Torah Study or Profession - Should Yeshiva Students Go to Work?

[Note to readers: In a few days, I'll be posting my wife's and my personal recommendation for the most effective and worthy Maos Hittim (Passover needs for the poor) project in the Land of Israel. The real thing - totally legitimate - executed in the most ingenious way. You'll see and judge for yourself. Check back.]

to Bet El's newsletter for more exclusive content

unavailable anywhere else in English on the web

The 2013 Israel elections were the first in decades to focus on societal issues, instead of the Arab-Israel conflict. And the primary issue that Yair Lapid's brand new party rode to reach a stunning 19 Knesset seats was "Should Yeshiva Students Learn Full Time or Be Integrated Into the Work Force and the IDF?"

Don't be content with just your gut feelings on the matter. Read the following article by Rabbi Eliezer Melamed to be knowledgeable on the topic. Enjoy the read.

The 2013 Israel elections were the first to focus on societal issues, and not the Arab-Israel conflict. The primary issue that Yair Lapid's new party rode to reach a stunning 19 Knesset seats was "Should Yeshiva Students Learn Full Time or Be Integrated Into the Work Force and the IDF?"

Don't suffice with just your feelings on this issue. Read the following article by Rabbi Eliezer Melamed, Chief Rabbi of the Shomron town Har Bracha and son of Bet El's Rosh Yeshiva, to be knowledgeable on the topic. Enjoy the read (and if you opt to comment below, be nice).

Rabbi Eliezer Melamed
Chief Rabbi of Har Bracha

Torah Study or Profession?
by Rabbi Eliezer Melamed

“A Spade With Which To Dig”

The Mishnah (Avot 4:6) begins by teaching us the desired intention when studying Torah:

“If one learns [Torah] in order to teach, he is given the means to learn and to teach; if one learns in order to do, he is given the means to learn, to teach, to observe, and to do.” 

The Mishnah continues:

“Rabbi Tzaddok says, 'Do not make the teachings of the Torah into a crown with which to adorn (i.e., be proud of) yourself, nor like a spade with which to dig (i.e., earn a living).' Hillel would say, 'One who makes use of his crown passes away.' From here we see that whoever derives benefits from his Torah knowledge removes himself from the world.”

The Practice of the Talmudic Sages

Working to make a living alongside Torah study was indeed the practice of the great Torah scholars from the Talmudic era. No less an authority than Hillel the Elder, before being appointed to the position of president of the Great Sanhedrin, would earn a meager salary as a woodcutter. When he took his position as president, however, the community bestowed great wealth upon him. This was the rule. Whoever was appointed to a position of authority, such as president of the Sanhedrin or deputy to the president, would be made wealthy by the community. The practice of enriching community leaders was carried out because having rich and distinguished leaders brought honor to the community, for wealth caused their leaders' words to carry more weight. It is told of R' Abba of Acco that he was poor, and R' Abahu went out of his way to have him appointed to an important position so that he should be granted wealth (Sotah 40a).

However, other Torah scholars who did not hold positions of authority did not live at the expense of the community - even very great Torah scholars. R' Shimon HaPakuli used to make cotton; R' Yochanan the Cobbler used to earn his living though shoe repair; R' Meir supported himself by performing scribal work; R' Pappa used to plant trees; etc.

In those days, people used to assist the rabbis in their work and business. Rabbis were thus able to earn what they needed in a short period of time, while dedicating most of their time to Torah study.

Rambam's Position

In his commentary to the Mishna, Rambam comes out strongly against those who study Torah and demand that the community support them. He brings numerous examples of leading Torah authorities from the period of the Mishnah who would earn their own living and never even considered having the community support them.

Accordingly, Rambam rules, “One who decides that instead of working he will occupy himself with Torah study and live from charity, profanes God's name, disgraces the Torah, extinguishes the light of the law, brings harm upon himself, and removes himself from the World to Come, for it is forbidden to derive benefit from the Torah in this world. Hence, the sages teach: 'Whoever derives benefit from his Torah knowledge removes himself from the world'; they have also commanded us, saying: 'Do not make them (the teachings of the Torah) into a crown with which to adorn yourself, nor like an spade with which to dig'; they have also commanded us, saying: 'Love labor and despise status'; and, “Any Torah that is not accompanied by labor is destined to be nullified and to lead to transgression, and such a person will end up robbing other people.'”

