Our prayers are with the Armies of Israel, the brave men and women in the Israel Defense Forces, as well as our civilian neighbors to the north and south. Yeshivat Har Etzion in particular, as well as the entire Alon Shevut and Gush Etzion community, continue to welcome "refugees" into our midst, into our dormitories, our cafeterias, as well as our private homes, and will continue to do so, until they can return safely to their homes. May Hakadosh Barukh Hu have mercy upon His people and upon His land.

Yeshivat Har Etzion is currently hosting 90 people from Carmiel (near Acre) which has been hit by numerous katyusha fire. The Yeshiva students cleared out two dormitory buildings to make space for the families, including infants and young children, and have organized activities and helped them with their needs. The families are eating all meals in the Yeshiva dining room. One elderly man said, "There are no words to express our thanks for the wonderful hospitality and warmth with which we have been welcomed in the Yeshiva and Alon Shevut."

We all hope and pray that they will soon be able to safely return to their homes.

Replacing worries with good home-cooked food [courtesy of the Yeshiva kitchen staff],
and pleasant conversation.

Enjoying the calm in Alon Shevut

Waiting for the bus to Herodion - introducing our northern brothers to the Eastern Gush Etzion bloc.

A View from Yeshivat Har Etzion - Erev Tish'a B'av

On this Erev Tisha B'Av, following last night's all night learning (mishmar) and prior to the bein hazemanim summer break - we would like to share some news from the Yeshiva during this difficult period for Am Yisrael.

In the midst of the current war, the annual Summer Study Days in Tanach (July 17-July 20), took place as scheduled, with an all-time high participation of 2,400 men and women from throughout the country. Some of the participants from the north were thankful for the four-day respite from the stressful situation back home and were happy to participate in the three days of learning with 120 shiurim being offered on all books of Tanach, and a choice of 11 educational tiyulim on the fourth day. Transportation was provided from throughout the country, as every year, including buses from Ma'alot, Nahariya and Haifa. There were very few cancellations, although Zohar Cohen, Assistant Director of the Herzog College, recalls one phone call on the second day from a man in Haifa who said, "I was there all day yesterday and enjoyed the shiurim very much but unfortunately I won't be able to attend today." Zohar could hear the sirens blaring in the background indicating the imminent fall of katyushas.

Yeshivat Har Etzion welcomed 90 mostly Russian-speaking people from Carmiel (near Acre), an area which was hit by numerous katyusha rocket fire, who could be seen intermingling with the participants of the Study Days in Tanach, during their first day here, as well as the Yeshiva students and rabbis. Yeshiva students cleared out two dormitory buildings in a matter of hours to make space for the families, some with infants and young children, and organized all their needs, from a coffee room, play room, laundry services, to activities for the children and trips to Herodion, Kfar Etzion and Jerusalem. The families ate all meals in the Yeshiva dining room.

The Yeshiva received the following letter from the group: "We, the residents of Carmiel, would like to express our thanks to Yeshivat Har Etzion for the wonderful hospitality, assistance, and great concern for us. Dear rabbis, administrators and students, you performed a great mitzvah by providing a safe haven for us during these difficult days of war in the north. Any words that we write and anything we can do would pale in comparison to what you have done for us."

This past Shabbat, Shabbat Chazon, the Yeshiva hosted the Hesder Yeshiva from Nahariya, whose Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Eli Blum is an alumnus of Yeshivat Har Etzion. 120 talmidim, kollel members, rabbis and their families were housed in the Stella K. Abraham Beit Midrash for Women dormitories in Migdal Oz and all meals were provided by the Yeshiva.

Rav Yitzhak Levy, Mashgiach Ruchani of the Yeshiva, reports that 12 third-year hesder students from the Yeshiva are currently serving on active duty in Lebanon, 6 in the Parachutists Unit and 6 in the Nahal Unit. Fourth-year hesder students from the Yeshiva will be serving an extended two weeks due to the situation before completing their active duty. In addition, a number of other students have been called up to serve with their reserve units. A significant number of talmidim have spent time volunteering up north, in Tzfat and other locations, running activities for children in the shelters and distributing food and snacks there. Rav Levy added that many talmidim plan to devote part of their vacation time volunteering in the north.

