#GivingTuesday: What's the Next Step for Underprivileged IDF Graduates?

written and translated by Dena Udren

This Giving Tuesday we are raising funds for a unique program at our IDF Preparatory Academy. After completing their army service, graduates of the academy often choose to come back for one year of intensive studies to prepare them for higher education. In order to be accepted to college or university, it is necessary to have good scores on English and math matriculation exams. Therefore, these young men spend their post-army year at the academy studying English, math, Torah, and other subjects that they may need in order to get into college.

Meet Rav Benny Bamberger, Principal of Bnei Tzvi Yeshiva High School

Interview by Rav Yonatan Udren

Translated by Hillel Fendel, edited by Dena Udren

Q. Where did you grow up? 

A. At age 4 we moved to Karnei Shomron [a town in Samaria], which was only one year old when I first arrived. All I remember from then is a lot of sand, and then later on there were paths; our homes were just caravans [mobile homes without wheels]. 

Rav Benny Bamberger

Bet El Institutions Construction Update

Written and translated by Dena Udren

Bet El institutions is currently undergoing several record development projects. In order to give you an update on each one, we spoke to the Bet El institutions development team,  Baruch Gordon and Yaakov Harnik.

The site of the new Bet El Yeshiva dormitory is the area in the foreground, adjacent to the blue and yellow awnings. 

The Bet El Yeshiva is one of the most sought-after religious-Zionist yeshivot in the country, and as such, there is a real demand to accept as many young men as possible. This year the Yeshiva accepted its largest incoming class on record, and therefore is in dire need of more dormitory space for the extra students. In fact, this year, the Yeshiva had to turn away many students for lack of  space. 

The picture above shows the site of where the Yeshiva's new dormitory will be located, specifically the empty area between the building on the left and the blue and yellow awnings on the right. The new dormitory will have 30 rooms and G-d willing, will be started in the coming year.

Unity in Yesha: A Sign of a Unity Government?

Based on a Yesha Council* website article 

Translated by Hillel Fendel, edited by Dena Udren

There is one particular fact about the population of Judea, Samaria, and the Jordan Valley that surprises all those who hear it for the first time – and that is the distribution of the populace along religious-secular lines. In contrast with common perception, only a third of the populace is religious-Zionist! Another third define themselves as secular, and the remainder are hareidim [ultra-orthodox]. 

Based on the news coming out of Yesha, and the people involved, this piece of information would seem to surprise most observers. But it indeed reflects the true situation on the ground. 

Yesha Council

Israel's "Bible Belt" of Judea and Samaria, including the Jordan Valley, also has some other surprises.