The Tribes of Zevulun and Yissachar

On the other hand, it is well known that the tribe of Zevulun occupied itself with commerce and  supported the Torah scholars from the tribe of Yissachar, and in this regard the sages taught,

“When Moses came to bless the tribes of Israel, he blessed Zevulun before Yissachar, in accordance with the verse: 'It is a Tree of Life for those who cling to it, and those who support it are content'” (Bereshit Rabba 72:5, 99:9).

The Shagal Windows of Yissachar (right) & Zevulun (left)

Rambam Approves of Such an Approach

Rambam, of course, approves of the practice of Zevulun and Yissachar. And while he holds that earning a living through the sweat of one's brow is praiseworthy and pious behavior (According to Rambam [Hilkhot Tamud Torah 3:11],

“One who earns a living through his own labors possesses a great virtue, and such was the custom of the early pietists, and one who behaves in this manner merits all honor and goodness in this world and attains the World to Come, as the verse states, 'When you eat the labor of your hands, you shall be happy and it shall be well with you.'”),

a person is not obligated to adopt such a pious practice. In fact, sometimes, in order to disseminate Torah amongst the Jewish people, it is preferable to forgo such piety. Indeed, for years Rambam himself studied Torah diligently while being supported by his brother David who dealt in commerce. Only after his brother drowned at sea was Rambam forced to go into medicine in order to support his family and the family of his brother.

Do not make yourself dependent upon the community

We find, then, that the difference between the prohibition of supporting oneself through the Torah on the one hand, and the practice of Yissachar on the other, is in two areas: (a) the pure intention of the student, and (b) that it be done respectfully, not disgracefully. Members of the tribe of Yissachar did not study Torah in order to earn a living. They no doubt had fields and were accustomed to working them. Rather, members of the tribe of Zevulun, possessing as they did great wealth, approached the tribe of Yissachar and encouraged them to spend more time studying Torah. To this end the tribe of Zevulun would be willing to support them financially. It never occurred, though, to the tribe of Yissachar to approach the tribe of Zevulun in order to ask for such support.

The Dissenters from Rambam's Opinion

Many early Torah authorities disagree with Rambam on this issue. They argue that if Torah scholars were to refrain from receiving money from the community, the light of Torah would be extinguished from the midst of Israel, and there would be no one to teach the people Torah.

Even those who disagree with Rambam admit that to eschew the financial support of the community is a pious attribute and that, in the days of the Talmud, Torah scholars indeed worked to support themselves while at the same time establishing many students. However, say these authorities, over the course of time there was a decline in Torah greatness, and it is no longer possible to occupy oneself with earning a living while studying and teaching Torah.

In the age of the Mishnah and the Talmud most emphasis was placed on depth of understanding, for the quantity of Mishnayot and Baraithot was not so great, and study was, for the most part, aimed at deepening the Torah foundations. It would appear that their labor did not prevent them from continuing to deepen their Torah contemplation as they worked. However, with the passing of time, the number of opinions and interpretations multiplied and the learning material grew immensely, and students of Torah were forced to spend many more hours studying in depth and memorizing the Talmud, the Geonim, and the works of the early authorities.

Rabbi Shimon ben Tzemach, in his work Hatashbetz (vol. 1, pp. 142-148), agrees with the above opinion and cites many supporting sources. The great later authorities, the more important of which being R' Yosef Karo (Kesef Mishneh, Beit Yosef 246) and R' Moshe Isserles (Yoreh Heah 246:21), ruled likewise.

Dispensation for Yeshivah Students Who Plan To Teach

In addition to everything we have said so far, because of the gradual decline in Torah scholarship and the great increase in books, it goes without saying that it is impossible to produce even moderate Torah scholars unless they study Torah on a full time basis. And if the community does not finance the study of these Yeshiva students, there will not arise any Torah scholars who will be able to teach and guide the next generation.

