Bet Shemesh Weekly News

By Rabbi Dov Lipman

1)SHMUEL POPPENHEIM ATTACKED

Last week, Shmuel Poppenheim, the Toldos Aharon chasid who has spoken out against the violence of the extremists, was interviewed by Haaretz.  In that interview, Poppenheim, who has made great efforts to prepare Chareidim for entrance into the work place, criticized Rabbis who try to prevent Chareidim from going to work.  When Poppenheim arrived at the Toldos Aharon shul on Friday night, he was asked to leave by some of the men there.  He refused and they began screaming, "Sheigitz, Apikores, get out of here impurity!"  He refused to leave and they began to push him out.  Poppenheim held onto book shelves to resist being pushed out and then one knocked off his shtreimel, a second guy broke his glasses, and a third hit him hard in the ribs.   He left the shul for a few minutes but then went back in and was hit again.   The Toldos Aharon rabbinic leadership has come out strongly against the attackers and are implementing sanctions against the attackers.

 

2)KIKA FURNITURE CHAIN COMING TO BEIT SHEMESH?

Mayor Abutbol was in Germany last week visiting a sister city and traveled to Austria where he proposed using the new 3,000 dunam given to the city from Mateh Yehuda for a new KIKA store.  The owner of KIKA was impressed with the offer and said he would come to visit the area after the Spring, and if everything adds up, may even open the store in the Bet Shemesh region before the planned store in Haifa.  He talked about using all 3,000 dunam for a 4-story mega store including parking.

 

3)TENSION BETWEEN CITY TREAURER AND CITY MANAGER

City treasurer, Aryeh Bardugo, threatened to resign in recent weeks because city workers are spending more money than the city has.  The pressing issue has become city workers who insist on using city cars.  The tension also increased over the city manager holding meetings to plan the 2012 budget without the treasurer in attendance.  Mayor Abutbol, who is under significant pressure since there is no budget approved for 2012 and no scheduled city council meeting for the budget on the horizon, has been mediating between the treasurer and the manager.

 

4)PLEASE TAKE 1 MINUTE AND SIGN THIS PETITION - AND HAVE EVERYONE IN YOUR FAMILY SIGN

This will show that you support the appeal against the approval of the plans for RBS Gimmel 2 

http://www.atzuma.co.il/myaccount/?edited=1&page=1

 

5)WE NEED MORE PEOPLE TO ATTEND THE DEMONSTRATION AT THE APPEAL NEXT SUNDAY MARCH 4

Life is very busy but there are moments when we need to make the extra effort.  This is a person call from me asking you to take a half day from work and come to the protest on Sunday March 4 in Bayit Vegan from 8:30a.m. to 10:00a.m.  We have a free bus available for anyone who wants.  This is our first real chance to stop the madness in the city planning (or non-planning) in an official way and the pressure from hundreds of people there will help or cause while a smalll presence there will hurt the cause.  Please e-mail me back to register for the protest.

 

I should also menton that we are still short funds for this process.  Please e-mail me back ddlipman@aol.com if you can donate and I will guide you.

 

There will be a gathering in RBS Aleph to explain what is happening with the future construction and why it is imperative that you join the demonstration.  Please come to Ohr Hashalom, Rav Soloveichik's shul, corner of Refaim and Maor, this Wednesday night (Feb. 29) at 9:00p.m. 

 

Snowman in K4

My son Ariel, with Snowman, my granddaughter Netta and daughter Shira

I'm just back from taking my son Ariel, 11, to enjoy the rare (in Israel) experience of playing in the snow. My daughter (Shira) and granddaughter (Netta) played host at their home in Kiryat Arba. 

Beit Shemesh Weekly News

By Rabbi Dov Lipman

*MONTGOMERY COUNTY LIKELY TO CONTINUE BET SHEMESH RELATIONSHIP

The leadership of Montgomery County is likely to continue the twinning relationship with Bet Shemesh.  Federation leaders ave worked hard to guide County Executive Ike Legget who says he is inclined to continue with the relationship.  However, as a leader, he feels he needs to give his constituents the right to express their concerns.  A meeting will take place mid-March after which a final decision will be made.  All observers have been perplexed by city hall's official response which blames the breakdown in the relationship on "pro-Palestinian groups who are working with Bet Shemesh residents to harm the city."

