Samarian Yeshiva Rabbi Responds to Attack on Zionist Rabbis

by Rav Zalman Baruch Melamed, translated by Hillel Fendel

Rabbi Melamed Cites Talmud: "Torah Scholars Increase Peace in the World"

The exact circumstances aren't germane, but a rabbi from the non-Hassidic hareidi movement Degel HaTorah recently wrote publicly and disparagingly about two outstanding Torah scholars and rabbinic leaders of the religious-Zionist camp. Rabbi Zalman Baruch Melamed, Rosh Yeshivat Bet El and a senior rabbinic figure in the national-religious Torah camp, responded with words of peace.

Campaign to Bring Mezuzot to Gush Dan Homes in Need

A graduate of the Bet El Yeshiva of Higher Learning has launched a campaign to distribute mezuzahs across Gush Dan (ranging from around Rishon LeTzion on the south end to around Herzliya on the north end and from the coastline on the west to around Petah Tiqva on the east).

The former student is collecting spare kosher mezuzahs (and also mezuzahs that need to be checked) from seven cities and towns across Israel to hand out to families whose homes are lacking them.

Anyone interested in 1) providing mezuzahs, 2) serving as an area coordinator for collections, or 3) donating to cover the costs of delivery, checking mezuzot, and buying mezuzah cases can be in touch by emailing info@betelinstitutions.com!

Jerusalem Half-Marathon Champion: Beatie Deutsch

This past Friday morning Beatie Deutsch, Haredi American-Israeli mother of five and former Olympic candidate, won first place in Jerusalem's half-marathon, finishing at 1:20:40. Deutsch, immigrated to Israel in 2008  and lives with her husband - whom she married in 2009 - and their five children.

Deutsch didn't begin running until 2016 at the age of 25, and she maintains the Torah's code of modesty even while running - long sleeves, below-the-knee skirt, and a head covering. She ran her first marathon only four months after she started training and she finished sixth with a time of 3:27:26. In 2017 she finished a marathon with a time of 4:08:16 - while seven months pregnant. 

Israel's New COVID Entry Rules

 

Criteria For Entering Israel: You must meet ONE of these conditions in order to enter Israel: a. Vaccinated within six months of the trip with either a second vaccine or a booster (Pfizer – at least 7 days after the shot, other vaccination types – at least 14 days after the shot). b. Recovered within six months of the trip with proof of a positive PCR result and more than 11 days have passed since the positive result.  c. Recovered anytime – even more than six months before the trip – with proof of positive PCR result AND vaccinated with at least one dose within six months of the trip. (If six months has passed since your last vaccine or since your recovery during your stay in Israel, you can still come to Israel; however, your green pass will expire during your visit when you pass the six-month mark). Here’s the Process to enter Israel You will gain entry into Israel via the Health Ministry Declaration Form: 48-hours before your flight, you will complete this form: https://corona.health.gov.il/en/flights/?utm_source=go.gov.il&utm_medium=referral For those who have traveled to Israel previously, you will know this as the “24-hour pre-flight form.” Once you file this form properly, within minutes you will receive an email from “Do Not Reply-MOH,” which is the record you need to show at the airport. Your green pass will be included. If your vaccination certificate is not digitally validated in Israel, it could take longer to receive this email. Tips for completing this form correctly: 1. Must be completed within 48-hours of a flight; it will be the basis of your entry to Israel. 2. You will need specific flight information, i.e., the name of the airline, the flight number and the estimated time that it arrives in Israel. 3. You will need a specific isolation location, with a specific street address and house number that cannot be changed later on. 4. You will need to upload your vaccination records via PDF. If you have a vaccination record with a QR code, use it. 5. If you are submitting a recovery letter along with positive PCR results, or any other multi-page document, you must merge them into one file and compress them using www.ilovepdf.com. 6. Make sure all files are under 1MB, and use www.ilovepdf.com  to compress files. 7. Everyone needs a negative PCR test from within 72 hours prior to takeoff. (An exemption from pre-departure PCR test will be granted to those recovered, if at least 11 days and no more than 3 months have passed from the day of diagnosis as a COVID-19 case. Note this exemption is for pre-departure PCR tests only; it is not an exemption from the PCR test on arrival in Israel.) 8. You must have your negative PCR test and a copy of the 48-hour Entry Declaration Form to board a plane to Israel. These are the only documents you need. Protocol for Arrival in Israel: 1. Everyone, bar none, including Israeli citizens, need to take a PCR test upon arrival at Ben Gurion Airport. You can reserve your test in advance with TestnGo: https://testngo.femi.com/en/sign-in If you test positive at Ben Gurion Airport, you will be in 10-day quarantine. There are no exceptions and there is no way to shorten your quarantine if this happens. 2. On your TestnGo form, make sure to use an Israeli cell number that you have access to. That is where you will receive results of your PCR test. Failure to provide an Israeli cellphone number can become problematic. 3. There is no longer a need for serological testing in Israel in order to receive a green pass or exit quarantine, and therefore no need to book a test. 4. 24-hour quarantine: Most visitors arriving in Israel will be held to this level of quarantine, which means that you are released after you receive a negative PCR result from the airport or when 24 hours has passed – whichever comes first. 5. There will be a 10-day quarantine for those who test positive for COVID at Ben Gurion Airport 6. There will be a 7-day quarantine for anyone with a valid Israeli passport who is not vaccinated or recovered within six months. Release from quarantine comes with a negative PCR upon arrival in Israel and a negative PCR on day seven.