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News from The Premier Religious
Zionist Educational Movement in Israel Fall 2005
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| YBA
Faces Government Cutbacks |
| Yeshivot
Bnei Akiva is facing a major crisis as a
result of certain government actions. The
financial situation in the yeshivot is the
worst in the history of the State.We have
received serious cuts in funds that are
designated for Torah studies in our schools.
To understand the gravity of the situation,
several years ago the government participated
in the funding of each student in the amount
of 4,000NIS and today that has shrunk to
1,100NIS per student. Multiplying that 2,900NIS
differential by a school population of 500
students, shows the seriousness of the situation.
As it stands now, the Religious Zionist
schools will lose millions of shekels in
funding.
Consequently, the average school day may
be shortened by two hours. Some schools
may actually be in danger of closing. Shifting
the burden to the parents, in today ’s
reality,is both untenable and unfair. Many
of our students have unemployed parents
who simply cannot pay for a yeshiva education.
Requests for tuition assistance from families
throughout the country continue to flood
in.
Yeshivot Bnei Akiva has created an Emergency
Scholarship Fund to help ensure that the
sound of Torah education continues to reverberate
in yeshivot and ulpanot throughout Eretz
Yisrael. |
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Yeshivat
Bnei Akiva Hesder Neveh Dekalim:
“We Will Continue ”
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The staff and students
of Yeshivat Hesder Neveh Dekalim
have never had an easy time. Originally
established in Yamit, the Yeshiva was
moved to Neveh Dekalim after Israel ’s
withdrawal from Sinai.
Yeshivat Hesder Neveh Dekalim has paid
a terrible price in the war on terror.
Several students and graduates were killed.The
most horrifying act of murder was when
yeshiva graduate David Hatuel lost his
entire family when terrorists shot and
killed his pregnant wife Tali and his
four beautiful little girls.
The Yeshiva ’s staff and students
have demonstrated remarkable bravery during
the years of terror, when shells fell
on the grounds of the Yeshiva. And now
these young men have exhibited a different
kind of bravery.
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At a moving
ceremony, Rosh Yeshiva Rav David
Gavrieli spoke to students and
soldiers alike, just before they evacuated
the Beit Midrash.
“We will not
use force. We have no fight with the soldiers.
They are our brothers. The Jewish nation
is dear to us, we will not split it. We
are fighting for the heart of the people,
their strength of purpose, and their spiritual
character. The walls of the Beit Midrash
can be destroyed, but our spirit can never
be defeated!”
Even as the teary-eyed students and soldiers
left the Beit Midrash for the last time,
the Rav promised that the spirit, goals
and ideals of Yeshivat Hesder Neveh Dekalim
would continue at a new location. |
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AF
YBA online auction
We w ill be hav ing an online
auct ion to fund scholarships
starting in early November
Get in on the action early |
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Save
the date |
27th Annual
AFYBA Tribute Event Tuesday, December
13, 2005 New York City
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| Danielle
’s Story |
When my Dad suggested that
we use my Bat Mitzvah gifts to make a difference
in other people’s lives, I decided to
ask people to donate to a charit y of my choice
rather than giving gifts. When we first started
this process I never thought it would turn
out to be such a wonderful and emotionally
rewarding experience.
In preparation for my Bat Mitzvah in Israel,
I researched a number of different institutions
there and finally chose UBA Yeshurun, an all
girls ’ high school located in Petach
Tikvah. I picked this school because they
incor porate many different chessed projects
–such as working in soup kitchens, collecting
and distributing furniture for needy families
-as part of their core curriculum. they also
have a special program for younger autistic
and disabled children.
When we arrived at UBA Yeshurun for a visit
during our trip, four high school students
from the Ulpana and their principal, Rav Shai
Peron, warmly greeted my family and me. the
girls gave us a tour of the school, which
included the nurser y for autistic children
where the teachers told us how they help them
cope in a classroom, and enable them to understand
and follow
instructions.
In the hallway, the girls created and hung
a beautiful poster welcoming my cousin,
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Aliza Mestel,
and me, the Banot
Mitzvah girls.
They fulfilled the mitzvah of “hachnassat
orchim ” by providing us with delicious
snacks and beverages, and a special video
presentation.
We were then brought into a room with many
phones and computers. The girls explained
to us that these computers were used to
track inventory and receive calls from people
interested in donating their used furniture.
