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Learning |
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The Mechina's morning learning groups , Emunah, and Gemara are going strong.
In the Emunah group, the students discuss with Rav Amiad theological concepts in
Jewish faith, and raise various questions about G-D, Am-Yisrael, Halacah, and so
on which are addressed, and often resolved.
In the Gemara group the students are studying the fifth chapter of Berachot, which
deals with many issues that affect us on a daily basis, such as the correct way
in which to Daven. It is an in depth class where we try to understand to the best
of our capabilities the Gemara and the message it has, through understanding the
background of it and studying the various commentaries.
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Gamla |
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This month, on the anniversary of the fall of the ancient city of Gamla, we toured
the archeological ruins and learned about the history and importance of the place.
During the revolt against the Romans (67 C.E), Gamla was a stronghold for many fighters.
In his book, The Jewish War, Josephus Flavius tells in great detail the dramatic
story of how the few Jews of Gamla fought thousands of Romans, tooth and nail. For
more about Gamla, check out the following site:
http://mosaic.lk.net/g-gamla.html
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Six Day War |
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The Mechina toured various battle sites in the Golan that were key in its capture
during the Six Day and Yom Kippur wars.
The students also got to witness a live tank training exercise in which tanks stormed
the battlefield while shooting live ammo. Needless to say it was very loud, and
fun, to watch! Among the things we did, they heard a speech from Avigdor Kehalani,
an Israeli war hero, for his part in defending the Golan in 1973 by holding back 160 Syrian tanks with only 14 Israeli tanks. Miracles upon miracles…. |
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Kinneret College |
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Last week the talmidim began our academic courses about Middle East Politics in
the Bar Ilan University branch located at the foot of the Golan, on the shores of
the Kinneret. The professor’s name is Dr. Gidi Netzer. He is an IDF Colonel and
an international expert in counter-terrorism and conflict crisis management and
is a member of the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism. The students
enjoyed his lecture and found him and his class to be both interesting and captivating.
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Week in Yerushalaim |
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The Mechina started out touring in Yad Vashem. It was a very serious, sad, and informative
afternoon.
Later they were taken by our tour guide to the military graveyard located right
above Yad Vashem where they visited and learned about some of the soldiers buried
there. The afternoon ended with a visit to Mt. Herzel where they visited his grave
as well as graves of other visionaries of the state of Israel, and spoke
about their
various contributions.
After dinner the talmidim had a tour of the Kotel Tunnels, it was an incredible
experience for everyone.
The next morning the students headed off to tour the City Of David including the
fascinating underground water cistern and tunnel.
Mincha, like most of the Tfillot, was at the Kotel. Then the talmidim heard a shiur
in the Aish HaTorah Yeshiva, where one of our alumni is currently studying and later
on had a heartbreaking, and inspiring, session with Ester Pollard, the wife of the
Israeli Mossad spy Jonathan Pollard who has been in jail in the States for almost
25 years!
She shared her husband's story with the students and encouraged them to do as much
as they can to hasten his release both through physical action and through Teffilot.
On the third day they had a tour of the Davidson underground second Beit HaMikdash
period archeological digs, and a visit to Machon HaMikdash-the Temple Institute
where the students got to see and touch clothing and vessels that were built for
the third Beit Hamikdash. I
n the evening they visited the Chazon-Yechezkel/Young-Israel Beit Knesset located
in the older part of the Jewish Quarter and heard a fascinating talk from Rav Nachman
Kahane, the Rabbi of the Shul about its history and activities.
In the evening there was a talk with an IDF soldier Yaakov, an alumni of ours, who
shared his army stories and what it is like to be actively religious in the army.
On the fourth day the Mechina visited the Menachem Begin center which is a fascinating
museum which portrays the life and lessons of Menachem Begin. It is also very enriching
in teaching and showing in a very vivid way the struggles, and celebrations, that
Israel went through from its 1948 rebirth till the present.
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Alumni Shabbaton |
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Two weeks ago we had our alumni Shabbaton. About 25 alumni, some single, some even
married, and one who is engaged (!) joined us for a beautiful Shabbat of lots of good Ruach, Teffilot, shiurim and many personal talks between them and our current
students.
It was beautiful to see the various graduates and what they are doing with their
life right now, such as serving in the IDF, studying in other Yeshivot, having a
profession and working in Israel, and some in studying in university.
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