 

*AGREEMENT SIGNED BETWEEN MATEH YEHUDA AND BET SHEMESH REGARDING INDUSTRIAL AREAS

Bet Shemesh's controversial takeover of industrial areas belonging to Mateh Yehuda was stopped as part of an agreement signed this week by Mateh Yehuda Regional head, Moshe Dadon, and Mayor Moshe Abutbol.  According to the agreement, Mateh Yehuda retains most of its currently developed industrial areas but will give Bet Shemesh 3,000 dunam in order to develop its own industrial areas.  This wasa huge victory for Mateh Yehuda which held onto millions of shekalim in annual tax revenue and helps Bet Shemesh to be able to develop its own areas for revenue.

 

*CENTER FOR ROAD SAFETY TO BE ESTABLISHED IN THE CITY

Bet Shemesh qualified for 800,000 NIS from the National Authority for Road Safety to establish a center which will include: a park with model highways and intersections, model gas and bus stations, model bike paths, and classrooms.  Children will learn proper rules of driving, biking, and walking and children will even have the chance to be the enforcers of the "law" at the center.  The center will work together with local schools and summer camps to reach as many populations as possible.

 

*OPPOSITION MEMBERS REGISTER COMPLAINT REGARDING CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS

The opposition in the city council, led by Shalom Lerner, lodged an official complaint with the government authorities regarding the last two city council meetings.  In the first one, the Mayor held important votes within minutes of the official start time which prevented opposition members who were parking their cars to participate.  Then, in the next meeting, the Mayor kept the opposition outside waiting up unti 30 minutes after the official start time and, once he invited them in, opened the meeting with a 20 minute Dvar Torah.  This meant that close to an hour had passed from the official start time and took away the opportunity to properly debate the various issues.  The government authority requested the protocols and recordings from those meetings and a representative from the authority will meet with Lerner this week to review the material.  All decisions in those meetings could be disqualified.

 

*NO WATER THIS COMING WEEK

The Mei Shemesh Water Company will be improving the water system this week and this will mean no water on the following dates and times:

 

Sunday Feb, 19 from 11:00p.m. - 5:00a.m. - RBS Aleph - Nachal Shocham, Soreik (31, 33, 36, 38, 40), Arugot, haAdmor MiShtefasht, Zohar, Nitzanim, Ein Gedi, Chaver, Kishon, Tze'ilim, Teveriah, Tsfat, Beer Sheva, Kiryat Arba, Yavneh, Chevron, Yerushalayim

 

Tuesday Feb. 21 from 9:00a.m - 1:00p.m. - Givat Savion - Haarazim, Haduvdevan, Hashita, Hate'eina, Hatapuach, Haarava, Haagas, Haafarseik, Hahadar, Hahadas, Haorez, Haoren, Hadekel, Shvil Hadoleiv, Ahavat Yisrael

 

Wednesday Feb. 22 from 9:00a.m. - 1:00p.m. - Yefei Nof - Yossi ben Kisma, Ben Azai, Akiva ben Mehalalel

 

*IMPORTANT EVENT REGARDING CHILD ABUSE

Rabbi Moshe Soloveichik shlita will be speaking on Thursday 23rd February in Ramat Beit Shemesh on: "Colliding Worlds - Child Abuse in a Frum Community".  Rav Moshe Soloveichik is Rosh Yeshivas Brisk (Chicago) and Rav of Kehilas Beth Sholom Ahavas Achim.

Rav Soloveichik will be basing his talk on his practical experience promoting Child Protection and confronting Child Abuse in the Jewish community of Chicago.  The event is presented by "Magen", the Beit Shemesh Child Protection Organization; sponsored by Beit Knesset Ohr Shalom and Mosdot Rav Aharon Soloveichik.  The whole RBS/BS community is warmly invited to attend.  Thursday 23rd February, at 8pm.

Location: Beit Keneset Ohr Shalom, Nahal Maor, Ramat Beit Shemesh.  Maariv will follow at 9pm.

 

 

*WE NEED YOU ON MARCH 4 - CRITICAL FOR FUTURE OF THE CITY

The appeal regarding the current destructive plans for the construction of RBS Gimmel 2 is taking place on Sunday morning March 4 at 9:00a.m. in Bayit Vegan.  In order for us to win this appeal, it is important that hundreds of local residents are there.  We will have buses leaving Bet Shemesh at 7:00a.m. since we need to be there by 8:30a.m.  You can leave to go to work at 10:00a.m. and that is when buses will return.  WE ARE ASKING PEOPLE TO TAKE OFF TIME FROM WORK FOR THIS RALLY.  Please e-mail me at ddlipman@gmail.com to let me know that you will be attending and also indicate if you want a seat on a bus.  WE REALLY NEED ALL OF YOU TO COME. 

