Whats dif about Bjj than any other sem

workingmom24/6 ↓

Mon, Nov 11 2024, 12:08 pm

My daughter has been suggested to apply
Everyone I ask says it's "more" and " different" than any other sem
Can anyone explain please
I'm trying to understand what's so special about the place 🤔
Thanks

amother

Bottlebrush

Mon, Nov 11 2024, 12:11 pm

Some kind of reputation as being better than everything else. Although I didn't find anything particularly special about people that went there compared to those that went to other "top" sems.

When I was applying to sems, a teacher told me it's the only "real sem". I cried because I didn't want to go there. Luckily I found the perfect fit elsewhere.

amother

Blushpink ↓

Mon, Nov 11 2024, 12:15 pm

It’s a lot of memorizing, more focus on studying and knowing text by heart and less of a focus on the overall eretz yisroel experience most other seminaries offer. It’s a very specific type, quiet, nerdy, introverts do well there and those who love to memorize. My whole family went except for me I wanted a different type of experience.

Chayalle ↓

Mon, Nov 11 2024, 12:21 pm

amother Blushpink wrote:

Do you seriously believe it's a seminary of quiet, nerdy introverts? Particularly since you yourself didn't go there?

I would guess a seminary evolves over the years, but when I went, it was definitely for academic achievers who wanted to be intellectually challenged and were deep thinkers (I think machshava was a big, big focus of Rebbetzin David). It's interesting because I don't think of memorizing as being such a huge part of seminary for me (maybe because that's something that wasn't so difficult for me) but studying alot of text definitely was part of it.

I have no idea what it's like today, and it's been about 30 years since I went. And as someone mentioned, I personally can't imagine it without Rebbetzin David.

amother

Tan

Mon, Nov 11 2024, 12:32 pm

amother Blushpink wrote:

The girl from my oot school who got in this year was the GO head, super smart, outgoing, challenges teachers as to the 'whys', a critical thinker, and pretty loud in class.

amother

↑ Blushpink ↓

Mon, Nov 11 2024, 12:40 pm

Chayalle wrote:

My whole family went and I spent a lot of time visiting since I had friends there. So yes that is what it is. It’s academic achievers as in those who like to memorize. The ones who are academic achievers in wanting to gain more knowledge and be academically challenged in all areas don’t go there. And many go just for the name of course.

amother

Opal

Mon, Nov 11 2024, 12:41 pm

It's focus is mainly on academics. They are not the seminary in Israel experience you get everywhere else.. meaning way less trips and even diff kind of trips.
The ppl that go are either legitimately smart and want a year to focus on learning OR just want the prestige it can come with.

amother

↑ Blushpink ↓

Mon, Nov 11 2024, 12:41 pm

amother Tan wrote:

The girl from my oot school who got in this year was the GO head, super smart, outgoing, challenges teachers as to the 'whys', a critical thinker, and pretty loud in class.

Some such girls go and they tend to feel super stifled.

amother

Silver ↓

Mon, Nov 11 2024, 12:43 pm

I got accepted to BJJ and chose to go to a different seminary (I only applied based off pressure from my parents and mechaneches but BH got into a different, very good seminary). I understood that it was basically another year of high school learning, perhaps more advanced. I went to a very academic high school as is, and I was not interested in another year of that, and not really having the Israel experience and deep hashkafic learning that other seminaries offer. I was very happy with my decision. The seminary I did end up going to was both academic and offered hashkafic depth as well.
ETA: I obviously was also not into the prestige one gets when attending such a brand name seminary. I understand that is something people are looking for as well when trying to get into BJJ.

↑ Chayalle ↓

Mon, Nov 11 2024, 12:55 pm

amother Blushpink wrote:

In your last post you called an entire seminary nerdy quiet introverts. You didn't go there. I did, and I can assure you there were plenty of lively, with-it extroverts. I think to paint an entire seminary the way you did discredits your opinion. With all due respect to your family and friends.

In addition, let me assure you there were plenty of those who wanted to gain knowledge and be academically challenged.

I do think (like many other things) that BJJ moved somewhat to the right since I was there. It used to be more diverse. I think other seminaries opened up that competed with BJJ, and there are other seminaries that a bright, deep-thinking young lady might consider as options.

amother

Trillium ↓

Mon, Nov 11 2024, 12:59 pm

amother Blushpink wrote:

Some such girls go and they tend to feel super stifled.

I don't know what BJJ is like today, but these were the girls who really found a home with Rebbetzin David. She loved being pushed back against and discussing topics with girls who wanted to go deeper and think critically.

(Geveret Leibowitz had a very different style, and hers might have been more stifling for a girl like this. But Reb. David thrived on this type of interaction.)

↑ workingmom24/6 ↓

Mon, Nov 11 2024, 1:45 pm

amother Silver wrote:

Would you mind sharing what sem you went to? Sounds like what my daughter is looking for

↑ workingmom24/6 ↓

Mon, Nov 11 2024, 1:48 pm

Iymnok wrote:

I assume it's different now, without Rebbitzen David.

Would anyone who has/had a daughter there without Rebbetzen David share how bjj is currently doing?
Thanks

amother

↑ Blushpink

Mon, Nov 11 2024, 1:51 pm

Chayalle wrote:

That describes the majority. It’s a very cookie cutter in the box seminary.

amother

↑ Silver

Mon, Nov 11 2024, 1:57 pm

workingmom24/6 wrote:

Would you mind sharing what sem you went to? Sounds like what my daughter is looking for

Sure, Bnos Sarah. Loved it. Although this is over a decade ago so I don’t know what it is like nowadays. I think it is more or less the same.

↑ workingmom24/6

Mon, Nov 11 2024, 2:10 pm

amother Silver wrote:

Sure, Bnos Sarah. Loved it. Although this is over a decade ago so I don’t know what it is like nowadays. I think it is more or less the same.

Thank you

amother

↑ Trillium

Mon, Nov 11 2024, 2:33 pm

amother Blushpink wrote:

That describes the majority. It’s a very cookie cutter in the box seminary.

There is something very odd about someone who didn't attend an institution insisting that they know better than someone who did. (As another BJJ alumna, I agree with Chayalle.

Can we coin the term bjjsplaining?