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tirelessly to limit their children’s
            exposure to the internet and other less
            desirable influences.
            Rabbi  Myers  talks  about  various
            initiatives over the years that have
            aimed to bridge the gap between
            the Religious Zionist and Charedi
            communities in RBS. Years ago, an
            achdut (unity) group put out a yearly
            pamphlet consisting of divrei Torah from
            rabbis of both communities. Rabbis
            from one camp would invite rabbis
            from the other community to speak   A Ramat Beit Shemesh Chanukah celebration at an army base. (PHOTO: COURTESY)
            in their shul. On Shabbat Chanukah,
            hundreds of people would attend a   him and in his upbringing and wanted   jackets to the soldiers and throw a huge
            Friday  night  tisch  with rabbis  from   to experience it himself.   Chanukah barbecue for them.
            both communities sitting at the dais.   Similarly, Chaim was told from day   Socially, there is also some mixing
            Before the COVID pandemic, a group   one by his secular commander not   between the communities. A popular
            of 15 rabbis from both communities,   to expect any special treatment as a   local summer day camp provides
            Israelis included, would meet every few   religious soldier. Approximately six   wholesome fun for campers from
            weeks to discuss how to bridge the gap   months later, his commander called   across the religious spectrum, while
            between the various communities in   him from a bakery. He was planning   a new housing project is populated by
            RBS.                             a birthday party for a soldier in the   Chassidim, Charedim, Religious Zionist
            RBS resident Rabbi Karmi Gross took   unit and wanted to make sure that   and secular Jews, all living together
            note of the growing population of   the cake he bought had a hechsher that   in peace.
            people who identify as Charedi but   Chaim would be comfortable with.   In RBS, you will find people who stand
            want to play a larger role in Israeli   The commander also assured him   firmly in their box as well as others
            society and established Beit Midrash   that since the cake was dairy, he had   who choose to lead more nuanced lives,
            Derech Chaim, Israel’s first Charedi   requested that the soldiers not eat meat   each choosing the path that works for
            hesder  yeshivah. The students learn   beforehand. One soldier at a time, the   them. I feel very fortunate to live in
            Torah for 6–7 hours a day and then   Derech Chaim boys are bridging the   such a beautiful community in our
            study computers at a university level   divide.                   wonderful Land, where every type of
            at night. Derech Chaim’s students   Yom HaAtzmaut is a day when   Jew can feel at home.
            graduate with a degree in Computer   the shades of gray in RBS are also
            Science, specializing in cyber   visible. Some families who identify
            technology, and then serve for two   as Charedi host barbecues and may   1.   Chardal, an acronym of Charedi Leumi, refers to
            years in tech units in the IDF. The   even have Israeli flags hanging from   Religious Zionist communities that also incline
            boys enter the army with the mission   their balconies. Others will daven in a   towards many aspects of Charedi ideology.
            of being  mekadesh  shem  shamayim   different minyan than usual in order
            (sanctifying G-d’s name) and hoping to   to recite Hallel on that day. Some
            serve as a bridge between the various   Charedi shuls say a prayer for the
            camps by maintaining “boundaries but   safety of the IDF and learn in memory
            not walls”. A mother of one of the boys   of fallen soldiers on Yom HaZikaron.   Suzie Steinberg is a social worker living in
            was once surprised to receive a phone   For years, on every Chanukah before   Ramat Beit Shemesh. She writes for many
            call from her son’s secular commander   the pandemic, an American Charedi   newspapers and magazines and recently
            asking to spend Shabbat in their home.   would charter buses for members of   published a children’s book titled “Hashem
            After working with her son for two   the community to visit Israeli army   is Always With Me”.
            years, he saw something very special in   bases, where he would distribute fleece   (PHOTO: BRIANSPECTOR.COM)

















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