Or Etzion Yeshiva Celebrates Head's Birthday with Torah Dedication and New Housing Opening

Or Etzion Hesder Yeshiva marked the birthday of its head, Rabbi Shimon Lapid, with a special event that included the dedication of a Torah scroll donated by Shlomo and Monik Lankri, whose six children studied at the yeshiva. The celebration also coincided with the inauguration of the first building in the new housing complex for yeshiva scholars' families adjacent to the yeshiva.

The event was attended by notable figures including Rabbi Yosef Kfir, former head of the Or Etzion high school yeshiva, Rabbi Asher Yaakov Avidan, the rabbi of Zerachia, Adir Naaman, head of the local council, and the families of Rabbis Lapid and Druckman. Rabbi Lapid emphasized the connection between the Torah scroll dedication and the opening of permanent homes for the yeshiva families, describing them as one unified celebration of Torah.

He explained that the mitzvah of writing a Torah scroll extends beyond the act itself, quoting the verse "and you shall teach them diligently to your children," highlighting the importance of integrating Torah study into daily life. The new housing allows the scholars and their families to live comfortably close to the study hall, fostering a true Torah lifestyle. Rabbi Lapid concluded that the Torah dedication and the housing inauguration represent a single joyous occasion centered on Torah life.