From the Navy to the Army of Torah: The Story of the Director Who Always Sought to Make an Impact

It all started with an aunt's ceremony. Rabbanit Sylvia, then a ten-year-old girl, saw her aunt receive a certificate at a navy ceremony, and a desire sparked within her to join the navy. Since always, what guided her was a strong will, the belief, to make a positive impact on others.

"In the army, I went to fix devices so that ships could sail," shares the rabbanit with a smile, "and today I help women know what tools to use to build their homes and empower them to sail peacefully on still waters."

Rabbanit continues her personal story: "Everything went quickly. Since I was accepted to the unique course, my recruitment was accelerated, and therefore I left the army early. In the process, I reached university. I wanted to study business administration, but Hashem planned another path for me. There was no space, so I enrolled in Bible and education. What did I have to do with that?", asks the rabbanit and immediately answers, "That's how it was. I didn't know then that what I was studying would one day help me strengthen other women."

Within three years, Rabbanit Berda became a high school teacher. "I wanted to make an impact, so I asked myself: 'What, I'll just be a teacher?' That's how I became a school principal in my twenties."

The Creative Principal Creating Two Different Certificates

"As mentioned, what was always on my mind was to influence people, so I created something new: two certificates for students. For children to succeed in their studies, they need a will, to do it with love.

"Rearranging the letters of 'will' gives 'pipe'. Only over the years did I hear the interpretation that Hashem satisfies every living will. Then, of course, I didn't know this, but it was clear to me that will is necessary to succeed, so I created two certificates: an excellence certificate and a model certificate. The one I considered important was the 'model certificate', which I gave to students who showed willpower and invested in their studies, even if their grades were low."

At that time, the young principal also began a process of spiritual strengthening, which surprisingly came from the work itself. "While managing, I taught a simple Bible lesson. I talked about the patriarchs and matriarchs and then discovered we only knew them from streets in different cities and not beyond.

"I decided to initiate a roots project at the school so that the students would discover who their grandparents were and to connect more with the Torah of Israel. After I asked the students to do this, I asked the teachers as well. I told myself: 'Since I ask them, I'll do it too.' This way I found I was a descendant of Chida.

"Another thing I discovered is that every year a meal of commemoration is held with all the descendants. I got involved, and my family and I were invited. Slowly, slowly, I began to strengthen more, to go to school and learn more and more Jewish concepts. As I strengthened more, I decided that I would also strengthen others."

Rabbanit Berda goes on to mention another point: "In that period of management, I discovered there was great emptiness among the students. No matter what we did for them or which trips we took them on, they would complain. I realized we needed to fill them, so I took them on selichot tours. On Passover, we had a Seder night for them, and during Chanukah, we danced, and more. This way, I filled them with content and experience together.

"Although I was a young principal—only with a Bachelor's degree—and already in a senior management position; although I also developed creative methods for those children in school, since they didn't want to study, and we had the challenge of getting them to the matriculation exams and making sure they succeed; although I did various methods to endear the teachers to the children and vice versa; but I was, as mentioned, very young, and I decided to advance further in life."

Consulting for Everyone – Druze, Arabs, and Haredim

Rabbanit describes what the days after management looked like. "I set out without fear on a new path. I went to study for a Master's degree, and there too I explored how to influence and empower people.

"With the connections I still had from school, I became a consultant to school principals across the country. The aim was to introduce a reform at the time, to endear the students to the teachers, and other educational topics that were on the agenda.

"I began appearing in every school. I did organizational consulting for managers and gave lectures. Since I was a trailblazing principal with creative methods at the time, I said we would transfer all my knowledge to the managers.

"Everyone received advice from me," smiles rabbanit Berda, "Arabs and Druze, and in general, the general public. Further, as I strengthened more, I also went to lecture to religious and ultra-Orthodox audiences."

Here a new stage in Rabbanit Berda's life arrived: personal counseling for couples and individuals. "At one lecture, someone asked me if I could meet with her for counseling to help her with something regarding her son. I told her I don't have a clinic or something, and I thought the story ended there. But more and more women asked if I could help with their child on this topic and that, and I realized there was another opportunity here to help and influence people.

"I went to professionally study marriage counseling and N.L.P. I opened a clinic, and with Hashem's help, I succeeded on my path."

From Leaflets to Hidabroot Lectures

Until now, everything seemed good and beautiful. However, it wasn't enough for Rabbanit Berda, and she was looking for the "beyond." The unknown which wasn't clear to her yet.

"I said to myself, 'Wait. I strengthened, learned, accumulated knowledge, I can't keep it to myself. Although managers received from me, I want to reach more women,'" Rabbi Berda continues and recounts spiritedly.

"One time, when visiting an important professional, she said to me 'Why don't you influence people through Torah?' I replied that I wanted to, but I didn't know where. She told me I would find it, just to look well.

"I turned to Hashem and directly said: 'Hashem, I want to reach women. I want to influence. I have a job, I'm settled, but I want to impact people.' Hashem heard my prayer.

"Where there is will, as mentioned, a pipe opens," rabbanit Berda recounts joyfully. "My sister came to me and called me to come help distribute Hidabroot leaflets. I told her 'What's the point,' but she insisted, and I went. I didn't distribute leaflets, but when I went with her to the distribution, I met Rabbanit Aviva, manager of the home lessons department, and there we got to know each other in depth. An idea sprouted between us to join Hidabroot and lecture there. But for a year, nothing advanced. As time passed, I strengthened more, and then, a year later, I started lecturing at Hidabroot, organizing dough-separation events, and influencing more and more women.

"Everything Hashem rolled for me over the years, educating children, empowerment, organizational consulting—I bring with me to dough-separation evenings, with music and joy," states rabbanit Berda with satisfaction.

"Women joining us for dough-separation events receive tools for better living. Through preparing the dough, the singing, the joy, and the actual separation, they learn how to truly live in this world. How to properly host in Hashem's world.

"This segment of creativity at dough-separation events connects to what I did at school. As a principal, I always looked to teach students in an experiential way, and now I'm blessed to do so at dough-separation evenings as well.

"In my dough-separation evenings, I share my return to faith story because I believe it imparts an important life lesson. Let's always remember, as much as we empower ourselves—together, because I came here to learn and teach—we will strive, succeed, and live better lives," concludes Rabbanit our conversation.

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