Hence, though according to the letter of the law it would be best if those who learn Torah would earn their income through the labor of their own hands, over the course of time it has become necessary to change the original custom and to support Torah students in order that the Torah continue to thrive in Israel's midst.

This, moreover, is the desire of the community. The community wants to foster Torah scholarship in order to assure that Torah scholars will arise who will be able to teach Torah and render rulings on questions of Jewish law. And since the only way to realize such a goal is by allowing students to dedicate themselves to Torah study on a full time basis, the community donates funds in order to support Talmudic academies in which Torah students and educators learn. This position is taken by Maharashal and Shakh (Yoreh Deah 246:20), as well as R' Chaim ben Attar (Rishon LeTziyon 246:21).

An Additional Dispensation for Our Generation

An additional problem has arisen in our own generation, namely, that many youths are slow to reach a level of knowledge that allows them to live in accordance with the Torah. Therefore, because there is a commandment to educate children so that they know the Torah and are able to live according to its laws, parents must continue to finance their children's studies for another few years in the Yeshiva in order that they succeed in acquiring a firm Torah substructure. And because there are parents who are not able to pay for their children's education (and there are even some parents who do not want to pay), the community as a whole must take this responsibility. Therefore, it is necessary to gather donations in order to support Yeshivas.

Students Who Are Not Suited To Teach

However, after a student has studied for a number of years in a Yeshiva and has received a firm Torah foundation, it is best to direct him according to his talent and ambition – whether in the field of Torah, viz., education or Rabbinate, or towards some practical occupation which suits his character, such as, for example, business management.

As far as our present inquiry is concerned, if a person finds that he is not suited to be a teacher or to serve in the Rabbinate, he is no longer permitted to study Torah on a full time basis and to be supported by the community or from charity.

This is the path which we follow at the Har Bracha Yeshiva [Baruch's note: and a similar approach with slight variations is generally adopted by the entire religious-Zionist movement in Israel]. Upon completion of the standard course of study, which lasts five years (and includes military service), each student chooses the path in life that he feels truly suits him – whether in religious or secular vocations. The Yeshiva, for its part, encourages each student to be true to his unique character. In this manner, many of our students go on to learn a profession, and they do this on the most prestigious level that they possibly can according to their ability. 

At the same time, they continue to set fixed times for Torah study each day, internalizing values of self-sacrifice and love for the Torah and its study and for the scrupulous performance of the commandments. They also strive to practice much charity and kindness, to aid in the development of the Land of Israel, and to sanctify God's sacred name.

[article courtesy of: http://www.yeshiva.co/ ]

"Like" this on FB!

To receive email updates with articles like this one:

One-click unsubscribe link at the bottom of every email

Why No Coffee Shops in Bnai Brak?

[Note to readers: In a few days, I'll be posting my wife's and my personal recommendation for the most effective and worthy Maos Hittim (Passover needs for the poor) project in the Land of Israel. The real thing - totally legitimate - executed in the most ingenious way. You'll see and judge for yourself. Check back.]

to Bet El's newsletter for more exclusive content

unavailable anywhere else in English on the web

I rolled out of bed at 3:30 Friday morning to take my 16-year-old son to the 5:45am grand launch of the 2013 Tel Aviv Marathon.

After he disappeared into the distance with tens of thousands of dedicated runners, I drove to Rabbi Akiva Street in Bnai Brak, the main hareidi-religious (black hat) hub in the Tel Aviv area, where you are sure to find a quorum for the morning prayers.

Rabbi Akiva St. - the main drag of Bnai Brak

Everybody knows that Rabbi Akiva street represents the cutting edge of the hareidi community with the latest men's and women's fashions, shopping and commerce. After igniting my soul with the morning prayer and pleading that my son finish the 21-kilometer run in good health, I sought out a coffee shop to ignite my body's engine room and sit with my computer.

After entering several bakeries and establishments that advertised coffee, I realized the trend: on Rabbi Akiva street, you can buy coffee to go, but no sit-down coffee shops.

Baruch holding his tefillin: "No coffee shops in Bnai Brak?"

