|
|
NEWS
Cornerstone-Laying Ceremony Held for Yesodei HaTorah in Sderot
By Yechiel Sever
A cornerstone-laying ceremony for a Chinuch Atzmai talmud Torah in Sderot at the beginning of the week was attended by HaRav Yissochor Meir, the rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas HaNegev, HaRav Shmuel Montag, the rov of the chareidi community in Netivot, Knesset Finance Committee Chairman MK Rabbi Moshe Gafni, Deputy Education Minister Rabbi Meir Porush, Chinuch Atzmai Deputy Director Rabbi Tzvi Baumel, Sderot Mayor David Buskila as well as parents and community figures.
For several months Rabbi Gafni has held Finance Committee meetings to discuss the talmud Torah, which is one of the only schools in the city lacking reinforcement against rockets. Students have had to commute to Chazon Yechezkel, a community outside the city, because of the Defense Ministry's failure to provide protection.
Eventually those efforts proved successful and the existing structure was demolished to make room for a reinforced building.
At this week's event HaRav Yissochor Meir said parents' steadfast efforts to send their children to a location outside of the city every day to ensure they continue to receive an uncompromising Jewish education gave Rabbi Gafni and Mayor Buskila the strength and the energy to work indefatigably to rebuild the talmud Torah, despite all the obstacles along the way.
HaRav Montag extended his blessings to those present at the ceremony and expressed his gratitude for the extraordinary efforts made on behalf of the talmud Torah, noting that the students are tinokos shel beis rabbon who pray for the protection of the entire city. "We await the day when these cherished students will be able to resume normal studies in the city itself, and not in another community," he said.
|
