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.