In the Wake of the Independence War Fighters: A Campus Wide Tiyyul

By Dr. Yossi Spanier

Chair, Department of Eretz Yisrael Studies

Orot's first campus-wide tiyyul - required of all Orot students to instill in them a love for the Land of Israel - concentrated on the story of Jerusalem in the War of Independence, with emphasis on the route into the city. This year's topic on which Orot focuses - "הנני שלחני" ("Here I am. Send me"), which emphasizes contribution to society and volunteering for the country, received a special meaning by learning about the contributions of the fighters on their way to Jerusalem.
Guided by students of Orot's Department of Eretz Yisrael Studies, who prepared intensely over the three weeks leading up to the trip, Orot's student body learned first-hand about the challenges that Jerusalem's 100,000 faced during the city's siege and how the Palmach and other fighters risked their lives in order to save the city from hunger.
Orot's student guides also prepared a theoretical research in the library as well as aids in the pedagogical center to clarify the subject matter. Students appreciated their considerable investment, excellent guidance and mastery of both the material and the field as they utilized a variety of sources and training methods,
The field trip included a visit to the "Masrek" nature reserve, where we climbed to the ridge of the convoys with its stunning view on the Sha'ar Ha'Gay and on the main road to Jerusalem (Route 1). Only when looking at this angle from the top of the ridge can one understand the importance of the main artery of Jerusalem then and today. Students reconstructed the events that took place at the beginning of the Independence War along the various stations, some of which were positions from the war.
The preparations for the field trip also included a preliminary lecture given by Yehuda Ziv, a Palmach fighter who shared with us his experiences the way he felt them as a fighter in those days. To listen to Mr. Ziv's talk to the students (in Hebrew) click here.
A tour in the center of our developing country reminds us how difficult it was at the beginning and that the generation of the Independence War who fought for us gave us the independence from which we enjoy to this day.
Yasher Koach to the students of the Eretz Yisrael Studies Department and to the teachers Dr. Yitzhak Sapir and Naama Bindiger whose considerable investment yielded an interesting and enjoyable tour.

B.Ed. Graduation Ceremony

By Asher Parshani, Administrative Director

On Tuesday, the 25th of Cheshvan, 5771 (October 2, 2010), Orot Israel College officers and lecturers, Ministry of Education officials, graduating students and their family members and guests gathered in the Elkana Campus auditorium for the Bachelors of Education graduation ceremony.

The degree candidates marched into the hall to the sound of musical accompaniment and ecstatic applause from the excited audience after which Rabbi Chaim Fogel, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, and Dr. Shraga Fishman, College Provost offered greetings.

President of the College, Rabbi Prof. Neria Guttel, welcomed MK Zevulun Orlev, Chairman of the Knesset Education, Culture and Sport Committee, former MK Nissan Slomiansky, Mr. David Buskila, representative of the Ministry of Education Teacher Training Department, Rabbi Chaim Fogel, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Rabbi Chaim Saban, Vice President of the College, lecturers, guests and graduates. His address was seasoned with insights to the week's Torah reading, and underscored the graduating class's commitment to the teaching profession as a personal mission. Rabbi Guttel wished them much success in their important careers as educators for the entire Jewish people.

MK Zevulun Orlev's keynote address, "Official and Recognized Education – Hand in Hand," traced the history of religious Zionist private schools, their constituent population and the difficulties faced by the official State Religious School system throughout the years. He pointed to problems, offered critical analysis and suggested possible solutions, concluding with his best wishes to the graduates for successful careers as educators in the religious Zionist educational system.

Valedictorian Rinat Avraham, representing her classmates, impressively articulated her educational philosophy, freely quoting from Rabbinic literature.

As always, Master of Ceremonies Zion Sasson conducted the proceedings with style and grace, accompanied by the serene musical piano interludes by Eviatar Lieberman.

New Bina & Josef Cymberknopf Dormitory Wing Dedication

By Asher Parshani, Administrative Director

On Monday, the 10th of Cheshvan, 5771 (October 18, 2010), Orot Israel College dedicated a new student residence wing in the name of Bina and Josef Cymberknopf.

Mrs. Shumacher-Cymberknopf was joined for the ceremony by her family and friends, as well as by College officials and students residents of the new dorm. The honored guests sat on lawn chairs under white shade umbrellas outside the new building as Mrs. Shumacher-Cymberknopf began the ceremony by unveiling the dedication plaque at the building's entrance.

Mr. Joel Koschitzky, Chairman of the College Board of Directors, read the plaque's inscription and briefly described the College and its divisions offering B.Ed. and M.Ed. degrees, as well as the wide array of activities on both the Elkana and Rehovot campuses for the benefit of the guests visiting Orot Israel College for the first time.

Mr. Kurt Rothschild, President of World Mizrachi, was honored with the affixing of the mezuzah on the new building. Rabbi Dr. Yehuda Felix, founder and original head of the College, praised Mr. Irving Cymberknopf z"l for his determination to promote the construction of the dormitory, recalling the difficulties encountered in finishing the project.

