Yesha Is On The Rise!

Hi-Tech in Binyamin, New Water Sources in Kedumim...

Dedication ceremony for new Kedumim water drilling project

Mateh Binyamin – one of six counties in Judea and Samaria – has marked the opening of the second cycle in a program that serves as an incubator for entrepreneurs.

The program accompanies them from the initial venture-and-idea stage, up to the point where investors are found who are willing to actually invest money.

Around 30 entrepreneurs from Binyamin and neighboring areas are set to participate in the current cycle, representing some 13 new ventures, in various fields. This is a Binyamin Council flagship project in collaboration with Maof-Tech, the Ministry of Economy, and the  Small and Medium Businesses Agency. The goal is to enable high-tech and other professionals to remain in Binyamin and develop their ideas in a greenhouse and under favorable conditions, together with other entrepreneurs.

Yael Ze'evi, director of Binyamin-Tech, says, "It is great to see so many people who see the importance of developing hi-tech in Binyamin."

The previous round featured would-be start-ups that provide on-line tour-guide services for sites around the world, provide on-line suggestions for a day on the town, and more.
The Mateh Binyamin Regional Council governs no fewer than 46 Jewish communities and towns in southern Samaria, north of Jerusalem. The oldest of the 46 is Ofrah, founded in 1975, and the youngest is Amichai, a "legal" version of Amona, a small settlement razed by the government three years ago.

Incubator program for entrepreneurs in Mateh Binyamin

To the north, in the Kedumim Town Council, the Kedumim II water drilling project began producing water just this past week. A festive dedication ceremony was held in the presence of Water and Energy Minister Yuval Shteinitz, Yesha officials, and Mekorot Water Company project director Matan Kreisler.

The new drilling will solve the several water crises that the region has experienced in recent years. Kedumim II, 690 meters deep, will provide water for all residents of the area at a clearing capacity of approximately 230 cubic meters per hour and approximately 5,000 cubic meters per day. Councilor Hananal Dorney: "Summer 2016 caught us without water in taps, with inadequate infrastructure, all systems believed to be unprepared, and even worse - exercising responsibility for one another. All the systems for resolving the crisis. The Minister has pushed and led a plan for the establishment of short, medium and long-term water infrastructure. Even Kedumim Drilling 2, which is so important to the residents of the area, was the product of his creative mind and I thank him for it

Highlight: Rav Zalman Melamed Weds Three Generations!

Rav Zalman Melamed, Rosh Yeshiva of the Bet El Yeshiva, was the Mesader Kiddushin [officiating Rabbi] earlier this week at the wedding of Morasha Koren and Yosef Koch. Yosef is currently learning at the Bet El Yeshiva and the couple is living in Bet El.

Rav Melamed was also the Mesader Kiddushin for the bride's father and mother, Avrimi (who also learned in Yeshivat Bet El) and Chani Koren, also residents of Bet El.

Rav Melamed was also the Mesader Kiddushin of the bride's grandfather, Rav Aryeh Koren z"l, a student of Rav Tzvi Yehuda HaKohen Kook, co-founder of Talmud Torah, and also a resident of Bet El. HaRav Koren's wedding was the first wedding Rav Melamed ever officiated.

We look forward to seeing Rav Melamed back in the news again when he officiates a fourth generation wedding in a couple decades, be"H! 😉

Rav Zalman Melamed officiating the weddings of three generations

Interview: Yosef Kroopnick, On Seeing G-d in History

Interview conducted by Dena Udren, edited by Sharona Eshet-Kohen

Yosef Kroopnick with his wife, children, and grandchildren

Yosef Kroopnick discusses his journey to Judaism and Israel, his experiences and takeaways at the Bet El Yeshiva, and his thoughts on history, G-d, and the future of the Jewish people.

News Analysis: If Not Now, When?

By Emanuel Shilo [originally published in Besheva, translated by Hillel Fendel] and Hillel Fendel


Postponing the declaration of sovereignty over Judea and Samaria until after the elections, as Binyamin Netanyahu now says he plans to do – under "American pressure," of course – is liable to prove itself a very grave error. It not only puts the brakes on the historic process of national rule over the entire Land of Israel, but also stops the momentum that could have led to victory in the coming elections for Netanyahu and the nationalist bloc.

Trump, Netanyahu [credit: Reuters]