Seminary websites assume you already know the vocabulary. Here it is in plain English.
The year
- Seminary / midrasha: a school of full-time Torah study for women. "Midrasha" is the Hebrew word and is used more by Religious Zionist schools.
- Shana Alef: "year one", the year right after high school.
- Shana Bet: "year two", a second year for students who stay on, often with its own classes.
- Overseas program: the track for students from outside Israel, usually taught in English. Michlalah calls its overseas program Machal.
- Zman: a term. The year is usually split into two or three.
The learning
- Shiur: a class.
- Beit midrash: the study hall, and the style of learning that happens there, in pairs with the text open.
- Chavruta: a study partner, or learning in pairs.
- Chabura: a small study group.
- Tanach: the Hebrew Bible (Torah, Prophets and Writings).
- Gemara / Talmud: the central text of rabbinic law and discussion. Some seminaries teach it and some don't.
- Halacha: Jewish law.
- Machshava: Jewish thought and philosophy.
- Mussar: the study of character and ethics.
- Chassidut: the teachings of the Chassidic movement.
- Hashkafa: a religious outlook or worldview. People use it both for a subject taught in class and for a school's overall approach.
- Ulpan: an intensive Hebrew language course.
The people
- Rosh midrasha / menahel / menahelet: the head of the school.
- Madricha: a counselor, usually a few years older than the students, who lives with or near them.
- Eim bayit: a house mother, the adult responsible for the dorm.
- Mashgiach / mashgicha ruchanit: a staff member who looks after students' religious and personal growth.
Life outside class
- Chesed: volunteering and acts of kindness, often a weekly slot.
- Tiyul: a trip or hike.
- Shabbaton: a Shabbat spent together as a school, often away. An "in Shabbat" is spent at school, an "out Shabbat" is free.
- Sherut Leumi: Israeli national service, done by many religious Israeli women instead of the army. Bnot Sherut are the young women doing it.
Applying and paying
- Israel night / Israel fair: an evening at a high school or college where seminaries present and answer questions.
- Joint application: one online form shared by many seminaries. See applying to seminary.
- Masa: an organization funded by the Israeli government and the Jewish Agency that gives grants for long programs in Israel. See costs, Masa and scholarships.
- Bais Yaakov: a network and style of Orthodox girls' schools. Bais Yaakov seminaries continue that approach.
- Dati Leumi / Religious Zionist: an approach that combines Torah observance with a religious commitment to the State of Israel.
