Interview with Yehuda Gordon: On living in Samaria without fear

Yehuda Gordon grew up in Bet El and currently lives in the Shomron [Samaria] with his wife and four children - Adi Yisrael, Yosef, Chen, Lia. He works as a sofer stam [scribe].

[Interview conducted by Sharona eshet-Kohen]

Israel News Analysis: Hamas and Hizbullah

by Yaakov "Ketzaleh" Katz

[Based on an article that originally appeared in Hebrew in Besheva and translated by Hillel Fendel]

Reading the Haftara on a recent Sabbath, Parshat Yitro, I could not help noticing the fear and terror in the hearts of the House of David in Jerusalem when King Achaz of Judea was attacked by the armies of Aram and Israel. The Bible describes it as follows: "It was told to the House of David, saying, 'Aram has allied itself with Ephraim' – and his heart and his people's hearts trembled like the trees of the forest tremble before the wind." (Yeshayahu 7,2)

It was only the Divine command issued to King Achaz via the Prophet Isaiah that gave him the strength to fight and win: "Feel secure and calm yourself, do not fear, and let your heart not be faint because of these two smoking firebrand stubs…" (verse 4).

This sorry situation appears to be reminiscent of what we face today. Reading and watching the daily news, we are constantly bombarded with the opinions of the commanders and leaders of our security forces – the IDF, Shabak, and Mossad – regarding our two enemies threatening us from north and south – Hizbullah and Hamas. Apparently, either because of a weakening in their belief in the justness of our cause, or possibly due to spiritual and religious tiredness, or perhaps it's just plain fright and fear of these two smoking firebrand stubs – for whatever reason, the security leaders of the State of Israel nearly always advise and pressure the Government of Israel to surrender to every demand raised by these two terrorist organizations. Our powerful government is afraid to utilize its army, or its other security organs, simply because of the dangers foreseen by the Situation Room in the Kiryah [Defense Ministry headquarters] in Tel Aviv.

Israel News Analysis: The Price of Life

[Based on article by Assaf Mishnayot, originally published in Hebrew in Besheva, edited and translated by Hillel Fendel]

The IDF plans to cut 70 positions in the civil security framework in Judea and Samaria during the course of 2019, continuing the trend of previous years. These cost-saving measures mean simply that "we won't be able to protect the Jewish communities," says a senior Shomron Regional Council official.

These are difficult times for the security sector in Judea and Samaria. Last month saw several fatal and near-fatal terrorist attacks, and just this past week, the civilian emergency squad of the community of Adei Ad suffered a near-deadly ambush by hundreds of Arab rioters. The team was then taken to task in the media by radical elements for opening fire and killing one of the attackers – a terrorist who has served time in Israeli prison.

From Congo to Samaria: The Story of Ariel and Eliana Limania

by Tzurit Fenigshtein, originally published in Hebrew in Eretz Binyamin, the journal of the Mateh Binyamin Regional Council, edited and translated by Hillel Fendel

After meeting and talking with Ariel and Eliana Limania-Limbo, two new immigrants to Israel from Belgium, I realize that the life choices I have made in my lifetime pale in comparison to those they have made. They are "settlers" living in Eli, just north of Shilo, they are religious, and they are black-skinned – and they still laugh whenever they see the looks of surprise of those who hear their French-accented Hebrew for the first time.

Ariel was born in Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Belgian Congo and Zaire), to an Ashkenazi-Jewish family. He immigrated as a lad with his family to Belgium, where he studied law and served as legal counsel for the Belgian Electric Company. He met Eliana, then a Christian and daughter of a former Belgian Parliament member, in a memorable encounter:

Interview with Yedidya Solomon

10th year Bet El Yeshiva student and cancer survivor

On coping with hardship through emunah (faith)

 Yedidya Solomon is 28 years old and lives in Bet El with his wife. He has been learning at Bet El's Yeshiva of Higher Learning for 10 years and is almost finished completing a B.A. in Special Education. He works in education, consulting, and therapy.

[Interview conducted by Sharona eshet-Kohen]