The girls are responsible for assig ning
pick-up and delivery of the furniture which
is brought to a local warehouse where they
renovate and display the items. the girls
told us they make it look like store shopping
so that no one is embarrassed by accepting
charity. It was so nice how they thought
about the peoples’ feelings and didn’t
want to shame them in any way.
For the last part of the tour they took
us into a room with the lights shut off
and quickly flicked them on. My family and
I were all in shock when we saw balloons
everywhere and a bunch of girls yelling
surprise. They had made us a surprise party
in honor of our Bat Mitzvah. They soon grabbed
me, my cousin and our families,a nd started
dancing with us as if they were our best
friends. It was the most memorable and emotional
part of our trip. I hope that other people
will also consider doing this wonder ful
project for their Bat Mitzvah.
Danielle Wildes.
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| Edythe
Sommer Memorial Scholarship FundHelps Girls
Study in Israel |
 In
honor of their mother, the Sommer Family
of Chicago has endowed The Edythe
Sommer Memorial Scholarship Fund for
students spending a year after high school
in Israel.
Edythe Sommer began her
teaching career in 1956 as a math teacher
at the Hebrew Academy of Miami Beach,and
was one of the very few observant teachers
who taught secular subjects. She was later
appointed principal of the elementary
school ’s English Department. In 1967
she became principal of the English Studies
department at the Hebrew Academy of Greater
Washington and concluded her career at
the Hillel Academy in Pittsburgh. Mrs.
Sommer was an ardent supporter of the
State of Israel working tirelessly for
many organizations that supported the
State. The scholarships are awarded to
students who have excelled in both general
studies with an emphasis on math and science,and
limudei kodesh. Additional criteria include
excellence in middot, involvement in extra
curricular activities and personal identification
with the goals of Religious Zionism and
Yeshivot Bnei Akiva.
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Parents, Students and Friends of YBA Ner Tamid
Par ticipate in Second Annual
“OfNer Tamid ” Bike-a-thon
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On Friday,June
17,2005,over 60 students, parents and friends of
YBA Ner Tamid participated in an
18 kilomete r
bike marathon from Hashmonaim to the Ben Shemen
Forest and back.The goals of the “OfNer Tamid”
bike-a-thon are to provide the students with an
activity that promotes fitness and health while
assisting the Yeshiva to raise the funds needed
to implement various educational and chessed projects.
Students called family and friends who were asked
to sponsor their participation in the bike-a- thon.
YBA Ner Tamid was founded ten years ago and named
in memory of Rav Yoseph Dov Solevetchik æö"ì The
Hebrew word TAMID is an acronym for Torat Moreinu
Yoseph Dov (Solevetchik) and the school perpetuates
the Rav ’s approach to Torah U ’mada
(Torah integrated with science) as well as Religious
Zionism. The school anticipates its growing enrollment
to exceed 320 students this year. |
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Ulpanat
Bnei Akiva Neot Avraham
Wins Prize For Religious Education |
On Sunday, June 19, 2005, 12 Sivan, at
a ceremony sponsored by the Ministry of Education at the
Israel Museum in Jerusalem,
Rav
Zvi Shmueli æ"ì
 Rav
Zvi Shmueli æ"ì Rosh Ulpanat Bnei Akiva Neot
Avraham passed away on Shabbat Parshat Naso,4
Sivan, June 11, 2005 at the age of 52.
Rav Shmueli æ"ì learned in Yeshivat Bnei Akiva
Ra’anana.He continued in Yeshivat Hakotel
for seven years and served in the army as
a combat medic.
In 1979 he was asked to head up the newly
established Ulpanat Bnei Akiva in Arad at
the request of Rav Avraham Silbert æ"ì He
accepted the challenge and the Ulpana grew
under his leadership.
His educational approach throughout the years
included a belief in the ability of each student,
closeness, love,and the building of a family
atmosphere for all the girls.The goal of the
Ulpana was to build an educational center
for the girls of the South that would teach
them love of Torah, the people and Land of
Israel.
Rav Shmueli æ"ì served on the city council,
and was active in strengthening Torah life
in Arad.
May his memory be for a blessing.
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UBA Neot Avraham in Arad was the only
ulpana to receive the prize for Religious Education.
The Ulpana was recognized for the religious education
taught to the girls by the dedicated staff led by the
late Rav Zvi Shmueli ,æ"ì, who passed
away just one week before the ceremony. The Ulpana was
noted for “believing in the ability of every student,
the importance of giving to the community, and innovations
in their educational methodology.”
