Who's the oldest gym teacher in Israel and why is he still teaching?

Yoram Ettinger

On September 1, Yoram Ettinger (70) will begin his 44th year teaching physical education at YBA Nachal Yitzchak, at Moshav Nechalim.

Ettinger led his first gym class at the boy's yeshiva high school in 1972, and still works out with his students in order to serve as a personal example of "a healthy soul in a healthy body."

"I have students whose grandfathers were my students!" Ettinger laughs. "I'm going to continue to teach and train with my students for as long as I'm able to - it gives me unbelievable energies."

YBA Nachal Yitzchak was established in 1955 as the fifth residential boy's yeshiva high school in the YBA educational network. In its heyday, the school served over 1,000 students. Today, 485 students attend the school in both residential and non-residential tracks.

One Israeli family has found the best way to remember a fallen soldier

Major Benaya Rhein, z"l

Nine years have passed since the life of Major Benaya Rhein, z"l, was cut short by a Hizbalah anti-tank missile, just two days before the end of the Second Lebanon War.

Benaya was born in 1979 and was the third out of eight children of his parents, Shimon and Chagit. He was raised in Karnei Shomron and graduated from the YBA Netiv Meir yeshiva high school in Jerusalem.

This past week the Rhein family closed a circle, when all seven of Benaya's siblings named a child after him. The first cousin to be named for Benaya was born on the day that he died in 2006, and the seventh cousin named Benaya was born just two weeks ago, on the ninth anniversary of his death.

"All our children decided on their own to name a son after Benaya; we never mentioned it or pressured them to do it," said Chagit Rhein at the Brit Milah ceremony. "We have 24 grandchildren, and it can't be taken for granted that seven of them are named Benaya. When they grow up and ask why they share the same name, we will tell them about their uncle Benaya, who was a true hero; who was taught to love Israel and who died defending our country."

From his childhood, Benaya displayed values of truth, generosity and courage. After the outstanding religious Zionist education he received and YBA Netiv Meir, it was quite natural for him to join the armored corps and to become an outstanding soldier in the training courses he took and in the duties he was given.

At the beginning of the war, Benaya was in transition between duties and had no unit to join. Nevertheless he insisted on receiving a mission, and was appointed to rescue and supply operations. During the war "Force Benaya" conducted many courageous missions and saved the lives of many soldiers. On August 12th, on the way to one more mission inside Lebanon, a missile hit his tank and all the crewmen were killed.
For their bravery, Benaya and his crewmen received the decoration of honor from the Central Command. Benaya is buried in Karnei Shomron in the land of Israel that he loved without condition or compromise.

View memorial video for Major Benaya Rhein: 

How Israeli students learn to love the Land of Israel

Rahavam 'Gandi' Ze'evi

Two students from Ulpanat Bnei Akiva Even Shmuel received the 2015 Ministry of Education Ze’evi Award for Excellence in Land of Israel Studies. The prize is named after Israeli war hero and MK, Rahavam Ze'evi ("Gandi"), who was assassinated by a terrorist in 2001. Ze'evi was known for his patriotism, deep love for the Land of Israel and strongly nationalistic political views.

Hila Itam and Herut Yered submitted a research paper exploring the reasons why the Jordanian Legion’s officers allowed their soldiers to participate in the massacre of Jewish residents and Hagana fighters following the surrender of Kfar Etzion on the eve of Israel’s independence in 1948.


'Gandi' with troops during 1956 Sinai Campaign

Hila explained that she chose the subject because her great grandmother served in the Hagana with Rahavam Ze'evi, and at that time she was the radio operator in Jerusalem who received the final message – “the queen has fallen” – from the fighters defending Kfar Etzion till their last bullet was spent.

UBA Even Shmuel was established by the Shafir Regional Council in 1979 as a residential high school to serve girls from the religious moshavim (agricultural settlements) in the northern Negev region. Today the school serves 420 students in grades 7-12, and attracts students from all over Israel due to the many awards it has earned over the years for academic excellence.

YBA Givat Shmuel ranked among the top schools in Israel

YBA Givat Shmuel Beit Midrash

YBA Givat Shmuel was ranked among the top high schools in Israel, with a 97% matriculation rate and a 95% induction rate for IDF service.

Rabbi Shraga Fruchter

The Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Shraga Fruchter, himself a graduate of YBA Pirchei Aharon near Haifa, attributes the success to love: “When a boy comes to our school and sees how important he is to his teachers, and how the entire staff does everything it can to help him achieve success, it gives him the drive to apply himself with all his abilities.”

When YBA Givat Shmuel was founded in 1972 as a middle school, it was intended to serve as a "feeder school" for boys in the central part of Israel to the 16 residential high schools in the YBA network at that time spread out in rural settlements throughout Israel.

