Whats dif about Bjj than any other sem

amother

Natural

Mon, Nov 11 2024, 2:50 pm

amother Midnight wrote:

nothing to do with bjj, but why is “introverted” being used/viewed as a derogatory term? I protest.

—an introvert

Because it wasn't just introvert.
It was I quote "quiet, nerdy, introverts who love to memorize"

amother

Babyblue

Mon, Nov 11 2024, 3:01 pm

I was accepted to, but did not go to, BJJ. My reasons were personal and would not apply to anyone else, so it's irrelevant.

I do think it's important to keep in mind that even if someplace is tops, it isn't necessarily the right fit for everyone.

That being said, I feel like a lot of the comments here have an underlying negativity.

BJJ is a fantastic seminary, and the girls I knew who went there were such nice people! And while they definitely were more academic, they were not nerdy. Introverted? Possibly some. But there are for sure some introverts in all seminaries.

↑ Chayalle ↓

Mon, Nov 11 2024, 3:03 pm

amother Midnight wrote:

nothing to do with bjj, but why is “introverted” being used/viewed as a derogatory term? I protest.

—an introvert

I don't think it's derogatory at all, but as an extrovert who attended BJJ.....I was like "what"?

amother

Marigold ↓

Mon, Nov 11 2024, 3:16 pm

amother Trillium wrote:

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?

I agree with Chayalle, as well. I went approximately 15 years ago and there were many, many girls who were full of personality. GO head type. Certainly not a minority.

amother

↑ Marigold ↓

Mon, Nov 11 2024, 3:18 pm

amother Natural wrote:

Because it wasn't just introvert.
It was I quote "quiet, nerdy, introverts who love to memorize"

Actually, I saw many girls there who wanted to learn of course, but also have a good time. And who did not appear to take their grades very seriously.

amother

Brass

Mon, Nov 11 2024, 3:25 pm

I was probably one of the quiet nerdy introvert who went 30 years ago. I didn't love memorizing but was fairly decent at it. I didn't love most of the classes, coming from BY of Monsey where I had great teachers, but some were really enjoyable. I met amazing people and was placed in different places for shabbos so had a broad experience. I had no relationship with Reb David at all, although I definitely admired her. I felt everyone parrotted the party line and you weren't really encouraged to think too much unless you were that special someone who had an interesting story and background. There were always a few of those.

My daughter was recommended to apply there, but didn't want to go. She thought it was over-rated and didn't want the name "bjj" to overshadow who she is. She felt its become very right wing yeshivish and she felt it would be stifling for her. We also heard that a lot of the teachers are old and that they have so many girls its all college-lecture style without really having access to the teachers either because they're too old and have no time/patience or there are too many people. She went elsewhere and loved her whole experience.

I think their reputation got so exclusive that it turned people off, which is why you hear the negativity and then you have other people still very much wanting that brand-name. Not sure what she could have done differently, but its a pity that she developed a seminary that so many people ultimately disparage.

amother

Viola

Mon, Nov 11 2024, 3:33 pm

I did not go to BJJ so can't speak to what its exactly like but a general overview would categorize it as a seminary very much to the "right" and is on a high academic level and generally only accepts very academically inclined girls.
During the seminary year, they emphasize academics more than most seminaries, and are more "text-based" than haskafa-based.
I know many girls who went there who were very happy with their experience.
I'll caveat that its important to know what YOUR daughter is hoping to gain out of a year in EY.

Personally, I went to a less intense seminary academically (also very right wing), but found that the hashkafa lessons and experiences we had over Shabbosos, on tiyulim, seeing the lifestyle in EY, feeling independent, contributed much more to why I gained so much from seminary, and had very little to do with the academics of the year...