Rav Moshe Soloveichik Speaking in RBS: "Colliding Worlds"

                                  (Photo is illustrative only)

Rabbi Moshe Soloveichik shlita will be speaking on Thursday 23rd February in Ramat Beit Shemesh on: "Colliding Worlds - Child Abuse in a Frum Community".

Rav Moshe Soloveichik is Rosh Yeshivas Brisk (Chicago) and Rav of Kehilas Beth Sholom Ahavas Achim.

Rav Soloveichik will be basing his talk on his practical experience promoting Child Protection and confronting Child Abuse in the Jewish community of Chicago.

The event is presented by "Magen", the Beit Shemesh Child Protection Organization; sponsored by Beit Knesset Ohr Shalom and Mosdot Rav Aharon Soloveichik.

The whole RBS/BS community is warmly invited to attend.

Thursday 23rd February, at 8pm.

Location: Beit Keneset Ohr Shalom, Nahal Maor, Ramat Beit Shemesh.

Maariv will follow at 9pm.

Whitney Houston: If You Don't Understand The Fuss

(Kol Isha Warning!)

Perchance you're unclear what all the fuss is about Whitney Houston's death in Los Angeles, take a few minutes and relish "I'll Always Love You"...that astounding voice gives me goosebumps....you too?

Bet Shemesh Weekly News

By Rabbi Dov Lipman

(some photos are illustrative only)

1)NEW FIRE STATION AT THE ELAH JUNCTION

A new fire station opened this week at the Elah junction.  This station will provide better services for residents of RBS and will also help deal with the forest fires which often erupt in our region.  30% of the country's forests had been under the auspices of the Bet Shemesh station and the new station will ease the burden of the Bet Shemesh station.  Interior Minister Eli Yishai attended the grand opening of the new station.

 

2)MAYOR CALLS FOR "NO VIOLENCE" IN THE CITY

Mayor Abutbol held a press conference this week to announce a new program geared towards rooting out violence from the city.  A new hotline has been established for residents to report any violent acts.  This will enable the city to monitor where violence is most prevalent in order to direct cameras and other violence prevention measures to those areas.  Residents are asked to report all acts of violence to 054-954-5555 orlolalimut@beitshemesh.co.il.  It should be noted that controversy erupted after it was discovered that signs related to this new program were not hung in the Chareidi neighborhoods.  The Mayor used that same press conference to announce that the new city booklets will include women's pictures and they simply won't be distributed in Chareidi areas.

 

3)SUCCESSFUL DEMONSTRATION OUTSIDE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE

For a few weeks there had been discussions regarding the importance of a protest before the weekly cabinet meeting to continue to keep up the awareness of the violence in Bet Shemesh.  The struggle was always the fact that people work and cannot be there at 9:00a.m.  This past Sunday a small convoy of cars drove to the Prime Minister's Office and generated immense press coverage.  At the protest, the small group which included Natalie Moshiach who was attacked in RBS Bet a few weeks ago, listed over 30 violent attacks which have taken place since 2002.  The story received coverage on all the major networks and in all the major newspapers.

 

4)APPEAL REGARDING RBS GIMMEL 2 PUSHED OFF TO MARCH 4

The appeal regarding the current plans for RBS Gimmel 2 has been pushed off to Sunday morning March 4 in Bayit Vegan at 9:00a.m.  The city's attorney is using the arguement that the appeal is the work of a handful of political activists in the city and, therefore, everything should be continued as planned.  In order to succeed in the appeal, we are going to need hundreds of residents to come that morning.  We will have buses for those who do not want to drive.  This is so important that I am going to ask people who can to please take off a half day of work to be there.  Please let me know asap if you can be there for the appeal on that morning.

 

5)POLICE CRACK DOWN ON ILLEGAL ARAB WORKERS

The national police came into the city this week to address the issue of illegal Palestinian workers throughout the city.  They arrested 146 workers who stayed in the city illegally, including 80 who were found sleeping in actual construction sites.  The police also arrested some people who hired the workers and those who transported the workers to the area.  Five of the people involved will have a criminal file opened against them.

 

6)OPEN UNIVERSITY IN BET SHEMESH

The Open University will begin operating in Bet Shemesh this March.  An informational meeting will be held on Tuesday February 14 between 6:00p.m. and 8:00p.m. at Branco Weiss.  For more information please call Richard Peres at 052-272-4155.