I stopped several hareidi gentlemen on the street telling them that if they want to become rich, they should open the first coffee shop in Bnai Brak. This ingenious, innovative idea is bound to be a hit.

One guy told me that there was a coffee shop, but it closed. When I asked another guy why no coffee shops, his immediate and natural response was: "Why sit in a coffee shop when you can take the coffee to the beis midrash (house of study)?"

His come-back blew me away. The only thing that he associates coffee with is sitting in the beis midrash and studying. The culture of lounging in a coffee shop to chatter is not a money-maker in these parts. Ladies and gents, that dude is a serious, diligent Torah scholar.

I really admire hareidi men like him. True, I can't stand those who promenade in full black garb, but are fakes inside. But this guy was the real thing. I sensed it through our brief encounter.

So I thought to myself, if only all the students of the Torah were like this guy - grinding away multiple hours a day immersed in vigorous study of our ancient holy texts without much else on their minds.

If all the hareidim were the real thing, what a force that would be. I bet Yair Lapid himself would try on a black suit and hat. Watch and see for yourself.

Breaking News Photo 2014: Yair Lapid goes hareidi (Lapid wouldn't let me photograph his face, but there he is)

By the way, my son Amitai ran the whole 21 kilometers (13 miles). Good for you, Amitai!

"Like" this on FB!

To receive email updates with articles like this one:

One-click unsubscribe link at the bottom of every email

Playboy Makes Aliyah to Israel

[Note to readers: In a few days, I'll be posting my wife's and my personal recommendation for the most effective and worthy Maos Hittim (Passover needs for the poor) project in the Land of Israel. The real thing - totally legitimate - executed in the most ingenious way. You'll see and judge for yourself. Check back.]

to Bet El's newsletter for more exclusive content

unavailable anywhere else in English on the web

I thought that I would never in my life wish upon any fellow Jew that he stay away from Israel. That's how I feel today regarding Daniel Pomerantz who made aliyah (immigrated) from Chicago with a low-tech business initiative: Playboy magazine in Hebrew. You can't get much lower.

Jewish genius from overseas alongside savvy investors bring so many bright ideas and funding to the great Jewish brain hub known as the State of Israel. Israeli and overseas Jewish entrepreneurs join together to upgrade planet earth and make money in the process.

Your idea, Daniel, is nurtured from the gutter.

Daniel, you should have left this idea where it belongs.

At your Tuesday, March 5, 2013 launch, you said: "Our target is men who want a taste of the good life."

Huh? This reminds me of my high school fraternity pledge master's mother who tried to convince my Mom of the virtues of renting a tuxedo for the end-of-the-year prom: "When I see my son walking down the red carpet wearing a tuxedo, it is the proudest moment in my life," she said. My mother felt pity for this woman whose nachas (pride in her children) wasn't to be found in her son's character, but rather in his clothing.

And so with you Daniel: gazing at naked women is "a taste of the good life?"

The good life is only to be found when a man focuses all of his sexual drive towards one single goal: his wife. He brings to her all of his robustness and fortitude, and she feels the force and totality of her husband's passion for her. The lust for the opposite sex serves to cement the marriage relationship; it becomes a platform for increased love and mutual respect. It creates a haven of warmth in the home.

"Babe, I missed you today!"

When a loyal, pornography-free husband greets his wife at the end of the day, she is gorgeous in his eyes. He is crazy about her and can't wait to smother her with hugs, kisses and whispers of how much he loves her. The wife's inner antennas detect the husband's overflowing passion and respect for her. It empowers her. The home becomes a heaven on earth for the whole family.

But when a husband wastes his sexual energies in other directions like pornography, he presents his wife in the evening with the leftovers. After a sizzling-hot encounter with the gorgeous women in your magazine, the husband comes through the front door with only a lukewarm reception for his own wife. The lesser dosage of passion breeds disappointment, unhappiness and tension in the home which eats away at the marriage relationship and ultimately wrecks the children's upbringing.

"He loves me? He loves me not."

Is that the "good life" that you were referring to? Your magazine is a momentary rush of lust, which leaves depression and havoc in its wake.