Mr. Michael Shumacher, representing the family, described Mr. Irving Cymberknopf z"l, his unwavering dedication to his parents and family and his life story until he made aliyah to Israel. He pointed out that Mr. Cymberknopf passed away only months before the completion of the building, and regretted that he did not live to see the opening of the new facility in all its glory.

The second half of the ceremony took place in the graduate school's main lecture hall where dozens of students joined the guests. Mr. Jerry Rosenfield, a friend of Orot College and of the family from Toronto, mentioned the many families of the Toronto community who helped in building the Elkana campus: Koschitzky, Weinbaum, Sokol, Maierovitz, Khan, Schwartz, Rosenfield and others. He singled out the important work of Mr. Kurt Rothschild, who invested much time and effort into ensuring that the building became a reality.

Rabbi Prof. Neria Guttel, President of the College, warmly thanked Mrs. Shumacher-Cymberknopf and her family, and Mr. Kurt Rothschild, who has worked day and night for decades to strengthen education and promote religious Zionism in Israel and abroad. His address focused on the religious injunction to show appreciation for good deeds, sharing insights into passages from the weekly Torah reading.

The ceremony concluded with words of gratitude to the family from Hagit Rimon, representing the students already living in the new dormitory. The ceremony was MC'ed by Mrs. Nomi Spanglet, Director of Development and Alumni Relations. The dormitory is the first of 19 planned to be built on the land currently occupied by caravan trailers.

Shehechianu, veki'imanu, vehigiyanu lazman hazeh.

שהחיינו וקיימנו והגיענו לזמן הזה

Exciting New Programs for the Upcoming School Year

As students return to Orot for the upcoming school year, they will find several new and exciting programs which offer them broader educational choice and a richer learning experience during their studies. Orot opens a new M.Ed. program in Educational Administration for both men and women; student residents will enjoy the use of both a brand new residence hall and a completely refurbished student residence; the college will highlight an exciting theme focusing on klal yisrael, and several new courses will highlight Orot’s commitment to academic growth and achievement while adhering to the exalted values of the Torah.

New M.ED. Program in Educational Administration: The 5771 school year marks the opening of an exciting new secondary degree program, as Orot offers an M.Ed. program in Educational Administration in separate classes for both men and women. The program, geared towards current teachers looking to enter the ranks of school administration, will include courses on educational leadership, administrative skills as well as decision making, scheduling, and other relevant topics. Developed under the guidance of Dr. Shraga Fisherman, head of Orot’s Graduate School of Education, Orot’s third M.Ed. program will allow the college to continue to serve the Israeli community by providing badly needed administrators for Israel’s education system. “This new M.Ed. program will give future administrators the knowledge, skills and experience they need to succeed as principals in the Israeli school system,” said Rabbi Prof. Neria Guttel, president of Orot. “We see this program as a further fulfillment of Orot’s mission to train the next generation of Israeli educators.”

New and Updated Student Residences: Students residing in Orot’s dormitories during the school year will arrive on campus to find new and refurbished residence halls. Workers are currently putting the finishing touches on the new Cymberknopf Residence Wing. In addition, an existing residence building was recently upgraded and refurbished.

College-Wide Yearly Theme – Hineni (Here I Am): Each year, under the direction of Dean of Students Rabbi Dr. Moshe Rachimi and Director of the Advanced Institute for Contemporary Education and Religion Rabbi Yona Goodman, Orot chooses a broader theme that students and faculty focus on throughout the year. This year they have chosen the theme of Hineni-Shalecheini ("Here I Am - Send me"), highlighting the importance of serving the greater good and devotion to the Jewish people. Writes Rav Goodman, “We have merited living in a generation when the Nation of Israel has returned to its Land and itself, and God willing, to its Torah as well. We seek to educate both ourselves and our future teachers towards an idealistic life of action, each according to his strength and capabilities.”

New Interdisciplinary Courses: To address the conflicting values that students often confront in their studies, Orot will offer two exciting interdisciplinary courses that address the confluence of Torah and Jewish thought with academic and secular pursuits.

• Dance and Judaism: Students in the Dance Department can take an exciting new course in “Judaism and Art” which will explore how Jewish thought relates to art, the limits of art, as well as spiritual benefits to artistic expression. In addition, students will receive vital rabbinic guidance to assist them in developing new dance programs and initiatives in the spirit of Torah values.
• Judaism and Communications: The instant world of communications we live in today raises challenging ethical and halachic dilemmas. Where are the boundaries of journalism and lashon hara? What can a Torah-true film accurately portray within the limits of tzniut? A new year-long course will address the many halachic and hashkafic issues that arise in the area of communications, and provide Orot students will critical guidance for both their educational and professional careers.

