Bachelor’s Degree Commencement Exercises at the Elkana Campus

 By Shabtai Teller, “Kol HaOrot”

At a moving ceremony, attended by a large crowd of many parents, spouses, relatives, and other guests, 150 graduates of Orot Israel College recently participated in their commencement exercises at the Elkana Campus. Degrees were conferred in the following fields of study: early childhood education, special education, secondary education, and dance and movement. The exercises began with introductory remarks from President of the College Rabbi Professor Neriah Gutel, and these were followed by blessings from Chairman of the Academic Council Professor Yisrael Rich.

Rabbi David Boskila, representing the Department for Training Teaching Professionals, also offered blessings to the graduates. The guest of honor at the festivities was the Chair of the Administration for Religious Education and the Rabbi of Ofra, Rabbi Avraham Gisser. His address focused on the ethical-educational advantage of private colleges over other institutes of higher learning, emphasizing that the graduates’ principal function as teachers is to serve as spiritual role models for thousands of Israeli children.
Distinguished awards were conferred upon the graduates Rivka Artzi, Hen Ben Hamu, Reut Nussbaum, Lital Edot, and Adi Feldman. The graduate speaker was Michal Landau, who currently serves as a homeroom teacher and instructor in media studies for the tenth grade at the AMIT girls’ school in Beer Sheva. In her address, she highlighted the profound investment that the College and its staff have made in their pedagogical methods and their Torah-ethical approach.
The College’s graduates serve in numerous, varied educational roles, in diverse sectors and educational institutions throughout Israel.

B.Ed. Degree Ceremony

Some one hundred and thirty Orot Israel College graduates were recently awarded B.Ed. degrees and teaching certificates during a gala commencement ceremony at our Elkana campus. The graduates came from four different departments: Early Childhood Education, Special Education (two tracks), Dance, and Secondary Education.

98% of Orot's graduates work as teachers and educators in Israel and abroad, and a significant number have started graduate studies programs at various academic institutions.
The degree ceremony was held in the presence of Rav Professor Neria Guttel, President of Orot Israel College; Rav Chaim Saban, Orot’s vice president; Rav Chaim Fogel, chairman of the board of trustees; Professor Yisrael Rich, chairman of the academic council; Rav Dr. Moshe Rachimi, academic dean and head of the graduate school; Rav Eliezer Melamed, Rav of Har Bracha and Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Har Bracha; and the graduates’ families and friends.
A representative of the graduates addressed the attendees, and singer Yisrael Parnes, whose daughter was one of the degree recipients, entertained the crowd. To view pictures from the ceremony, click here.

5773 Convocation Ceremony at Orot Israel College’s Rechovot Campus

Some 270 Orot Israel College graduates were awarded B.Ed. degrees at a gala convocation ceremony at our Rechovot campus. The ceremony was held at the campus amphitheater, which was packed with the graduates, their families, and Orot faculty and staff members.

Following a festive reception for the graduates, Rav Professor Neria Guttel, President of Orot Israel College; Rav Chaim Saban, Orot’s vice president; and Rav Chaim Fogel, chairman of the board of trustees greeted the graduates and shared some divrei Torah. Next, Mr. Dedi Elchai spoke in the name of the graduates.

The keynote speaker was MK Rav Shai Piron, Israel’s Education Minister, who discussed the roles of teachers and educators. Mr. Rachamim Malul, Rechovot’s mayor, praised Orot and noted its significance to the city of Rechovot.

The degrees were awarded in the presence of Rav Noach Greenfeld, director of the Education Ministry’s Teacher’s Training Division and former head of Moreshet Yaakov College, and Mr. David Buskilah of the Teacher’s Training Division.

Singer Eldar Yechiel, an Orot alumnus, entertained the audience with his beautiful music, and Mr. Natan Fried, dean of students at the Rechovot campus, served as master of ceremonies.

B.Ed. Degree Ceremony

At a gala ceremony which was recently held at Orot Israel College’s Elkana campus, 153 graduates were awarded B.Ed. degrees. In attendance were Rav Professor Neria Guttel, President of Orot Israel College; Rav Shmuel Eliyahu, Chief Rabbi of Tzfat; Rav Chaim Fogel, chairman of the board of trustees; Rav Chaim Saban, Orot’s vice president; a representative of the Education Ministry; and the graduates’ families. In his keynote address, Rav Eliyahu spoke passionately in favor of women going out to work, earning academic degrees, and having professional careers. “The stereotype of a woman’s role in supporting her family is inaccurate,” Rav Eliyahu said. “We just have to listen to the words of the ancient song, ‘Eishet Chayil,’ and we’ll see that even then, it was accepted and proper for a woman to go out to support her family in the fields of commerce, manufacturing, wisdom (for example, the fields of research and science), and certainly the field of education.” Orot Israel College congratulates our graduates and extends our best wishes to them for continued success in all their future endeavors.
Enjoy the pictures!