A series of festive events took place last week in Beitar Illit, marking
the end of a decade of devoted activity in the city's Beis Yaakov
school. Five hundred students from all circles of the local community
study at this school.
Beitar has been expanding considerably in recent years and now is
home to a large and varied chareidi community.
This year, a special project in honor of the successful growth of
the up-and-coming chareidi city's educational system was launched.
Called "Project Roots," it explored the roots of the Jewish
nation, the Beis Yaakov movement, and the city's roots. Within the
framework of this project, the school held an inspiring exhibit, prepared
by students and teachers, which included special works of art decorating
the entire building.
The Chinuch Atzmai administration as well as heads of the city of
Beitar expressed their admiration for the monumental educational efforts
of this well-known school, headed by Mrs. Korach and staffed by outstanding
teachers. The event, held at the school's spacious campus, was attended
by the current mayor, his predecessors and members of the City Council,
all of whom had come to express their satisfaction over the blossoming
of pure Torah education in Beitar.
During the first part of the ceremony, the honorable contingent of
guests were given a guided tour of the Roots exhibit. Later, the students,
accompanied by their teachers as well as by a top ranking delegation
of Chinuch Atzmai women, participated in an educational rally in the
auditorium near the school.
Rabbi Avraham Yosef Lazerson, one of the heads of Chinuch Atzmai,
opened with fervent greetings, in which he praised the school and
the devoted efforts of its principal and teachers, who are motivated
by their deep dedication to the vital aim of educating a future generation
of Jewish mothers.
Rav Lazerson later delivered a speech interlaced with divrei
Chazal about the contribution of Jewish women to the building of
the Jewish home. He stressed the obligation of safeguarding the sanctity
and eternal legacy of Beis Yaakov without deviating from the path
charted for us through all times. "We will fight for our educational
independence with every fiber of our souls, so that no outside element
-- judicial or governmental -- will interfere in our curriculum.
To them we say: "al tig'u bimeshichai," Rabbi Lazerson
called out at the end of his emotion filled speech.
