabbi Telsner: Inyonei Moshiach
Rabbi Tenenbaum: Rashi Sichos
Rabbi Winner: The Essence of Chassidus
Rabbi Wolf: Da Ma Shetoshiv
Mrs. Althaus: Bayit Yehudi
Mrs. Gordon and Mrs. Blesofsky: Chumash
Mrs. Moshel: Teaching Methods
Mrs. Tenenbaum: Navi

We also have Chavrusah learning 4 days a week for one hour in the afternoon to help us become more advanced in our knowledge and in our learning skills of the Rebbe’s Sichos/Maamorim on our own.

We were all invited to families in the community for the Shabbos meals. The Beth Rivkah High School made a welcome party for us on Shabbat day and it ended off with an inspirational Seder Niggunim. Our first Shabbos in Melbourne was beautiful and it will definitely be remembered.

On Motzei Shabbat, the Groner’s hosted a Melava Malkah and theYear 12 girls took us rollerblading, which was really fun! Rabbi Dalfin came in from the States and we were privileged to have him Farbreng with us on Monday night. He spoke about how fortunate we all are to be in an environment which is devoted to our Chinuch and how we should take complete advantage of this year because once it’s gone, we won’t have an opportunity like this again. On Tuesday, we were introduced to a Vov Tishrei Hachanah program by Ita our Program Coordinator that could win us a trip to Sydney to assist shluchim for the yomim noraim. On Wednesday, we had an evening Aerobics class that kept us moving. On Thursday, we heard amazing Rebbe stories and great life lessons at a Farbrengen with our principal Rabbi Tenenbaum. Rabbi Tenenbaum explained to us the importance of Shmiras Hazman, Mivtzoim, and Ahavas Yisroed, and that these points should be a focus for this year.

We were only here for a week and half yet we are accomplished so much. A big thank you to Rabbi Tenenbaum, Mrs. Groner, Chaya Dina, Ita and staff for everything that you do to make our experience a more comfortable and enjoyable one. We look forward to an incredible year ahead in OC IYH!!