In addition to the unexpected guests, the Yeshiva was happy to host the NCSY Kollel for Shabbat and 4 busses of the Bnei Akiva Mach-Hach Israel Touring Program who spent this week learning in the Yeshiva (boys in the Yeshiva and girls in Migdal Oz).

We hope and pray for the safety of all our soldiers and all of Am Yisrael and the safe return of the captured soldiers to their homes. "Return us, O God, to You, and we shall return; renew our days as of old"

- Besorot tovot.

What follows is a translation of a letter given to the Yeshiva staff and talmidim
by one of the Northerners hosted by Yeshivat Har Etzion:

6 Av, 5766

July 31, 2006

Man's Journey
by Orian – a Resident from the North Hosted by Yeshivat Har Etzion

To the entire community of Alon Shevut,

To Yeshivat Hesder Har Etzion,

To the head of the regional council, Shaul Goldstein,

To the deputy head of the council, Yair Wolf,

To member of the Keneset Zev Elkin,

To Kehat Raanan, Shaul Barth, Bentzi, Yosef and Baruch in the kitchen,

To Leah, Oriya, Chava Damti and Miriam,

To the wonderful Milstone family,

To all the wonderful families who hosted Northerners in their homes,

To all those who offered to do so, whose names I do not know,

To all the charming people who worked behind the scenes on our behalf – the residents of the North,

And to all the delightful children (from Elazar, Karmei Tzur, and Neve Daniel), who volunteered of their time and pampered our children with candy, pitas and amazing outdoor activities:

We set out on a journey not of our choosing (we were forced to do so).

We set out on a journey because of circumstances that nobody foresaw.

Fears drove us to run away,

Each person carrying a stricken spirit in his bag.

Uncertainty versus hope,

Shaken confidence versus faith.

Fierce hope and faith raise those who are bent over so that they may stand erect with confidence.

They are what drive man on to new creativity.

After a tiring journey, you received us in Efrat.

You indulged us with a hot and sumptuous meal.

Yair turned to us with his sweet voice and welcoming expression.

Lists, explanations and updates

Rang in our ears, our heads still filled with confusion.

At his side stood Kehat with a captivating smile on his face.

Light flooded our hearts.

Fears and concerns slowly disappeared.

We saw our children running around among the diners,

The joy of life racing once again in the hearts of the little ones.

This is the creation of life!

Words cannot describe our feelings of gratitude and our sense of the privilege afforded to us to live among you and enjoy the fruits of your efforts.

Each day anew we were overwhelmed by the goodness of your hearts, goodness of the heart that is as clean and pure as spring water.

Already on the first day you carried our heavy bags. You made sure that we were provided with clean linens. You cleared out rooms for our convenience, forcing the yeshiva students to find other quarters.

You bombarded us with home-made cakes and goodies. You did our laundry. You engaged our children in crafts and games. You planned trips that were both educational and fun. You spoiled us with great food day after day. You made sure to touch the soul of each and every child through workshops aimed at strengthening the personality in situations of stress and anxiety.

During the entire period of our stay, we felt your ceaseless concern, the invitations to your homes, your continued interest in all our needs - and everything done with a broad smile and a shining expression.

You managed to lift us up out of our frightened and weakened state and sweeten our stay here.

You succeeded in doing all this by virtue of who you are.

You restored our ability to function, to think, to laugh, to play, to move and to sleep with a sense of security.

And you restored joy of life to our dear children. Here they laughed, here they ran around, here they ate, and here they slept.

We will be back again.

May seeds of such high quality as yours sprout within us.

You are wonderful people, who carry with you a charm of inner strength and joy of life.

With these powers, I return home to the unavoidable tasks of life, with renewed energy to continue forward.

As soon as it is once again possible to visit the North, I would be happy to host you as my guests in my home in Kfar Veradim.

Orian