However, in 1978, following requests from the parent association, it was decided to expand the school into - the network's first non-residential comprehensive yeshiva high school. Today, the school serves over 750 students, half of whom from Givat Shmuel and  the other half from other cities in the Dan (greater Tel Aviv) urban district. The school offers a residential option for students who live too far to travel by bus each day to the school.

UBA Kfar Pines students take third prize in national Ecological Studies competition

Two students from UBA Kfar Pines, Shira Algavish and Leah Ifargan, won third place in a national competition for Ecological Studies sponsored by the Ben Gurion University of the Negev. Their study focused on the application of biological pest control in agriculture as an alternative to the more commonly used chemical solutions.

“Our girls come to the ulpana with a lot of positive attributes,” said the project’s coordinator at the ulpana, Mrs. Michal Kinnerti, “I’m proud that our school succeeds in bringing out their inner potential for excellence.”

UBA Kfar Pines was established in 1960 as the first ulpana girl's high school in the YBA educational network. The school was unique at that time for its combination of high-level Torah and secular studies for girls in a residential framework, modeled after the YBA yeshiva high schools for boys. Today the school serves over 450 students from all parts of the state.

View Promo Video of 2014 'Rabbanit Week' at UBA Kfar Pines

2 UBA Segula seniors earn Advanced Placement B.A. degrees

Two twelfth-grade students from UBA Segula, Tzofia Ronen and Moriah Ben-Sassoon, earned B.A. degrees in Computer Sciences from the University of Haifa while still in the twelfth grade through the university’s Etgar Program, which offers highly motivated and achievement oriented high school students extracurricular advanced placement courses leading to college degrees.

Ruchama Hazut, the ulpana’s principal, said, “It inspires pride and admiration to see our students achieve so much academically, while maintaining their humility, good nature and religious beliefs.”

UBA Segula in Kiryat Motzkin was founded in 1965 as the YBA network's third ulpana high school for girls. Today the school serves over 525 students from the Haifa region and entire northern half of Israel.

View video of UBA Segula's 2014 'March of the Living' Tour of Poland

Six YBA students win academic scholarships

The Neve Sha’anan College in Haifa granted full academic scholarships toward earning a B.A. degree to six girls in the YBA network: Noa Attias, Sapir Amar and Sapir Simchi from UBA Or Akiva, and Chen Cohen, Tehila Maman and Tiferet Shimeon from UBA Meron.

Tehila Maman

Tiferet Shimeon

Chen Cohen

“We pride ourselves with giving each and every girl the attention and support she needs in order to bring out her full potential for excellence, with openness, dialogue and love,” said the Rosh Ulpana of UBA Or Akiva, Mrs. Bilha Bussi, in congratulating her students for their accomplishments.

UBA Meron was established in 1975 and serves over 315 students from the towns and settlements in the Galilee, while UBA Or Akiva was established 25 years later, in 2000, and serves today 111 students for the town of Or Akiva and the surrounding area.
 
View video of 2014 Elul activities at UBA Meron
 

Rabbi Drukman wins award; comes out against alternative conversion courts

YBA Chairman, Rabbi Haim Drukman

Rabbi Haim Drukman, Rosh Yeshiva of YBA Yeshivat Hesder Or Etzion and Chairman of the YBA Educational Network in Israel, was awarded the coveted Prize for Torah Literature by the Torah and Wisdom College, citing the six books already published, as well as the many books presently being worked on for future publication. Last year’s prize was awarded to Rabbi Yehoshua Weizmann, the Rosh Yeshiva of YBA Yeshivat Hesder Maalot Yaakov.

Rabbi Drukman headed the Conversion Authority within the Prime Minister's office for many years, and is critical of the way conversion is being conducted today by the Haredi-dominated Chief Rabbinate. Neverthe less, Rabbi Drukman is opposed to the recent move by other religious Zionist rabbis to establish alternative conversion courts outside the Israel Chief Rabbinate.

Read  more about Rabbi Drukman's position on the current controversy shaking the religious Zionist community in Israel:

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/199289#.VdNEBpvotLM

http://www.jewishpress.com/news/breaking-news/is-it-mutiny-independent-rabbinic-court-competing-with-chief-rabbinate-on-conversions/2015/08/11/

YBA Tikvat Yaakov wins Traffic Safety Prize

YBA Tikvat Yaakov was awarded the first prize for Traffic Safety Education. “We took a holistic approach to teaching traffic safety in the school, said Yair Harel, the program’s coordinator, “the subject was taught as a unit in every subject of study.”

Yeshivat Tikvat Yaakov, Sde Yaakov  is a religious Zionist and junior and high school Yeshiva founded in 1954 by Mercaz Yeshivot Bnei Akiva. Located adjacent to Moshav Sde Yaakov, midway between Haifa and Nazareth, the Yeshiva enjoys the scenic panoramas of the beautiful and historic Jezreel Valley. The school commemorates the name of the late Rabbi Dr. Yaakov Hoffman z”l and the Ehrman campus is named for the parents of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Ehrman.

