This letter was to be read out at the Open House (Dec 2), which was hosted by P’ninim in Brooklyn.

Dearest Audience and Friends,

When I heard that Rabbi Meisels was hosting an Open House to tell everyone what Pininim was about, I wished that I could come tell the girls personally what I felt about this seminary. But I really didn’t want to miss class, so I decided to write a letter to tell you what the seminary has done for me so far.
I came to P’ninim not knowing what to expect and more than a little nervous about it. To my relief it has been a great experience already, and also nothing like I expected. I have learned more here in three months than in entire years of high school, and I love every minute of it.
What I tell you now is just the tip of the iceberg, and hopefully you will be as lucky as me to experience the rest.
The typical questions you might have are, what type of girls go there? What kind of teachers? Is it more text or hashkafa? What types of rules are there?
Now all these questions you’re thinking about are very smart and common questions and I will do my best to answer them for you.
But first before I tell you about the American students, I want to mention the Ma’alos of learning together with the girls who live here in Eretz Yisroel. We learn so much from these girls and gain a real appreciation for how regular American girls come to live here and grow up in Israel, giving up some of the Gashmiyus they have grown used to in America. Besides for being our friends, these girls are an inspiration to us.
Another great advantage is that we never have to worry about where to go for shabbosim, which is a great plus. Ask any seminary girl about that.
Now for the girls in general. The girls are very fine, nice, frum, mature girls that are really looking to grow, and not just because they wrote it on their application. They truly and sincerely want to do it, for their own benefit.
Let me just give you a tip. If you think you’re coming to seminary, and you will automatically grow, because after all, that’s what everyone does, then you’re making a big mistake. You have to want to do it on your own, and in P’ninim you have the greatest opportunity to do so.
Why?
This brings us to the next question, the teachers. All I can say about them is fantastic!! (I don’t even know if that word will do.)
Ask anyone in P’ninim about the teachers and they’ll tell you they are unbelievable! The stuff they teach us is so deep and so interesting that you just sit there with your mouth open wide. (Just make sure to swallow and breathe sometimes. I find it hard to remember, especially by Rabbi Meisels’ classes. You’ll see what I mean.) The teachers are also so warm and always looking to help and answer any question you might have.
Even girls from other seminaries know that P’ninim has the best classes. They sometimes sneak in to listen to our classes.
Now about the academic level! You see I think people confuse the words “hashkafa” and “a low level of learning”. They think that since our classes are often Hashkafa-based it means the ‘level’ is low. Nothing could be more wrong.
Our classes are very challenging and very academic. However, since they focus on Hashkafa, and that allows even a less academic girl to benefit from the class. That is a benefit of Hashkafa, that everyone understands it according to their ability. Believe me, we have some girls in our class that are practically geniuses, and they also find it challenging.
We all know that most seminary girls are want more Hashkafa classes after all their years in high school. What our text teachers do is take a few pisukim from the navi (torah) and explain them according to the usual Meforshim. But then they continue and bring out the hashkafa lesson from this and they show you how the different approaches to Torah are all connected. So if you ask me I think you learn much more this way.
I can’t explain it without you hearing it yourself, but I guarantee you’ve never heard such interesting and inspiring lessons.
Now for the rules. We have the same basic rules as all the other Bais Yaakov seminaries, but one thing I’ll tell you is that the school puts a lot of trust in the girl and gives her a chance to show that she is deserving of such trust.
Any way I could go on and on in case you haven’t noticed yet. All I could say is lucky are those girls that Pininim caters to. I want to wish you personally all the best in what you decide.
Just remember wherever you end up is Min Hashamayim and will be the best for you. Trust me I’m experiencing it right now. In my case the rejection letter was actually a direction letter.
I would like to take this chance to thank Rabbi Meisels for opening Pininim for Americans, and for making the school what it is. Thank you all for listening and I hope I convinced you enough to at least apply to Pininim. The rest is in Hashem’s hands!

Sincerely,
Esther Channele