FAQs

Services

How many meals do the girls receive each day?

Balanced, nutritious meals are served three times each day, including Shabbat for those girls who choose to stay in school. Each dormitory apartment is equipped with a kitchenette and refrigerator.  In addition, burners, toasters, and microwaves are available in the main kitchen for students’ use.

What kind of health care does Shaalvim offer?

SFW tuition includes medical insurance which allows students to visit private doctors and covers emergency hospitalization. Despite our extensive coverage, we advise you  NOT TO CANCEL YOUR AMERICAN HEALTH INSURANCE, as it may cover you in Israel if certain treatments are not included in our coverage, or should you need to return to the USA for any reason. Dental, optical, psychological, psychiatric and ongoing treatment costs are also not covered.

Students who are taking medication for a chronic condition are asked to bring a sufficient supply, as mailing or Fedexing medications is often prohibited by law.

How do the girls do laundry?

Laundry is collected once a week and taken to the Yeshivat Shaalvim laundry service and returned the following day. In order to prevent lost articles, clothing should be labeled with an indelible laundry marker.  

For students who prefer to do their own wash, we have washing machines and dryers available in the building. In addition, a dry cleaner is located down the block, which also provides laundry service for a fee.

What kind of books will the girls need?

Students are encouraged to bring basic sefarim such as: Siddur, Machzorim, Tanach, Mishna Brura, and Selichot.  At various points in the year, a local sefarim distributor conducts a sefarim sale in the Shaalvim for Women building. In addition, the girls can order sefarim at any point in the year from our sefarim supplier, who delivers the sefarim directly to our students free of charge.

Where do the students spend the Yamim Noraim? 

Shaalvim for Women students spend Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur at Yeshivat Sha’alvim where they participate in the Yeshiva’s inspirational tefilot and enjoy an exclusive program of sichot, Shiurim and seudot together.

What do girls do when there is no Shabbat program?

Our dorm is always open and the Av and Em Bayit host any girls who stay in for Shabbat. There is always warm food, a Shabbat atmosphere and a friendly environment. Students are also always welcome at the homes of our faculty. Additionally, our madrichot are happy to help students who don’t have family and would like to find accommodations in locations throughout Israel.

Extra-Curricular Activities

How many tiyulim does Shaalvim for Women go on?

Throughout the year we enjoy overnight tiyulim across Eretz Yisrael. These fun and exciting tiyulim create lifelong memories. With a Tanach in hand we experience the intersection of the past, present and future of our Land.

A most unique aspect of our program is Siyurim and Shiurim where students dedicate time to the study of a wide variety of biblically and historically significant locations in Eretz Yisrael. The following week, students are taken to the very places they learned about and bring history to life by walking in the footsteps of their predecessors.

What kind of Chesed projects do the students take on?

At Sha’alvim for Women we believe that living Torah is as important as learning Torah. To that end, our weekly chesed programs provide our students with a variety of opportunities to give to those in need throughout Yerushalayim. Students are guided to chesed experiences that capitalize on their individual strengths, talents and personal preferences. By living what they learn, our students grow by doing and receive by giving.

How is Yom Ha’atzmaut celebrated?

SFW celebrates Yom Ha’atzmaut with special tefillot, a chagiga and other memorable activities.

In the Classroom

What is the school policy on attendance?

Your year in Israel can best be experienced with consistency, continuity, and focus. Each shiur, program, tiyul, and shabbaton is designed to be an integral part of your greater development this year. Similarly, the uniqueness of each student at Sha’alvim for Women contributes to the larger group of students and therefore one student’s absence is felt by all. Your friends, roommates, teachers, and chavrutot, all depend on each other to create a growth-oriented  environment. This can only occur with everyone’s total cooperation and participation. Students are therefore expected to participate fully in every aspect of the Sha’alvim for Women experience, both in and out of the classroom.   

How many credits do the girls receive and who accepts them?

Our year of study is equivalent to at least 32 credits, which are accepted by many universities, including Stern College, Touro College, Teacher’s Institute of Chicago, and Brooklyn College. The exact number of credits that individual universities grant for Sha’alvim for Women courses is based largely on the university’s policy.

What is the grading policy?

Students receive grades based on attendance, class participation and class assignments and projects. Grades are distributed via transcript at the end of the academic year.

What is the language of instruction?

Many of our shiurim and sichot  are taught in Hebrew. Since our students create their own schedules based on their choices of shuirim, how many Hebrew shiurim a Sha'alvim for Women student takes is largely a function of her own scheduling choices.

Can my daughter return to chutz la'aretz during the course of the year?

When you miss shiurim, tiyulim, special programs, etc. at SFW, much of your learning in general is placed "on hold." Coming back to class after an absence is difficult because of the missed material. Even more difficult, however, is returning to the routine - mentally and physically - after such a break. In addition, when someone misses shiur, her chavruta and roommates are also adversely affected.

Therefore, aside from the Pesach break, students may not travel to chutz la’aretz without permission from the Menahel.  In general, permission will only be granted for immediate family smachot. Visits for other reasons to chutz la’aretz - such as visits to cousins or grandparents - will not be allowed.

When can parents come to visit?

We are very happy that parents visit their daughters in Israel. It sends a message to them that we are all involved in their growth. Please feel free to sit in on any shiurim or sichot that occur during your visit here. We encourage any and all participation with SFW and our programs.

Security  

What is the curfew policy?

Nightly curfew is midnight. All students are expected to be present in the building at that time. Students are required to sign in with the madricha each night between 10:00pm and 12:00 AM. Motzai Shabbat curfew is also at 12:00 AM. For the safety and concern of our students, curfew at Shaalvim for Women is strictly enforced.

What kind of security measures does the SFW school building/dorm have?

Our building has video surveillance cameras and a guard 24 hours a day. The single entrance to Shaalvim for Women is locked at all times. Our students are able to enter with a security code; all other visitors may enter only when admitted by the reception desk.

How do the girls secure their valuables?

All students are provided with a safety deposit box in their rooms. We strongly urge all students to keep money, airline tickets and passports locked in the safe.

Administration

How much is SFW tuition and what does it include?

Tuition for 2008-9 is $19,500 and includes room and full board, tiyulim, laundry service, email service, health insurance and visa renewal.

Tuition for 2009-2010 has not yet been determined.

What happens when my daughter's visa expires? Do we need to go to the consulate in America?

All visas and visa-related matters are taken care of by the greater Yeshivat Sha’alvim. This is true even for students who hold dual citizenship in America and in Israel. For many years, Sha’alvim has successfully managed the visas of its overseas students saving both time and hassle for our students and their parents.