The only good life is a pornography-free husband-wife relationship. It is so, so sweet.

Your rival magazine Penthouse tried a Hebrew edition back in 1989. It quickly flopped. Your initiative will too. Just get it over quickly so we can return the vomit bags to the seat backs in front of us.

Daniel, you had the wherewithal and talent to put the Hebrew Playboy initiative together. In a million lost dollars from now, stick around Israel and find a constructive outlet to contribute your energies and money.

I close Daniel by referring you to the best site for porn addiction: JewishSexuality.com . Start with the Questions and Answers section and then progress to the longer essays and books posted there.

Good luck in closing your business quickly.

"Like" this on FB!

To receive email updates with articles like this one:

One-click unsubscribe link at the bottom of every email

Herby's Bake Shop Secret Challah Recipe Cracked!

to Bet El's newsletter for more exclusive content

unavailable anywhere else in English on the web

Anyone who has spent a Shabbat in the Jerusalem area has very possibly experienced the bliss of sinking his teeth into a Challah (bread baked for the Sabbath) from Herby's Bake Shop, located in my home town Bet El.

The recipe is obviously a trademark secret, but read on.

Herby carefully guards the challahs from the camera's eye lest the secret be revealed

I am currently visiting in my former home town Memphis and coming out of the Anshei Sephard synagogue this morning, I sparked up conversation with longtime Memphians Phillip Evans and Rick Baer. When Phillip heard that I am from Bet El, he started telling tales about Herby, the master Challah Baker also from Memphis. I share with you these brief anecdotes because they reveal the struggle of a young Jew determined to guard Jewish tradition in a hic town in the 1960's, and they also reveal a lead towards the much-sought-after culinary code of the challahs.

Phillip and Herby studied together at University of Tennessee in Knoxville, a town that has about as many Jews as a small bowling alley has bowling balls. Back in those days, it was against university protocol to have any type of stove in the dorms, but Herby, being the only Kashrut stringent student, struggled to get special privileges to have a closet where he could keep a hot plate and some kosher food.

It was difficult, but he was willing to do whatever it takes to learn at university and keep kosher.

When Shabbat came around, Herby wanted to get to synagogue, but the house of prayer was a hefty 3.5 miles away! And so, Herby would often walk the walk, in order to attend services.

And now, ladies and gentlemen, we take a leap closer to the secret. There was only one family that was really shomer Shabbat (observant of the laws of Shabbat) in town, and the two students would occasionally be invited to their home for a meal. The family, the Goodsteins, served a mean challah, home-baked by the Mrs.

In this little hic hub, in the only religious home, history was made: Herby asked for the recipe from Mrs. Goodstein and began baking his own challahs.

Upon his return to Memphis, friends and neighbors at his Mom's home expressed interest in the delicious challahs, and Herby's Mom's kitchen became a makeshift bakery to supply the demand.

When Herby finished college and the challah orders were increasing, he soon placed his law degree on a back burner and became a Baker at Law, opening a shop on Bethel street in Memphis.

In the late 1980's after Herby had made aliyah, I went to his son's bris in the absorption center in Mevasseret Zion, just outside of Jerusalem, where Herby's family had been absorbed. They were looking for where to take up permanent residence, and I invited them to check out Bet El, enthusiastically telling about the fine town folk there.

The Herby Dan family indeed moved the Bet El, and the Goodstein challahs found a new venue for dissemination until this day.

I have never met or even heard about Mrs. Goodstein until this morning, but anyone who takes the trouble to track her down and copy the challah recipe, will own a document that could be auctioned on eBay for millions. In the meantime, check out Herby's site: http://www.herbysbakeshop.com

Now when Herby reads this article, I will post his confirmation or denial of the above tales right below, so:

Y'all come back now!

Good luck and Shabbat Shalom!

Purim News: Jewish Home Party Concerned - Ayelet Shaked is Becoming Observant

to Bet El's newsletter for more exclusive content

unavailable anywhere else in English on the web

Ayelet Shaked, the young, Tel-Aviv-born, secularist who was strategically placed high up in the Jewish Home party list in order to draw votes from the non-religious public, is becoming observant. Party leaders are  worried.

