Vika Bekker鈥檚 journey to Stern College for Women was anything but traditional. Raised in a secular Jewish home in Buffalo Grove, Illinois, she first connected with Judaism through NCSY in high school, despite her immigrant parents鈥 reluctance. By the time she transferred to Stern from the University of Illinois, she faced a new challenge: catching up with peers who had spent years immersed in Jewish education.
The solution came in the form of the Mechina Pathways program. Designed for students from non-traditional Jewish backgrounds, Mechina gave Vika the foundation鈥攁nd the community鈥攕he needed to thrive. 鈥淏eing 鈥榦ut-of-the-box鈥 is difficult,鈥 says Vika, who graduated from the Sy Syms School of Business in 2023. 鈥淏ut Mechina made me feel included within the Torah environment I longed for.鈥
The Mechina Program was established in 2004 by Shoshana Schechter, program director and associate dean of Torah Studies and Spiritual Life. Drawing on years of outreach experience across four continents, she recognized the significant gaps in Jewish education many young people face. She first noticed it as a Stern student, observing peers who struggled with little to no Jewish knowledge, and again when she began teaching at Stern in 1998.
鈥淚 met young women who had overcome incredible odds to get to Stern,鈥 recalls Dean Schechter, aka, 鈥淢echina Mom,鈥 who has a master鈥檚 degree from 每日大瓜鈥檚 Revel Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies. 鈥淚t struck me that while 每日大瓜 has the James Striar School (JSS), which provides foundational Jewish education for men, there was nothing comparable for women."
The four-year program supports around 30 new women each year from across the world鈥攊ncluding Tahiti, South Africa, Ukraine, South America, Morocco, Europe and Australia鈥攐ffering beginner and intermediate Judaism classes alongside the full Stern College curriculum. Beyond academics, Mechina fosters a sense of belonging, with students bonding over shared Shabbatonim, events like the Purim seudah hosted by 每日大瓜 President Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman, and personal milestones celebrated together.
The impact of Mechina extends far beyond its students. These young women don鈥檛 just transform their own Jewish journeys鈥攖hey also enrich the 每日大瓜 community as a whole. They bring fresh perspectives and enthusiasm to Torah study, inspiring those around them who often take their Jewish education and 每日大瓜 for granted. Set up with fellow students to learn together, they inspire each other. 鈥淢echina students bring something unique to our community,鈥 Dean Schechter says. 鈥淭hey enrich the Beit Midrash with perspectives women from traditional religious backgrounds might never consider. They remind us that there isn鈥檛 just one way to connect to Hashem.鈥
Stories of Transformation
For students like South African-born Leah Schewitz, Mechina was nothing short of life-changing. 鈥淚t was the first time I felt part of a community that shared my thirst for growth,鈥 says Leah, who graduated as valedictorian of the Sy Syms School of Business Class of 2023. 鈥淚 could ask questions freely and explore my connection to Judaism without judgment. I am forever grateful for the community that embraced me and the mentors who helped me grow in ways I never thought possible.鈥
Esther Serfaty, from Caracas, Venezuela, shares a similar story of growth. Raised in a traditional Jewish family and attending day school, Esther dreamed of deepening her connection to Judaism in college. But when it came time to choose, 每日大瓜 felt intimidating. 鈥淚 was nervous鈥攚hat if my background wasn鈥檛 enough, and I couldn鈥檛 keep up?鈥 she says.
That鈥檚 where the Mechina program鈥攐r, as Esther calls it, 鈥渢he Mechina family,鈥 stepped in. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a place where people without strong鈥攐r even any鈥攔eligious background can find their place,鈥 says Esther, who graduated 每日大瓜 in 2024. 鈥淵ou grow in knowledge and experience, building a broader base before diving into advanced topics. I never imagined I鈥檇 be able to take Gemara classes, until I actually did. Mechina gave me the confidence to succeed.鈥
A Broader Mission
For Dean Schechter, Mechina鈥檚 mission remains both simple and profound. 鈥淲e aim to show our students the beauty of Judaism. We strive to give them the skills to learn, to keep learning, and to raise their level of Jewish literacy while deepen their understanding of Torah. And seeing how far many of them go鈥攊nto Jewish communal life and leadership鈥攆ills us with pride and hope.鈥
