By Livia Bitton-Jackson

Torah From the Land of Israel is the subtitle of a small but poignant and powerful book, Parsha Points, by Sharona Margolin Halickman. Parsha is the weekly portion read on Shabbat in chanting melody from the Torah scroll in the synagogue. Parsha Points are Sharona Margolin Halickmans's acute observations on the weekly Parsha text based on her depth of knowledge and feeling, forever teaching, forever rendering the Torah messages into guidelines for life.
 
Parsha Points is published by Trout Rave Yerushalayim, a unique educational institute founded by the author, providing Torah study groups in English, Hebrew and French for women and men of all ages in private homes, synagogues, senior centers, nursing homes, and even in places of business! It is also offers a unique Bat-Mitzvah Program for Women of all ages, the actual ceremony culminating in Jerusalem. It also arranges special events in the Jerusalem area, such as concerts and special days of in-depth Torah learning.
 
Named after Reva Margolin, the author's "grandma" whose "love of Torah study and commitment to the State of Israel" has served as inspiration for Sharona not only to make Aliyah, but also to spread Torah study from the Land of Israel and within its borders.
 
Sharona's educational career has eminently prepared her for this role. After graduating from high school, Sharona Margolin spent a year-and-a-half in Jerusalem during which she prepared for a Hebrew Teacher's Diploma, awarded by the Israel Ministry of Education. Returning to the U.S. Sharona graduated in 1995 from Yeshiva University's Stern College for Women − Magna Cum Laude − with a Bachelor's degree in Judaic Studies (simultaneously receiving the award for excellence in Modern Hebrew Literature). Sharona's second degree, a Master's, in Jewish Education, was awarded by Yeshiva University's Azrieli Graduate School.
 
By then she was married to Josh Halickman, a young Canadian student she had met in Israel. The young couple made their home in Riverdale, N.Y. where Sharona was appointed the first Congregational Intern at the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale, and where she later served as the Madricha Ruchanit (Female Spiritual Mentor), providing religious education and counseling to students of all ages and backgrounds.
 
In the summer of 2004, the Halickman family - Sharona, her husband Josh and their three sons, Dov, Moshe and Yehuda - fulfilled their dream of making Aliyah, ascending to the Land of Israel. They settled in the ancient capital of the Land − Yerushalayim.
 
It did not take long for Sharona Margolin Halickman to begin teaching what she knows and loves well, classes in Judaism. But this was not enough for the passionate Torah educator. She went on to establish Torat Reva Yerushalayim, became its director and head teacher, and extended her teaching experience to ever-wider audiences. In the words of Rabbi Gelman, "Sharona has found a way to bring Torah to the people − especially people who did not have the opportunity to be exposed to Torah ideas. She has made it her mission in life to make Torah accessible to as many people as possible."
 
Her book, Parsha Points is also designed for this objective, with simultaneous publication of a weekly D'var Torah (Torah lesson) on the web or via e-mail. Similarly, Sharona Halickman serves as instructor in numerous one-year programs for overseas students in her capacity as an ATID (Academy for Torah Initiatives and Directions) fellow.
 
 In September 2009, as part of the greater organization of Torat Reva Yerushalayim, indefatigable Ms. Halickman is opening Midreshet Devora, a new Modern Orthodox Post High School Midrasha in Jerusalem for young women from North America (www.midreshetdevora.org) where the students will be exposed to classes on Tanach, Prayer, Contemporary Issues, Talmud, Women in Judaism, Zionism, Jewish Thought, Halacha, Hashkafa/Mussar and, above all - love of Israel! 

Reprinted from the Jewish Press (http://www.jewishpress.com/pageroute.do/37078/Sharona_Margolin_Hal.html )