Connections Magazine: Tammuz 5767

     

Building and Integrating in Eretz Yisrael By Harav Chaim Soloveichik, Rav, Ohr Shalom,  Mosdot HaRav Aharon Soloveichik Coming to live in Eretz Yisrael has been the dream and vision of Jews for centuries. The catalyst of this dream could be the mitzva of Yishuv Ha’aretz. Whether you interpret this mitzva to be a mitzva chiyuvit (obligatory mitzva) or a mitzva kiyumit (optional mitzva – one is rewarded for performing the mitzva, but not punished for not performing it), it certainly has played a strong role in the mindset of olim and vatikim. >> Read Article

The Garden of Israel - Mateh Yehuda We live our day-to-day lives in Beit Shemesh and Ramat Beit Shemesh, enjoying the benefits of living in well-established and flourishing communities. While we may be familiar with the history of Beit Shemesh, few of us are aware that the area around the city in which we live falls under the jurisdiction of a regional council called Mateh Yehuda. For many of us, the only inkling we have of its existence is the small sign next to the police station that points to its headquarters in Nacham...  >> Read Article Student Leadership Lends a Helping Hand to the Elderly >> Read Article AACI Celebrates Again The Association of Americans and Canadians in Israel (AACI) is once again bringing together the, over 200,000 strong, North American community in Israel to celebrate US Independence Day and Canada Day. >> Read Article So What Do You Really Like? By Lenny Solomon As we are nearing the end of the third year of this column I thought it would be a good time to put a Jewish Music survey out.  Yes, folks, this is a participatory column. I will give you four questions in order to determine – How much and what type of Jewish music do you like the best.    >> Read Article School News >> Read Article Can your Boss Read your Emails? By Russell D. Mayer, Adv. People are so used to their computers that they use them at work for personal use including emails and surfing the internet. A study conducted in the U.S. determined that the average employee spends more than 2 hours per work day on “unnecessary” (some may be work related and not, necessarily, personal) emails in addition to time spent on surfing the internet, participating in chats, etc. Should employees be allowed to use their employer’s time and resources for personal use? >> Read Article To Rent or to Buy By Doron Green Most people are invariably faced with the question of whether to keep renting or to buy a property. Many emotional points have been made about buying real estate in general, and in Eretz Yisrael in particular. These sentiments are usually accompanied by sayings such as: “You have to get into the property market at some point,” and “Renting is pouring money down a bottomless pit – with the same money you could be funding a mortgage”. >> Read Article Headaches, a Primer By Eliezer Rosenblum A headache is defined as pain in the head that is located above the eyes or the ears, behind the head (occipital), or in the back of the upper neck. Headaches, like chest pain or dizziness have many causes. While painful and annoying, most headaches do not indicate a serious disorder and, in non-chronic cases, may be relieved by medicines and/or changes in lifestyle... >> Read Article Aliya Daze - Part 20 >> Read Article A Farewell to Tami Kruger By Susan Treister If you were asked to name your favorite institution in Beit Shemesh, a well-run, warm, vibrant, essential, cozy, home away from home that is full of books and activity and used by all sectors of the community, would you hesitate before saying “the Benjamin Children’s Library”? >> Read Article How Old is Your Body? By Mali Nisan No matter what your age, your body will always remain many years younger than you. Some parts are only a few minutes old, others a few months old, and some take years to mature (such as head hair). Apparently, in your heart, you will remain “young forever” simply because its muscle cells renew themselves once in every ten years. >> Read Article Event Planning Timetable:When to do What By Judy Krasna I received an email from a woman in New York last week asking for advice on planning her daughter’s bat mitzvah which will take place in Israel in February 2010. Yes, 2010! Now contrast that with a good friend of mine from Jerusalem who called me less than two months before her daughter’s bat mitzvah for recommendations on a venue, and less than one week before the event for recommendations on a musician… >> Read Article Golden Aliya By Heather Shinder Why do people make aliya? Young adults may envision establishing careers and raising children here, but seniors anticipate a different kind of homecoming, armed with their life experience, precious possessions and coming to a Jewish State that didn’t even exist when they were young. Ezrat Avot spoke with several senior olim for a first-hand look at the issues faced by “Golden Olim”. >> Read Article Fine Motor Skills & First Grade Readiness By Michal Rubin, OTR It is very important to master the critical skills needed for handwriting readiness before first grade, when children begin formal writing. Focusing on writing letters and motor coordination without preparing the child’s muscles first, may lead to tired hands, poor handwriting, and a lot of frustration. >> Read Article