A Graduate of the Pre-Military Academy Inspires Other Soldiers with Acts of Kindness

By Rabbi Shlomie Rosenthal, teacher at Bet El Pre-Military Academy

Translated by Hillel Fendel

I'd like to tell you a special story that happened with two of our alumni who are now in the army. Their names are Ohad and Adi; I don't want to publicize their family names without asking them.

The two of them are in a paratroopers brigade in the IDF, and they came to visit the Mechina (pre-military academy) to tell of their experiences in the army. I asked them how it's going for them religiously, if the other soldiers ask them questions, or challenge them on religious issues, and the like. 

IDF Soldiers

FAQs about the Attempts to Form a Government and Avoid Third Elections

Originally appeared in Hebrew at inn.co.il
Translated by Hillel Fendel

MK Benny Gantz (photo courtesy of inn.co.il)

Q. What's this we hear about the expiration of Benny Gantz's mandate to form a government this coming Wednesday? What does this really mean?

A. MK Benny Gantz, chairman of the Blue and White Party, received from President Ruby Rivlin the authority to form a government after Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu failed at the same task. The period in which Gantz must form the government ends this Wednesday evening.

Q. And if he does not succeed by then?

Operation Black Belt

by Hillel Fendel

Hebrew quotes translated by Hillel Fendel

An Israeli missile launched from the Iron Dome defense missile system, designed to intercept and destroy incoming short-range rockets and artillery shells, in the southern Israeli city of Sderot, on November 12, 2019. (MENAHEM KAHANA / AFP)

The IDF is proud of its accomplishments in the two days of hostilities with the Islamic Jihad terrorists of Gaza. Certainly the satisfaction with the army's accomplishments is understandable – but Israel as a whole did not do as well.

IDF Operation Black Belt, which began with the surgically precise liquidation of terrorist chieftain Baha Abu Al-Ata in his bedroom at 4 AM, also went on to accomplish the killing of 25 other terrorists as they attempted to bomb or otherwise attack Israel, as well as the successful targeting and destruction of arms-manufacturing sites, military training compounds, launching sites, weapons storehouses, and more. 

Meet Devorah Vanderman, Long-Time Bet El Resident and Yeshivat Bet El Payroll Accountant

Interview by Sharona Eshet-Kohen, translated by Hillel Fendel

Devorah Vanderman, second from left, and her family

Q. Shalom Devorah. What can you tell us about your childhood?

A. I was born in New York, to a religious-Zionist family (my father's mother, born in New York to European immigrants, was unfortunately the only one of 11 children who remained Torah-observant). When I was 6, in 1968, a year after the Six Day War, we made Aliyah to Israel. My parents met each other on a trip to Eretz Yisrael, and since then they had always wanted to make Aliyah, but kept on waiting to get ready… Finally, when they already had five children, a friend of theirs told them: "If you don't go now, you'll never go!" So they took their kids and went! Their families were opposed, because it was very hard for them that we were leaving.

On the day of our Aliyah, we all wore Shabbat clothing, and it was truly a moving event. Ever since then, every year we celebrate our Aliyah Day together.

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…