Israeli Religious Sector Celebrates Milestones and Engagements
The "What's Being Knitted?" column from Srugim highlights recent events within Israel's religious community. Vered Mezuman Aviad, founder and CEO of the Coalition of Religious Mental Health Organizations, and her husband, musician Nati Aviad, celebrated their son Erel's wedding to Shali Ben-Shimon.
Additionally, Dr. Avshalom Kor, a renowned Israeli Hebrew language expert and Galatz linguistic advisor, marked his 75th birthday. The column also noted the relocation of the Bnei Akiva Gonenim branch in Jerusalem to a new, innovative temporary facility. The branch, which serves approximately 600 members, was inaugurated by Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Leon, who emphasized the investment in the Gonenim neighborhood.
Students from the "Ma'aleh Eliyahu" Yeshiva in Tel Aviv combined the Selichot prayers with a significant act of kindness. They visited a ventilated patient who had expressed a desire to attend Selichot at their yeshiva. The patient, accompanied by an intensive care team, participated in the prayers, deeply moving the students and hospital staff.
Lawyer Gilad Korinthal, a former legal advisor to the World Breslov Center, maintained his tradition of traveling to Uman, Ukraine, for Rosh Hashanah, despite the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. He prayed with his son, Yair, and documented the preserved synagogue of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov in Mezhybizh.
Yossi Dagan, head of the Samaria Regional Council, met with European diplomats, securing a commitment from dozens of parliament members of the "Patriots" party to support settlement in Samaria. A new pre-military yeshiva, "Beit Baruch," also began operations in the new Samaria settlement of Emek Dotan, with an Torah scroll dedication ceremony attended by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who reiterated his commitment to settlement expansion.
Comedian Yoni Sharon, known for his Arabic-speaking persona "Abu Tawila," filmed a video with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The column also mentioned Eitan Krentman, the social media manager for Yisrael Beiteinu, attending a "Sheva Brachot" celebration.
Finally, the column referenced Amir Moyal's re-examination of the wedding hymn "Bo'i Beshalom" and a verse from "Eshet Chayil," humorously connecting them to unrelated contexts. Jonathan Barak Yinon, known as "Johnny Chishgozim," displayed a banner at Rabbi Nachman's tomb in Uman.
