The Jeannie Gluck High School Academy for Girls Pays Homage to Legendary Teacher Tzippy Dobuler

By Dena Udren

Tzippy “Fern” Dobuler was a legendary gym teacher at the Jeannie Gluck High School Academy for Girls in Bet El. She started teaching gym classes there around 1992, two years after making aliyah with her young family, and she quickly touched the hearts (and helped improve the fitness) of countless girls in every grade at the school. At the end of November 2016, she passed away after a six-month battle with cancer, though she bravely fought and continued to teach right up to about a month before she died.

The Jeannie Gluck High School Academy for Girls built a new gym shortly before her passing and has since dedicated it in her memory. This week, Tzippy’s husband Avi, as well as all five children (Chaya Batya, Zev, Ilan, Arye, and Dovie), visited the gym and reminisced about how they could still feel her presence there.

Son Arye stands in front of painting of mother Tzippy, which hangs in the school's new gym

We spoke to Arye Dobuler, one of Tzippy’s sons, to find out more about who Tzippy was and how she touched the lives of so many girls at the high school, as well as the greater community of Bet El.

The Deal of the Century: Not All it's Trumped Up to Be

Article based on an interview with Israel Channel 13 TV, which can be seen here.
Translated by Hillel Fendel
Edited by Dena Udren

Dr. Guy Bechor, expert on Middle East affairs and editor of the Gplanet.co.il website, feels that US President Trump's Deal of the Century is not all it's "trumped" up to be. He says the Arab world actually somewhat favors it, that its rejection by the PA means that Jordan will assume control over the Arabs in Judea and Samaria, and that its greatest contribution is the tearing away of the masks of the PA leadership and Israel's peace camp.

Dr. Bechor spoke this morning on Israel Channel 13 TV about the Deal of the Century, saying as follows: 

Dr. Guy Bechor

Let's first put everything in proportions. This [Deal of the Century] doesn't really interest anyone in the world; for the Arab world it's ho-hum, and for the invented nation [the Palestinians] - they're simply not interested. Yes, their leadership in Ramallah announced a day of rage, but don't expect too much rage to actually be expressed. Of course, when they have a day of rage, it's a day of happiness for us. "Bring on the days of rage!" … 

Meeting of Minds and Hearts

Article originally appeared here
Edited by Dena Udren

It's now a full-fledged tradition: For the fourth year in a row, a gathering was held this month between hundreds of religious and secular high school students – leading to increased fraternity and unity in Israel.

Photo courtesy of Yesha Council

Tenth-grade students of Yeshivat Halichot Olam and of Bnei Akiva's Yeshivat HaShomron, both in Karnei Shomron, met with 190 students of the Kfar HaYarok (Green Village) High School in a spirit of friendship. The event took place in Karnei Shomron, a town in western Samaria, not far from Kfar Saba and Raanana, with a population approaching 9,000.

Meet Yehuda Zaks, Proud Graduate of Bet El Yeshiva

Interview by Dena Udren

Yehuda Zaks (fourth from left) with his wife and children

What can you tell us about your childhood? 

I was born in South Africa to a traditional (not religious), but very Zionistic family. In 10th grade I came on a 4-month learning tour with just over 100 friends from various Jewish day schools around South Africa. It was then that I decided that Israel would eventually be my home. A few months after returning to South Africa, I became religious through Bnei Akiva and was active there till I came on Aliyah 6 years later, after completing my engineering studies.

When did your connection with Bet El begin?