So your daughter wants to go to seminary in Eretz Yisrael? For many parents, the cost of financing such a year seems prohibitive at first glance. Family First presents a prospective on budgeting for a year in seminary, and practical ideas to make it feasible.
Miriam grew up in a typical middle class home where she was accustomed to certain niceties, such as a hot supper waiting for her every evening, and a closet full of freshly cleaned and laundered clothes. She could count on her transportation, her cell phone, and her miscellaneous expenses all being paid for, courtesy of her wonderful parents and the nice people at Visa, MasterCard and American Express.
Then one day, when Miriam turned seventeen, it occurred to her that she wanted to study in seminary in Eretz Yisrael for a year. Her parents were supportive, except for one little detail. Circumstances being what they were, they couldn’t see how they could possibly pay the bill.
Why is it that when someone mentions the seminary experience, the first thing that people think about is the expense? Why has the cost of seminary become a red-hot issue in our community? And does studying in Eretz Yisrael inevitably mean breaking the bank? After speaking to many about this topic, one thing emerges — learning in Eretz Yisrael is expensive. But if a young woman wants it badly enough, she can make it work.
The most significant expense of seminary is, of course, the tuition. And while many parents are incredulous when they encounter the sticker price of one year in Israel (which varies, but is approaching $20,000), let’s consider the reality of this expense. Perhaps it’s a question of putting this cost in perspective.
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