Granny Bashing & Sherut Leumi Safety

Israeli Sherut Leumi girls volunteer at Chazon Yeshayahu Soup Kitchen 

When I was in a posh English Public School (Rugby School – where the game was invented by renegade soccer player William Webb Ellis in 1823), we had a choice of enlisting in Army Corp (a sort of militarised scouts) and "granny bashing".

"Granny bashing" was the boys slang name for the school's Social Services Voluntary Service.

Boys with more testosterone, biceps and body hair would eagerly gravitate to the Corp, march around in heavy boots, and go on night exercises and macho drills in the surrounding English countryside. 

Wimps like me headed straight for granny bashing. 

I don't recollect actually bashing any grannies, but I did paint their walls & dig their gardens, work with handicapped kids, taught in underprivileged schools - and got to meet people close up who certainly couldn't afford our school fees – or even afford our school lunches.

There is a comparable choice here in Israel.

Everyone knows what the IDF is, so there's no need to explain that one.

As an alternative, Sherut Leumi (National Civil Service) is particularly popular with National Religious (dati leumi) girls, who serve for one or two years, from the age of 18.

These Sherut Leumi girls typically do voluntary work in schools, hospitals, charitable and cultural organizations.

A couple of readers referred me to an article on Yeshiva News about the risks and dangers facing girls who volunteer in Israel's Sherut Leumi.

In particular, the article highlights the dangers of sherut leumi girls forming romantic relationships with Arab co-workers. This is apparently a significant risk in locations such as hospitals, where Arab workers make up a significant proportion of the staff.

The article throws in a reference to Yad LeAchim and their campaign to save Jewish girls from Bedouin Arab villages in the Negev. (I think this is solely for effect - as there is no suggestion that any Sherut Leumi girls have ended up in Bedouin villages).

So, I have been asked whether I think that Sherut Leumi is a safe option for dati girls?

Both my elder daughters did Sherut Leumi; my eldest, Shira, in a special education school, and Avital in Machon Hamikdash (The Temple Institute) in the Old City of Jerusalem.

Neither had work colleagues who are Arab – however both are aware of the issue. Indeed my 14 year old is also aware of this concern and risk for Sherut Leumi girls (11th Graders in her school have had lectures and discussions on this specific topic).

The issue and risks are openly discussed in their circles, and indeed each Sherut Leumi volunteer undergoes an induction course, which includes a frank and open presentation about risks of sexual harassment & abuse of various descriptions.

According to the system, there ought not to be any Sherut Leumi girl who has not been pre-warned and prepared, to some degree, for the many challenges facing them in their volunteer placements, including that of Arab co-workers becoming 'romantic' with them.

The biggest risk is that dati girls tend to be more cloistered, less street-wise, than their chiloni (secular)  equivalents. "Yossi", the charming young man who works alongside them, could be Yusef  - and she may become enamoured of Yossi unwittingly. I understand such events have happened.

The three NPO's which manage the Sherut Leumi service can and should always improve their level of vigilance over the girls, and leave as little to the imagination in preparing them to face the real world of the Israeli workplace.

Overall, Intermarriage is an issue which has always been considered a Chutz La'Aretz (Diaspora) issue for Israelis – and only a fringe phenomenon in Israel.

Whereas cases of Jewish Israelis marrying Arabs are distressing and dramatic, far more common is Israeli Jews marrying non-Jewish Israeli Russians, or children of halachikly non-Jewish American women.

There are reportedly 350,000 non-Jewish Russians who are resident (and citizens) in Israel. That's one-in-twenty Israelis.

And 43% of American "Jews" (as self defined) are not halachikly Jewish. (I don't know what proportion of US immigrants/Olim are not Jewish).

These fellow Israelis serve in the army, attend university, and even go to Yeshivot… and it could be only at the Rabbinate Marriage Registration that the non-Jewish identity is revealed (and potentially, not even then).

So, my conclusion is that "safe" is a relative term.

There are increasing risks of intermarriage throughout Israeli society.

The best approach is awareness and education – such as the Sherut Leumi induction course.

And perhaps at the national level, citizens' non-Jewishness (and a wider awareness of the consequences and significance of that) can be flagged up well before the marriage ceremony.

This wasn't really a problem for me, at posh Rugby School – where I rarely met another Jewish student!

The only significant concentration of Jewish pupils at Rugby, was alongside me in wimpy granny bashing….