I will also for sure disagree with the individual who told you that BJJ is the only "real seminary"

amother

Honey

Mon, Nov 11 2024, 3:43 pm

amother Blushpink wrote:

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

Sorry, not sure what your agenda is here but totally completely not. BJJ is famous for being not in the box. There are girls who were there with me who are doctors, lawyers, mechanchos and everything in between and they are NOT all quiet and nerdy.
I was GO in my school, and not at all quiet, had lots of questions and did not like to memorize and I did not feel stifled there at all...

amother

Valerian

Mon, Nov 11 2024, 4:42 pm

I knew one woman who went there, who wasn't academically inclined. She said straight out that she was automatically accepted, because she was related to Rebbitzen David.

This discussion took place at least ten years after we were both out of seminary, but she said that she really struggled, and didn't fit in so well. Her parents didn't really consider any other option, but looking back, she felt she would have done much better elsewhere. Without that very strong academic side, it's really hard to fit in.

amother

↑ Marigold

Mon, Nov 11 2024, 4:54 pm

It’s definitely not a place for everyone, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a mix. Pretty much all the girls there did very well academically in high school, but some are more into their grades than others. Personalities are all types.

There is a lot of text-based learning, and a lot that you have to prepare on your own. There is plenty of hashkafa too, just based off of the text.

Of course I don’t know anything about BJJ without Reb. David a”h.

Elfrida

Mon, Nov 11 2024, 5:13 pm

amother Wisteria wrote:

I feel like none of this actually explained what's better about BJJ that's different than other seminaries

It's one of the oldest seminaries, with alumni sending their own daughters there. Over the years has built up a very strong reputation, and has influenced the development of the entire seminary model.

That doesn't necessarily make it better, but as one of the prototypes, it has a certain status that's hard for newer seminaries to attain.

thriver ↓

Tue, Nov 12 2024, 9:04 am

amother Blushpink wrote:

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

I’ve been out a while (20 years) but this was very much not the case! We had girls from all over, mostly American, but some Europeans as well, and girls from all over America. Very different types which Rebbitzen David seemed to love.

Most of the girls were the “top” girls in their high schools, heads of G.O., yearbook editors, or whatever else was considered “chashuv” in their respective schools.

Rebbitzen David herself was no cookie cutter. She had a PhD from Columbia and her goal was to challenge us and make us think.

Please don’t spread rumors based on your very limited exposure. This is not only unhelpful, but possibly even damaging.

↑ thriver

Tue, Nov 12 2024, 9:15 am

Let’s also remember that BJJ has evolved over the years. Does anyone know how big the classes are now? There is definitely a large mix.

And yes, there are BJJ graduates who are mechanchos, principals, doctors, lawyers, accountants, actuaries, professors and everything in between. And many have husbands are still in learning or in klei kodesh, but also accountants, lawyers, doctors, etc. (personally my own husband is a Talmid Chacham who learned in Kollel and is now a surgeon).

So let’s not put people into boxes. Thank you.

amother

Gold ↓

Tue, Nov 12 2024, 9:54 am

amother Wisteria wrote:

I feel like none of this actually explained what's better about BJJ that's different than other seminaries

Different:
(might be "better" or not depending on your perspective - I am very into the first two, but many are specifically not.)

Teachers: they are elderly and with experience. Most of the other by sems use the same mid 30ish/40ish year old teachers who rotate to all the sems.

Content: very text based. Theres plenty of hashkafa but it comes from the text verses being spoken out.
Most of the other sems barely crack open a sefer in class. And while the academic sems all require hachana and bekiyus, it is not as much so you dont cover the same ground (this does not mean that all 180 girls are doing this work - but the motivation is there if dd wants).

Other stuff:
They have only 3 girls per room so more space than most sems today. Also the dorm in general more spacious.

No doubt about it, it has a "brand" name to it.

Largest numbers/concentration of highly motived, smart, with it girls. [Other sems have too, I said concentration- and plenty that are there for fun and not studying]

↑ Chayalle

Tue, Nov 12 2024, 10:00 am

I'll be honest though - I encouraged my younger sister to go to Bnos Sarah, because I felt at that point that she would benefit from younger mechanchos than older. There's a point where sometimes that's a maaleh, especially for a particular girl.