Feeling accomplished is hard. At times it can be easier, but in an environment like seminary—where every day is more or less a repeat of yesterday—it can be difficult to see your progress through the year. At this point in the year, most seminaries have started to switch over from first semester to second semester. Practically, that means new classes, teachers, and so on. This is where most girls come to the overwhelming question of: Well, did I even do anything in the first semester that I can now switch over to the next? It’s a hard question to answer. Where does the feeling of achievement come in? Simply put, the answer is quite clear: Chazara. The next question is: Well, what exactly does that mean? Chazara, or review, can be taken in different ways. Here at MMY (Michlelet Mevaseret Yerushalayim), we have a week between first semester and second semester, known as shavua chazara, to reflect and see the progress made in the last several months. It can be stressful if you take the right classes, but it also gives you a sense of fulfillment. In some classes you’re given a project, in others an essay or test, but in whatever you’re doing, when you finish the week, you definitely see how far you’ve come in your year. Looking back on years of schooling, seeing the results of your labor, which is chazarah at its core, is where so much foundational mental health is formed. It builds healthy self-esteem; reinforces positive behavior; boosts motivation; and strengthens gratitude towards yourself, others, and Hashem. I truly felt this during shavua chazarah while writing a poem for my philosophy class. At first, I struggled to see how the topics we had discussed fit together. But as I reviewed my notes, the connections became clear, and everything finally clicked. Writing the poem was a moment of clarity and pride, showing me how much I had grown. That’s when I understood why we call it “shavua chazarah” and not “finals week”—it’s about reflection and accomplishment, not just evaluation. The idea of living a meaningful life, which coincides with feelings of accomplishment, is a foundational belief in Judaism. This is why we say Mitzrayim was so bad for the Jewish people. They would tear down whatever they asked us to build and give us goals that we would never be able to accomplish. Without a sense of productivity in their labor, Bnei Yisrael had nothing, and that’s what broke them down the most.
They tell us all the time here in Israel that we are fulfilling the prophecy of Avraham Avinu: we are Avraham’s nation following Hashem’s Torah in the Promised Land. What better way to enhance our doing so than to build the sense of accomplishment Bnei Yisrael lacked in Mitzrayim and prove that this is where we’re meant to be. In seminary, and more importantly in life, acknowledging your milestones is key to making what you do meaningful, and when we forget that we lose the joy of the journey. So fulfill your goals and push yourself, but don’t forget how far you’ve come already.
Esther Gaon is a graduate of HAFTR High School and is a recipient of the 2024 5TJT Student Journalism Award.