Yossi
Even , Principal of the Ulpana and Edna Shmueli,
wife of the late Rav Shmueli,æì, accepted the prize, along
with Elchanan Glatt , Director General
of Yeshivot Bnei Akiva, Shimon Dahan,
Supervisor of the School and Meir Sabag,
Director of Religious Education in the Negev.
The prize read, ”The prize is given to Rav Zvi Shmueli,æ"ì,
and to his staff of teachers and educators, for their
advancement of religious education in the Ulpana.”
The educational staff is noted for its great effort to
open new educational channels for all students,and to
provide an atmosphere of warmth and compassion.
Students at the Ulpana receive personalized attention
in their studies and in their progress in developing into
caring religious young women. The staff invests greatly
in the students ’ education to enable them to live
a life of Torah and Yirat Shamayim. The emphasis on both
influences the students toward a strong identification
with the eternal Jewish values of Am Yisrael.
The relationship between staff and students is one of
kavod, mutual respect, and love. |
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Yeshivat
Hesder Acco
Groundbreaking |
The
city of Acco is one of the oldest and holiest
cities in the Land of Israel, with thousands
of years of Jewish history behind it.In recent
years, however, over 20,000 Jews have left
the city and thousands of Arabs have taken
their place,thus placing Acco in danger of
becoming the first city in Israel to lose
its Jewish ajority.
The Yeshivat Hesder in Acco was established
to alter this situation. Today over 100 boys
from all over the country are learning in
temporary quarters and are combining Torah
learning with army service and volunteer activities
to help strengthen the Jewish presence in
the city.
The Yeshiva, now in its third year, continues
to grow and is in need of expanded facilities.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held with government
officials, community leaders,parents and students
in attendance, including Rav Avraham Zuckerman
, Rosh Yeshiva YBA, Minister of Housing Yitzchak
Herzog ,and MKs Zevulun Orlev and Shaul Yahalom
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The Yeshiva now called Ruach Tzfonit , or
“Spirit of the North,” is led
by Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Yosef Stern , and Executive
Director, Uriel Bar . The Yeshiva is looking
for friends and supporters to help with their
five-year plan to build the new campus. |
A
COMPACT SEFER TORAH
Please join our campaign to write
a compact Sefer Torah for each of
our yeshivot hesder.
They will be used by our young men
of whom we are so proud,
and will give them strength
as they defend the State of Israel
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YBA
In a Flash |
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Rav Moshe Zvi Neriah æö"ì
founder of the Yeshivot Bnei Akiva
network ,will be remembered on his
tenth yahrzeit on 19 Kislev, December
20, 2005. Merkaz YBA and the individual
schools are planning several programs
in commemoration of the event.
Yeshivat
Hesder Maalot Yaakov celebrated
its 30th
anniversary with a groundbreaking ceremony
for a new dormitory .Led by Rosh Yeshiva
Rav Yehoshua Weitzman
and Director Moshe Barchad,
the Yeshivat Hesder has grown to over
300 students.After successfully establishing
a branch in Acco, (see article) which
is now independent, the yeshiva started
another branch in Holon.May they go
from strength
to strength!
YBA's
Ramot Shapira Educational Center
in Moshav Beit Meir had over 100 roshei
yeshivot and Judaic studies teachers
attending an all-day conference on the
methodology of teaching Gemara Baba
Metzia, which will be taught throughout
the YBA network this year. Rav
Chaim Druckman, Merkaz YBA
Chairman ,made the opening remarks,
with key lectures given by former Chief
Rabbi Israel Meir Lau and Rav
Mordecai Elon, Rosh Yeshiva
of Yeshivat Hakotel.
The
Paul Frydman Scholarship Fund
presentation
was made to needy students at a moving
ceremony
held at the Mechinat Bnei Akiva in Givat
Shmuel.
Representatives from 40 YBA/UBA schools
with 80
students gathered to receive the scholarships.
The Fund was made possible through the
generosity of Mr. Paul Frydman
æ"ì Elchanan Glatt,
Director, Merkaz YBA, awarded the scholarships
and gave each student a book on Parshat
Hashavua written by Yeshivat Bnei Akiva
founder, Rav Moshe Zvi Neriah,
æö"ì.
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Gift
Opportunities |
With
57 institutions,and many needs,
numerous projects are available
throughout the YBA network:
• Building and Classroom
Dedications
• Special
Educational Programs
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Projects for Olim
•
Sponsoring Chessed Projects
• Scholarships for Needy
Students
For
further information contact:
Don
Kates,
Tel:011-972--52-830-8293
don@yba.org.il |
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