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29 Kislev 5764 - December 24, 2003 | Mordecai Plaut, director Published Weekly
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NEWS


Sharon's New Approach
by M. Plaut and Yated Ne'eman Staff

Last Thursday Prime Minister Sharon shared his thinking with the public -- something he does only on rare occasions -- and outlined a sharply different approach to that taken by Israeli governments in the past 15 years or so. Sharon said that Israel cannot wait for the Palestinians indefinitely and, if they do not come forward to negotiate peace, Israel will move to establish a stable arrangement between itself and the Palestinians that will allow both sides to live side by side.

The Salary Scandal at Israeli Non-Government Organizations
by Betzalel Kahn

At the State of Israel's non-government organizations (NGOs) anything goes. From party fundraising for political parties to running building committees and public institutions, they have total freedom of activity. Although there is an NGO Registrar responsible for oversight, he cannot tell an NGO what goals to work towards nor what to do with the funds entering its coffers.

Three Models for New Religious Councils
by Eliezer Rauchberger

Prime Minister's Office Director-General Avigdor Yitzchaki revealed to the Knesset Finance Committee the new plan to replace the present religious councils (moatzot dat), which are slated for closure, presenting three models for providing religious services according to the needs and resources of the respective cities.

An Israeli Stock Market Boom
by M. Plaut

Even though the American stock markets are up by 20-40 percent this year, the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE) is up more than 50 percent so far, and Israeli interest rates are down almost 4 percent. These developments have combined to attract a lot of new money into Israeli investments.

Egged Starts 3 New Mehadrin Lines in Jerusalem
by Betzalel Kahn

Egged recently began operating three new mehadrin lines in Jerusalem, Line 54 from Neveh Yaakov to Center 1, Line 56 from Ramat Shlomo to Rechov Strauss and Line 40 Alef, which continues the route as far as Kever Shmuel Hanovi.

Half of US Jews in College Have Only One Jewish Parent
by Yated Ne'eman Staff

Nearly half of all US college students who identify as Jews have only one Jewish parent and, thanks to intermarriage, assimilation and low birth rates, the number of college-age Jews will shrink by four percent over the next five years, according to new statistics. The figures apply to those in college and not to all those of college age, such as those learning in yeshiva.

In Jerusalem Out-Migration Continues to Exceed In- Migration
by Betzalel Kahn

Jerusalem's negative migration balance is continuing. In 2002 some 16,600 people left the city, compared to 16,000 in 2001. Jerusalem's total population was estimated at 680,400 people - - 458,600 Jews (67.4 percent) and 221,900 Arabs (32.6 percent) -- representing about 10 percent of the population of Israel. The natural rate of increase was 19 percent in the Jewish sector, compared to 29.3 percent in the Arab sector.

French Try to Maintain Secularism
by Arnon Yaffe

French President Jacques Chirac, in an important policy speech, announced that he supports legislations banning head covering in schools, but is against making Jewish and Moslem holidays into national days off from school.

Remembering a Master Mechanech
by Yated Ne'eman Staff

On the first day of Rosh Chodesh Teves, the first yahrtzeit of HaRav Zushe Waltner zt'l, many of his former talmidim will be gathering to bring merit and honor to his neshomoh. Meetings are to be held in three different countries.

The Growing Botswana Jewish Community
by D. Saks

Botswana, a landlocked, largely arid African republic that borders South Africa to the west, now has a Jewish community numbering some hundred souls, located mainly in Gaberone, the capital. Contrary to expectations, most of its members are not Israelis but former South Africans.

Hadras Yerushalayim Opens New Yeshiva in Beitar Illit
by Yated Ne'eman Staff

This year Hadras Yerushalayim has opened a yeshiva ketanoh and a yeshiva gedoloh in Beitar Illit. Under the leadership of HaRav Chaim Ackerman, the new mekomos Torah have achieved a tremendous momentum and visitors have been quite impressed. The Hadras Yerushalayim Institutions are under the overall management of Rav Sholom Wilensky and Rav Uri Zohar.

Congress to Aid Lakewood Yeshiva
by Yated Ne'eman Staff

Congress is set to allocate $500,000 to Beth Medrash Govoha, The Lakewood yeshiva, for the establishment of a "Holocaust Library."

Kosher Lemehadrin Meals for Prisoners upon Request
by Eliezer Rauchberger

Internal Security Minister Tzachi Hanegbi issued a directive to find a solution to allow any prisoner who submits a special request to receive kosher lemehadrin meals. Hanegbi's instructions follow a request by MK David Azoulai (Shas), who claimed many prisoners have complained to him that their applications for kosher lemehadrin food were denied.

Shearis Yisroel Prepares for Pesach
by A. Cohen

A team of shochtim and bodkim commissioned by Shearis Yisroel traveled to South America to shecht for Pesach. Heading the group was HaRav Yisroel Zicherman, rov of Shearis Yisroel's shechitoh operations abroad and rov of Brachfeld Estates near Kiryat Sefer.

Special Emergency Services Complex in Beitar
by Yated Ne'eman Staff

The City of Beitar Illit laid the cornerstone on Sunday for a Regional Forward Emergency Room, the first center of its kind in the entire area.

Olive Oil Benefits
by Yated Ne'eman Staff

Chanukah always sets us to thinking about olive oil, because of the signature miracle. According to modern research, olive oil is very good for eating as well as for lighting candles.

Sha'arei Daas
by HaRav Eliezer HaCohen Ben Porat

Yankel was obviously displeased. Yankel, or as he is now called R' Yankel, is a fresh member of the kollel having married not long ago. He just overheard R' Eliyahu telling another member of the kollel that next zman they will be learning Chulin with an emphasis on halochoh lema'aseh in matters of bosor becholov and ta'aruvos.


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