A Visit to the Therapeutic Horse Riding Center

First-year students in the Special Education Department (1st year) visited the Therapeutic Horse Riding Center in Tel-Mond during their week of practical work, opening a window to an additional field of treatment for Special Education children. The Israeli Center for therapeutic horse riding implements advanced treatment methods through animal therapy in order to improve patients' physical and motor skills as well as their self-confidence and self-image.
Orot’s students learned about therapeutic horse riding and dog therapy designed to meet the various needs of the patients that are treated in the center. These patients include autistic children, children with cerebral palsy, special education children, populations at risk and in distress, people with mental deficiency, children with learning disabilities, road accident victims, disabled IDF veterans, rehabilitating drug addicts, and the elderly.
Many people with special needs suffer from muscle degeneration. Horse riding improves motion and activation of most of the muscular limbs that are not being used by these patients. In addition, people with various disabilities often find themselves being led instead of leading themselves. Horse riding contributes to patients' self-confidence by giving him a sense of control and independence. Although each patient is accompanied by four instructors during horse riding, he feels that he is the one who is leading the horse and he is ultimately in charge.
In recent years, dog assisted therapy has been accepted as an efficient treatment method. Working with dogs and their trainers helps patients and highly improves their condition. Even when other conventional treatment methods have failed, the warmth, the loyalty and unconditional love that the dogs give patient can have profound effects on their recovery.
Through excellent lectures and a tour of the center’s modern and sophisticated site, students gained new appreciation for the benefits of animal therapy. One student after visiting the center said, "I really would like to specialize and work in animal therapy.”

Seminar on Judaism and the Environment

By Dr. Yossi Spanier
Head of the Department of Land of Israel Studies

In the framework of the Rosh Chodesh forum for first-year students, Orot conducted a seminar on the subject of “Judaism and the Environment”. Organized to develop awareness of the issue of the environment and its relationship to the Jewish world, the seminar encouraged students to lead an attitude change towards environmental issues in the educational system.
A team from the organization "Teva Ivri" (Jewish Nature) led the seminar. Among the coordinators was Hadas Yelnick (Zagury), an Orot graduate who studied in Orot’s Department of the Land of Israel Studies and later earned her Master's Degree in Environmental Studies . Hadas returned to Orot as an active member of “Teva Ivri” in order to help promote the importance of environmental issues in educational institutions.
Following an opening lecture by Rabbi Prof. Neria Guttel, Hadas described what she called a “global environmental crisis.” After the lectures, the students split into two rounds of Beit Midrash study on the subjects of “birkat ha'ilanot” – “Blessing of the Trees,” and “Preservation and the Value of Nature.” At the same time, there were two workshops: the first highlighted the importance of producing compost and recycling. The second presented numerous products in daily use and contrasted many products which contain dangerous toxins and should be avoided, with others made from healthy components that are safe to use.
This interesting and informative day concluded with a call to students to join the framework of Israeli environmental activism.

“Srugim at Orot”: A Meeting with Scriptwriter Mrs. Hava Divon

By Dr. Yaron Katz,
Communication Department Head

Students of the Communication and Dance departments met with Mrs. Hava Divon, the creator and scriptwriter of the popular Israeli television series "Srugim". During the meeting they screened her movie "Happiness", as well as a section from the series "Srugim". After the screening, she spoke with the students and presented some of the dilemmas she faces as a religious creator in the secular Israeli media.
She described various considerations the series creators’ grapple with in the process of producing her show, including the selection of actors, production and filming challenges, as well as halachic dilemmas and how she deals with them. Many of Orot’s students questioned the inappropriate behavior which clearly violates halachah, present in the series. Mrs. Divon explained that these scenes demonstrate the complexity of the series and reflect reality, including many of the doubts, dilemmas and the situations that religious youth encounter in their lives.
During the discussion, the students wondered whether, despite the accurate portrayal of reality, if it is appropriate for a religious producer to depict personal stories that illustrate non-halachic male-female relationships. Different students articulated a wide range of views on the issue during a lively and important debate. Dr. Dvori Hendler, co-director of the Communications Department said that only halachic boundaries can determine whether the script falls within the framework of Jewish law. She pointed out that she expects the producer to deal with her work from a religious perspective and find solutions within halachic boundaries.
The students asked Mrs. Divon if she could not have coped with the reality within the framework of halachah by finding creative alternatives to portraying prohibited behavior. Mrs. Divon replied that she didn't hide and didn't cover up reality, and that is actually the complexity of the series. She pointed out that while she lives in a religious society, doesn't have non-religious friends and is cut off from the non-religious world, it is important to her to show the reality as it is. Mrs. Divon claimed that the whole script is based on real situations and that the series describes only a small part of what happens in reality. She described the halachic dilemmas that occurred during the filming, including cases in which she turned to rabbis and asked for their advice how to present certain dilemmas.
Student reaction was mixed. Some felt that because the debate mainly dealt with halachic dilemmas, there was not enough time for the guest to explain the professional considerations in editing the series. Others felt that the meeting with a religious producer was in itself very important in order to understand the challenges she faced and how she copes with them.
After the meeting, the students continued the discussions independently, but added that they hoped for additional input from rabbis and spiritual leaders in order to learn how to cope with such dilemmas for themselves in the future.