New Seminary Flourishes in Prague

The new Prague Seminary is B”H flourishing in promoting the personal growth of each student under its care. In its commitment to a unique model of post-high school chinuch, priority is given to a personal and attentive approach to all students. The dedicated staff and small cohort allows for the appreciation of each students’ individuality, and special care is given to their gashmi and ruchani needs on a personal basis. The current group of students is made up of twenty-four motivated and mature girls from around the world, who have come together for a year of learning, growth, connection, and giving.

The seminary has built up a framework of learning and content-rich programs which allows students to appreciate the depth and beauty of Chassidus. Our learning is geared towards practical application of Chabad Chassidus while facing the modern-day challenges of daily life, in careful accordance with the hora’os of the Rebbe. Lessons are designed to resonate with today’s generation of empowered young Chabad women.

The Prague Seminary’s broader vision of chinuch focuses on providing a unique opportunity for the girls to experience leadership and shlichus hands-on, among a variety of different crowds. By having a clear grasp of Yiddishe and Chassidishe concepts, students are able to impart Torah learning and values to others on a regular basis, thereby growing into their future roles as mothers, community leaders and shluchos. The Seminary girls run regular activities such as children’s Shabbos program, ladies’ weekly Chavrusa learning, Kids’ Cooking Club, C-Teen, Bat Mitzvah Club, and weekly Mivtza Neshek for the many jewish tourists.

The seminary is now in full preparation for its upcoming Chanukah carnival and events for families, and the much-anticipated annual Giant Menorah lighting in Prague’s old town square.

The seminary holds a special connection to the Jewish history of Prague – one of Central Europe’s most well-known – which stretches back to the first century. Located in the heart of the Jewish Quarter of Prague, the seminary is just a short walk from the Maharal’s Altneu shul – where they have enjoyed davening Kabbolas Shabbos, and directly overlooks the Old Jewish Cemetery and the kever of the Maharal. The students are housed in a newly renovated four-story building, providing them with a beautiful dormitory and classrooms, a fully equipped kitchen and exercise room.

With a full schedule of classes exploring topics in Chassidus, Nigleh, Bayis Yehudi and psychology, the seminary has the benefit of learning from teachers in Prague – Rabbi Manis and Mrs Dini Barash, Shluchim to Prague for over twenty-five years; Rabbi Mendy Barash; Ms Ayala Kurtzweil; as well as teachers from cities across Central Europe. Prominent Mechanchim Rabbi and Mrs Gruzman and Rabbi Eidelman, each make weekly commutes from Vienna, Austria, to lead classes in the seminary, among others.

A variety of other teachers and guest speakers give shiurim in-person and virtually, allowing students to reach educators and mechanchim from around the world. These include Rabbi Kaufman, seminary teacher in Israel; Mrs. Pekkar, shlucha and social worker in Germany, Rabbi Dubov, Mashpia in Ohlei Torah Crown Heights, Rabbi Lowenthal, shliach to Denmark, and Mrs Fishman, mechaneches of South Africa, who comprise Prague Seminary’s corpus of teachers. Classes include Parshas Hashavua, Bi’urei Tefilah, Sichos, Ma’amorim, Halacha, Hashkafah, Yesodos Be’yahadus, Toldos Chabad, as well as weekly Czech language, exercise classes, and a bi-monthly class in business and finance.

Farbrengens are led by visiting Shluchim and mashpi’im such as Rabbi Shlomo Hertzel, who visited the seminary from the Golan, Rabbi Fieldsteel of Vienna, Rabbi Boruch Kaplan of Yerushalayim, and more.

Shabbosim in The Prague Seminary are always special, with Shabbos meals and davening at the Chabad Center, allowing students to share in the communal Seudas Shabbos during the day. The seminary often hosts guest families who provide the girls with a range of diverse farbrengens and shiurim over Shabbos.

Girls enjoy weekly Rebbe and Niggun times, led by the dorm counselors, gaining a picture of the breadth of Chassidus, and spend much time preparing for Chassidishe Yomim Tovim.

Students are given the resources to invest in Hachanos as time for personal growth, with committees of diligent and inspired girls planning full programs for each of the Yomim D’pagra. Prague Seminary’s Yud-Tes Kislev Hachana is currently in full swing, with early morning chassidus learning, daily chavrusa groups, mealtime learning and girls undertaking personal hachlatos.
The Seminary is unique in its rich trips and Shabbatons. Students have spent Shabbos in the historic city of Karlovy Vary (Carlsbad), a beautiful town on the outskirts of the Czech Republic, joined by seminary teacher, Mrs Bassi Pekkar and her family, who are shluchim to the military base in Germany. Striving for a mix of touring and toichen, students had enjoyed a lengthy Friday-night farbrengen, Shabbos morning Chassidus, and a team-building workshop on Sunday. The seminary has also had a memorable trip to Bratislava (Pressburg), Slovakia, visiting the Chabad House of Rabbi and Mrs. Meyers and the Kever of the Chasam Sofer.

“I feel that the small group is such a nice part of sem and really makes all the difference. It’s the ideal environment for learning and personal growth.” – Sarale Aber

“I never experienced individual attention until I came here” – Draizy Raskin

“I can always go to the dorm mother or dorm counsellors who I know will be ready with a listening ear” – Kayza Denburg

“I feel that the hanhala is always there for us and always there to keep us inspired and make sure everything is running smoothly.” – Mussie Levertov

The Prague Seminary has broken fresh ground in the sphere of post-schoolgirls’ chinuch, and aims to continue to advance the frontiers of devotion to Chassidishe education in the invaluable seminary setting.

More information can be found at www.chabadprague.cz/seminary/.