Weekend boost for urban Yesha communities
The resting place of Patriarchs and the birthplace of religious Zionist broadcasting were honored this past weekend, with separate dinners for The Hebron Fund and American Friends of Bet El. “I’ve driven to Bet El, it’s an easy drive from Jerusalem,” said Woodsburgh resident David Friedman, who is President of American Friends of Bet El. “It has a winery, a zoo, restaurants, a fully developed thriving community.”
Contrary to the stereotypical image of a settlement as hilltop caravans, the communities of Bet El and Hebron are developed along an urban model, with apartment buildings, industries and cultural institutions. Both are now home to second and third generation residents.
Demonstrating the influence of the nearly 7,000-person community, the dinner’s sponsors put together a 500-page dinner journal and a film showing alumni of the Bet El yeshiva in community leadership positions throughout Israel. Top among the Bet El products is Arutz Sheva, operated out the Bet El yeshiva. Launched in 1988, its founders include Knesset Member Yaakov “Ketzeleh” Katz, and Bet El rosh yeshiva Rabbi Zalman Baruch Melamed. “The responses we receive is amazing, motivating us to keep on working,” said reporter Yoni Kempinski. “There’s the concept of new journalism, we are Jew journalism, presenting a love of Torah to the world.”
Among the honorees at the Bet El dinner, Algemeiner director Dovid Efune extended praise to fellow honorees Jean and Eugen Gluck. “A generation is emerging, recognizing the territorial integrity of Israel,” Efune said. Equally praised by other honorees at the dinner, the Gluck name is visible across Bet El, having funded institutions since the community’s earliest years, when it was an IDF base overlooking Ramallah. Today, the military legacy continues with the pre-military academy named after the Glucks. “They’re for the advancement of an amazing place,” said supporter Elchanan Romanoff.
The keynote speaker, introduced by Gluck, was Deputy foreign minister Danny Ayalon, who declared the residents of Bet El as “heroes of the Jewish people.” Ayalon argued that Israel could fight its battle alone, without American military personnel. “We will never ask the Americans to go in harm’s way for us,” Ayalon said. “We can fight for ourselves.” The dinner coincided with the reading of Parshat Vayetze, which mentions Bet El.
Across town in Queens, The Hebron Fund held their dinner at Terrace on the Park, where former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee spoke by video. “Our souls are intertwined as we celebrate our shared values of freedom, democracy and justice and ours is an organic relationship.”
Fellow Republican, Rep. Allen West of Florida, followed him. “Today it is the eternal resting place for our patriarchs and matriarchs that must never be relinquished,” West said. “The survival of Jewish identity depends on a constant Jewish presence in Hevron where all religions can visit this holy site.” Like Huckabee, West crossed the Green Line to visit Hebron during his 2009 trip to Israel.
The Hebron Fund will use some of the proceeds from the dinner to memorialize Herbert Zweibon, founder of Americans for a Safe Israel, who passed away last year. Each year, Zweibon’s group organizes a pilgrimage to Hebron to coincide with Parshat Chayei Sarah, visiting Sarah’s tomb. “Our children have always felt a very special kesher towards Hevron as we watched them daven so intently there,” said supporter Chaim Boiangiu. “The brave people of Hevron keep our connection to our past alive. We are proud to celebrate with and salute these holy people.”