The school is one of the leading institutions in the Yeshiva Bnei Akiva network and most of its students continue in yeshivot, yeshivot hesder, mechinot and serve in the IDF, many in combat units.Today the junior high school and high school serve over 300 students from throughout the northern district, including 30 Ethiopian olim.

 

Although many students come from economically disadvantaged homes, the school’s success rate in “bagrut” matriculation exams is well above the national average.

UBA Neria Student cited as Youth Volunteer of the Year

Rotem Ne’eman, a twelfth grader from UBA Neria, won the “Youth Volunteer of the Year” Award for the Jerusalem region for her work with developmentally challenged children for “Kav L’chaim” (Lifeline) and other organizations. “It’s touching to know that you are appreciated,” she said, humbly, “It gives me great satisfaction.”

Ulpanat Bnei Akiva Neria was established in 2004 and serves 280 students from settlements in the Binyamin Regional Council today.

View Video of UBA Neria students preparing spiritually for Rosh Hashana.

15 YBA schools included among the top schools in Israel

The Ministry of Education released last week its list of top ranking high schools in Israel. This is the third time that the ministry has used a ranking system featuring a variety of parameters to determine which schools are the leading "value-laden" schools in the country, rather than basing school ranking solely the percent of students matriculating for admittance to institutions of higher education. According to the ministry's ranking system, 15 of the top 261 high schools (6%) belong to the Yeshivot Bnei Akiva educational network in Israel.

YBA Director General,
Elchanan Glatt

 Elchanan Glatt, Director General of YBA, said in response to the publication of the new ranking, "We are proud of our faculty members, who invest in each and every student. These rankings show that education toward Torah values and excellence go hand in hand. We will continue in this path of value-laden education, because we are convinced that it is the right way."

The teachers in the top 261 schools were rewarded with salary bonuses raging from $750 to $2,000 based on their school's relative position on the list. 

 

The relative weighting of the various measures were adjusted this year, after critics of the new ranking system last year claimed that the weighting favored schools in the religious Zionist sector. Even after the adjustments, however, about 40% of the top 261 schools this year were from religious Zionist educational networks.

The ranking system measures applied to over a thousand high schools in Israel included:

• individual instruction plans according to each student's abilities and disabilities
• consistency of ongoing faculty involvement in the implementation of instruction plans
• level of faculty in-service training for ongoing professional advancement
• inclusion of special needs students in school framework and extent of mainstreaming
• faculty interventions to reduce student drop-out rate
• percentage of graduates serving in IDF and National Service
• involvement of students in voluntary community service projects (Tikun Olam)
• percentage of graduates achieving full matriculation certificates and average scores
• level of studies offered in Humanities, Mathematics and the exact Sciences
• maintaining a matriculation examination process free of irregularities
• rate of improvement in all parameters over previous year's scores

The YBA (yeshiva) and UBA (ulpana) high schools making the top schools list are:

1. YBA Kinor David, Ateret .........................(joined YBA in 2010; 120 students)
2. YBA Beit Shmuel, Hadera ........................(established in 1962; 210 students)
3. YBA Pirchei Aharon, Kiryat Shmuel .......(established in 1961; 317 students)
4. YBA Lapid Torat Nachum, Modiin .........(established in 1998; 823 students)
5. YBA Ra'anana, Ra'anana ..........................(established in 1960; 308 students)
6. YBA Sussya, Sussya ..................................(established in 1998; 158 students)
7. YBA Aderet, Bat Yam ...............................(established in 1970; 274 students)
8. UBA Neot Avraham, Arad ........................(established in 1968; 163 students)
9. UBA Orot Modiin, Modiin ........................(established in 1998; 713 students)
10. UBA Segula, Kiryat Motzkin ......................(established in 1965; 529 students)
11. UBA Neve Ruchama, Jerusalem ................(joined YBA in 2008; 288 students)
12. UBA Or Akiva, Or Akiva ...........................(established in 2000, 111 students)
13. UBA Reut, Petach Tikvah ...........................(joined YBA in 1984, 353 students)
14. UBA Neria, Neria ........................................(established in 2004; 279 students)
15. UBA Tzfira, Zafaria ....................................(established in 1967; 626 students)
16. UBA Ramat Karniel, Kfar Pines ................(established in 1960; 458 students)

 

Rabbi Drukman speaks out against religious extremism and violence

YBA Educational Network Chairman, Rabbi Haim Drikman

Many uninformed or misinformed American Jews think that Bnei Akiva schools teach their students to be extremists. Nothing can be farther from the truth.

On Friday, in response to two terrible incidents that took place the day before, Rabbi Haim Drukman, the Chairman of the YBA Educational Network in Israel spoke out yet again against all forms of extremism and violence, whether against Arabs or Gay Jews.


YBA is all about teaching moderation, which is according to Rambam, 'the golden path.'
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