Bet El Yeshiva Hits All-Time Record Enrollment

By Dena Udren

Bet El Yeshiva Beit Midrash (Study Hall)

The incoming class at the Bet El Yeshiva boasts 70 students, which is the largest class ever in the history of Yeshivat Bet El. Why is it that this year’s class is so large? We spoke to Rabbi Shlomie Rosenthal, one of the rabbis at the yeshiva, to find out why. He pointed to three possible reasons.

Meet Avraham and Sapir Bloch of Bet El

Meet Avraham (24) and Sapir (22) Bloch of Bet El.

By Uziel Sabato, originally appeared in the Bet El Magazine, Parshat Nitzavim 5779

Translated by Hillel Fendel and edited by Dena Udren

Avraham and Sapir Bloch outside the Knesset

The Beginning: Sapir came to Bet El from Gan Yavneh, near Ashdod, after having studied in Midreshet HaRova in the Old City of Jerusalem. Avraham grew up in the Kiryat Moshe neighborhood of the capital, and studied in Yeshivat Bet El – and that's why they're here!

Avraham explains: "I learned in the Yeshiva, and I wanted to remain connected to it even as I continued with the next stages of my life. Living in Bet El gives me that connection, at least to some extent."

Sapir guides tourists in the Western Wall Tunnels and the Holy Basin around the Old City and is studying health systems in Ariel College. Avraham is working for the Knesset Channel as a researcher behind the scenes.

News Analysis: Dr. Guy Bechor: "It's Shi'ites Against Shi'ites; Israel Not Involved"

Channel 13 TV interview, which can be seen here (in Hebrew), edited and translated by Hillel Fendel

Screenshot of Dr. Guy Bechor's TV interview on Channel 13 (Youtube) 

Interviewer: Regarding the American liquidation of one of the worst murderers of our generation, Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi – we have here Dr. Guy Bechor, expert on Middle East affairs and editor of the Gplanet.co.il website. Dr. Bechor, how significant was this liquidation?

Dr. Bechor: Firstly, it was a central campaign promise of President Trump. He told the Americans, "We're gonna start winning, winning, winning! And you'll come to me and say, 'Enough, we can't take all this winning! We're tired of it already!'" And the Americans love how he's keeping this promise…

Interview with Joe & Judi Felber: On Coping, Hope, and Looking Forward

By Daniel Slegnick, originally published in Tzomet HaSharon-Raanana
Edited by Sharona eshet-Kohen, translated by Hillel Fendel

Netanel Felber (Credit: Courtesy)

Netanel Felber, a 22-year-old soldier in the Netzach Yehuda religious-soldiers brigade, was critically wounded last December when a Palestinian terrorist fired from close range at a group of Israelis in Givat Assaf, near Bet El. He is currently undergoing a long period of rehabilitation, with an uncertain future. His parents Joe and Judi speak of their struggle, of Netanel's smile that gave them hope, and about a girl whose wounds in the same attack ultimately saved her life.

News Analysis: The United Religious-Zionist Party that Must Arise

By Emanuel Shilo, Editor of Besheva
Originally published in Besheva, edited and translated by Hillel Fendel

The splinter parties must unite into one religious-Zionist party, which will work towards the many and varied goals on which all its parts agree.

Yemina-United Right candidates (Credit: Kobi Richter/TPS)

Religious Zionism, politically speaking, is at a crossroads. The results of this year's two election campaigns, leading to many changes in the national-religious political map, require us to carefully consider the future of small sectarian parties in Israeli politics, and especially those of the religious-Zionist flavor.