Hi, my name is Chaya. I was born in a very small Jewish community in South America, but my parents moved the family to a more developed Jewish community when I was young to continue to provide us with a good Jewish education. Throughout my years in high school, I always knew that I wanted to spend a gap year in Israel learning and growing in my commitment to Hashem and Judaism.

Although, as an immigrant family, we didn’t have money to go on vacations or buy extravagant things, I grew up in a very loving and caring home. I always knew, and know to this day, that my parents love me and would do absolutely anything they could for me.

Last year, after I graduated high school, I really wanted to fulfill my dream of going to seminary. After looking into seminaries for some time, I realized that although my parents would love to send me to seminary, we just couldn’t financially make it happen.

Instead, I moved to Israel on my own to attend college, (as one of the benefits of making Aliyah is free college tuition.) This was a huge adjustment for me, but I knew it was the best option at the time.

Now, looking back, even in this difficult situation Hashem was guiding me the whole way: I was placed in a dorm with girls who had all just come out of 2 years of seminary and had made Aliyah together. From the first day, I could see the huge impact that their years of focused spiritual and emotional growth in seminary had had on them. And as time went on, I started to want to go to seminary more and more.

As the year comes to an end, I realize that I can’t just sit and watch my dream pass me by a second time. That is why I made this page: in the hopes that other people will hear my story and be able to help in some way. Although my parents and I can pay for some of it, and the school is giving me an amazing scholarship, I am still $10,000 away from the amount that I need to go to seminary. Even if you yourself cant donate, if you could send the link to my page out to someone you might know, I would really appreciate it.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my story. Any little bit that you can donate would mean so much to me and my family.

Tizku L’mitzvos,

Chaya