Ayelet Shaked to Rabbi Ronsky: "When I become fully religious,
I hope to have a beard like yours."

"If this trend continues," said an unnamed party leader, "we will have to ask some of the religious Knesset members in our party to remove their yarmulkes and discontinue public Jewish observance."

The news first broke when Shaked's neighbors reported that her car didn't move from her driveway for the entirety of the Shabbat for the third week straight. Following that, a Shaked garbologist found in the family's trash the wrappings of a package of "cholent meat" and "kishke."

The evidence climaxed when this young Chabad boy asked his Rabbi if it was OK that he helped Shaked don tefillin at the Kotel:

"It was the first time a woman approached me. I didn't know what to do.
My Rabbi's cellular phone was busy." Photo: Chabad.info

After the party convened an urgent session to deliberate the issue, activists purchased for the Shaked family season tickets to the HaPoel Tel Aviv soccer games (held on Shabbat). Furthermore, at the induction ceremony to the Knesset, the party presented her with a gift of the complete writings of  Friedrich Nietzsche. A party leader explained, "We are confident that we can be mechazek her in her secular convictions in order to safeguard her like a prize etrog. We are in consultation with a Chabad Rabbi regarding special mivtzaim aimed at the Shaked family."

Rabbi Rick Jacobs blessed the party leaders:

Jacobs to Bennett: "You should be matzliach in the merit of the mitzvah:
kol hamekayem nefesh achas m'yisroel ... k'ilu  kiyem olam maleh!"

The idea for this blogpost was stolen in broad daylight from the Purim issue of Besheva Magazine, 2013 by confessed thief Baruch Gordon.

Get with it! "Like" this!

To receive email updates with articles like this one:

One-click unsubscribe link at the bottom of every email

Sick and Tired of Dating...

to Bet El's newsletter for more exclusive content

unavailable anywhere else in English on the web

The years passed and Yisca was unsuccessful in finding her match. Propositions continued to flow in from various directions, but she felt she was growing sick and tired of the dating scene. She meets a new guy with high hopes, but after a rendez-vous or two, the energy dissipates: either she or he is not interested, or both.

Yisca felt she needed divine intervention, without which she couldn't continue much longer.

She began a period of intensive prayer. She filled her shemonah esrei (silent devotion) with lengthy personal inserts, meditated alone for hours, and visited the tombs of tzadikim (righteous saints) all over Israel, especially the tomb of Yonatan Ben Uziel, whose grave site is, according to tradition, imbued with special powers to help one find his/her spouse.

Amuka - the tomb of Yonatan Ben Uziel in the north

The new guys kept coming and going.

Yisca lost hope and didn't know what to do. All her efforts brought no results, and her multitude of prayers didn't deliver the prince on a white horse. "What more can I do, Master of the Universe, that I haven't already done," she asked.

One Shabbat morning, Yisca felt that she had reached the end. She was broken. "How much more can I suffer? What can I do to convince Hashem (G-d) that I have no strength left for another date," she thought to herself.

The answer suddenly came to her: "I will hold a demonstration in front of Hashem like protesters do in front of the Prime Minister's residence!" But where does one hold such a protest? Yisca figured that the best place to demonstrate would be in front of the remnants of Hashem's official residence - the Western Wall in Jerusalem.

"I am coming to demonstrate against you at the Western Wall," Yisca declared to Hashem. "You must understand that I have no strength left. I will not leave until you deliver me my match - the true one meant for me.  Until what age can I live with my parents, and watch their sorrow and pain?" A tear formed on her cheek, as she reviewed the reasons for the protest.

After the Shabbat morning meal, Yisca informed her mother that she was walking to the Western Wall to pray there.

"Are you out of your mind," shrieked the alarmed mother, "to walk from Mevasseret Tziyon to the Western Wall? Do you know how far it is? It's over 9 miles (15 kilometers)!"

"I don't care mother," Yisca responded forcefully. "I am going to pray that I get married soon."

