Page 28 - HaMizrachi Tisha B'av 5782 USA

RAMAT BEIT SHEMESH:

A Home for One and All

Suzie
Steinberg

n my daily power walk around Several years ago, I cold-called a newly It is not uncommon for these out-of-
the circular street of Nachal discovered Israeli relative that I had the-box families to be affiliated with
Dolev, I take in the sights come upon through genealogical more than one camp.
Oaround me. I pass a young research. One of the first questions
Charedi kollel couple pushing their she asked me was what chug I belong Rabbi Danny Myers, the rabbi of
smiling baby in a stroller. I quickly to. I didn’t even understand the ques- a Religious Zionist shul and the
principal of a Charedi elementary
jump out of the way as a small troop tion correctly. As far as I knew, chugim
of young boys wearing knitted kippot were after-school recreational activi- school, circulates comfortably in both
ring their bells and whiz past me ties. I didn’t understand why this was communities. The wall in his office
displays a showcase of rabbanim, among
on their bicycles. Before I’m able to of interest to her, but I answered that
resume my stride, I make way for the I had once participated in a women’s them Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein, Rav
girls rollerblading in my direction, choir. She clarified that she wanted Kook, Rav Shach, the Satmar Rebbe,
and many other rabbis with a broad
sporting the Bais Ya’akov uniform of to know which community in Israel
light-blue collared shirts and navy-blue I identified with. Before we could con- range of ideologies. He wears tzitzit with
techelet and is an outspoken proponent
skirts. Two Religious Zionist men are tinue our conversation, she needed to of visiting Har HaBayit. Rabbi Myers
engaged in an animated conversation know which box she could place me in.
outside the Charedi Mas’at Mordechai This dynamic of clear boundaries also believes that there is an organic process
taking place in RBS in which some
Beit Midrash, a shul where men and boys exists in Beit Shemesh, a microcosm members of both the Religious Zionist
from across the religious spectrum
learn and daven at all hours of the of Israel that is home to every type and Charedi communities recognize
of Jew. However, due to the heavy
some of the values of the other camp
day and night. Welcome to Ramat presence of Anglos, there are several and try to incorporate those values
Beit Shemesh Aleph, or “RBS A” in the
vernacular. neighborhoods in RBS where one can into their own lives. Parents in RBS
find shades of gray. Some olim make have established elementary and high
I cannot say that Jews of all streams a conscious decision to abandon schools that are officially Charedi but
live in blissful harmony here in Beit some of their long-held beliefs (i.e., aim to teach secular studies on a high
Shemesh. Anyone who has followed the importance of secular education) level and inculcate in their students
the news headlines over the years when they land at Ben-Gurion Airport an appreciation for the army as well
will know that this is not always the in an effort to help their children fully as the diverse groups that are part of
case. While we are fortunate to live integrate into and be accepted by the the landscape of the country in which
at a time when there is a place that Charedi community. While this is we live. A Religious Zionist elementary
every Jew can call home, our country often uncomfortable for the parents, school in RBS that identifies with the
is also extremely divided. The borders they believe that, in the long run, Chardal stream sends many of its male
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between the Charedi and Religious their children will benefit from clear graduates to a high school that learns
Zionist communities are clearly messages leading to a clear identity. But only religious studies for the first three
defined, with each group passionate other olim believe that both the Charedi years, similar to the Charedi model.
about its ideology. The communities and Religious Zionist communities In the 12th grade, they catch up on
generally lead parallel lives with have strengths and weaknesses and so their matriculation exams. Following
limited interaction between the two. they try to take the best of both worlds. the lead of the Charedim, they work

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