On Parshat Vashev, our students enjoyed a very special shabbaton in Kfar Etzion. On Friday we enjoyed a tour of the Kfar Etzion Museum where we learned about the biblical, historical and strategic significance of Gush Etzion and were moved by the sacrifice of those who gave their lives for Kfar Etzion depicted in the Sound and Light Show. After a beautiful Kabbalat Shabbat and dinner in the Kibbutz, Rabbi Alan Haber ran a rousing Oneg Shabbat. The Oneg theme was heroes, where we discussed what it means to be a hero, who is a hero and seeing heroes in our daily lives.
On Shabbat day, a resident of the Kibbutz led a tour culminating in the Mekor Chaim Yeshiva, the high school whose two students, Naftali Fraenkel and Gilad Shaer äé"ã , were killed this past summer. We were invited into the Bet Midrash where two of Naftali and Gilad’s roommates spoke to us and answered questions. It was extremely moving. Later in the afternoon, the Mashgiach of the yeshiva, Rabbi Billet, spoke to us about the importance of Ahavat Yisrael. This shabbat was truly an inspiring event.