"OK, that's fine to pray at the Western Wall, but wait until the end of Shabbat on Saturday night when you can take the first bus," the mother reasoned.

"No!" insisted the daughter. "I want Hashem to see that I am broken. I have already prayed at the Western Wall numerous times, and I still don't have a ring on my finger."

"But there is a heat wave today. You may faint," the mother said hoping to register with her daughter's common sense.

"Don't worry, mother. I'll be OK."

The mother's plea fell on deaf ears, and Yisca was on her way. She started walking along the highway past Motza towards Jerusalem. The uphill was intense, and she felt the heat. She paused to drink from her water bottle, and continued completely determined to reach the entrance to Jerusalem, cross town on Jaffe Street to the Old City, and finally make the descent to the Western Wall - the gates of prayer to heaven.

Women praying at the Western Wall in Jerusalem

"I will convince You Hashem that my time has come to get married," she muttered to herself adding, "This time I won't budge until you answer me."

The uphill climb combined with the heat was debilitating. Yisca's water bottle was empty. She closed her eyes and began to feel dizzy. Before she understood what was happening to her, she lost consciousness and keeled over on the side of the Jerusalem Highway. A driver saw her on the ground and called for an ambulance which arrived in minutes.

A Magen David volunteer named Ariel began treating the unconscious young woman and raised her, together with a colleague, on a stretcher and into the ambulance. On the way to hospital, she opened her eyes and began coming back to herself. Ariel gave her cold water to drink.

"May I ask what you were doing walking to Jerusalem," Ariel inquired. Yisca didn't know what to answer, and after a moment of silence, told him the truth: "I was on my way to the Western Wall to pray."

"But what was so urgent? Why on Shabbat," asked the young volunteer who was wearing a knitted yarmulka on his head.

Bewildered, Yisca smiled and didn't answer.

Her determination impressed the young man, and he engaged her in conversation until their arrival at the hospital. Ariel escorted her inside and saw to it that she receive immediate treatment. He returned to the Magen David base to await further emergency calls.

A few days passed, and Yisca's cellular phone rang. A girl on the other end introduced herself as Ariel's cousin and asked in his name if Yisca would agree to go out with him on a date. "Yes, yes, absolutely," Yisca answered without a moment's hesitation.

A few months later, Ariel and Yisca stood together under the chuppah (wedding canopy) in Jerusalem.

[See also: Save Yourself From the Singles Swamp]

The above story was published in the Feb. 14, 2013 edition of Besheva Newspaper, published by the Arutz Sheva group.

"Like" this article on Facebook

To receive email updates with articles like this one:

One-click unsubscribe link at the bottom of every email

What Jewish Town Had Highest Voter Turnout in Jan. 2013 Elections?

to Bet El's newsletter for more exclusive content

unavailable anywhere else in English on the web

What Jewish town had the highest voter turnout in Israel's January 2013 elections? Or asked differently, what town's population gives a damn about what happens in the State of Israel more than any other, and was most motivated to influence the national course of events by bothering to vote? 

The Jewish town with the highest voter turnout in the January 2013 Israel elections was Bet El, located  just north of Jerusalem. 

The Avraham Ohavi Synagogue in Bet El

Eighty-six percent of Bet El residents went to polling stations to make their voices count.

In comparison, voter turnout in Jerusalem was 61.6%, Tel Aviv 59%, Bnei Brak 72.4%, and Um El Fahm (Arab town in Galilee) 59%. The overall national voter turnout was 66.6%.

In Tel Aviv, the party which won the most votes was Yair Lapid’s Yesh Atid (20.73%).  In Jerusalem, the party which won the most votes was the religious-hareidi Yahadut HaTorah (22%).

In another important statistic, the IDF recently announced that Bet El has the highest percentage of draftees who join combat units – also 86%!

Future combat soldiers in Bet El

The families of Bet El are rock solid! Bet El is also home to the renowned Bet El Institutions and the IDF Preparatory Academy which educate their students to national responsibility and readiness to sacrifice for the Jewish People.

"Like" this article on Facebook

To receive email updates with articles like this one:

One-click unsubscribe link at the bottom of every email