Machon Meir English Department

Modern day Chashmonaim - our alumnus Yehonatan Jay Ben Israel writes of his experiences

The Blogs: Training in a Religious Combat Unit with the IDF From the blog of Yehonatan Ben Israel at The Times of Israel

Chag Sameach! Join us in Machon Meir for 2 days of celebration!

GET READY FOR SHAVUOT!
Step up to a higher understanding of Torah with articles by Rabbi Kook and his son, HaRav Tzvi Yehuda. Plus Rabbi Shlomo Aviner, Rabbi Dov Begon, Rabbi David Samson, Rabbi Eliezer Melamed, and many more. Your one-stop Internet warehouse with over 500 essays on Torat Eretz Yisrael.

TORAT OF GALUT VS TORAT ERETZ YISRAEL - Machon Meir English Department Every generation should cherish the Torah of the Land of Israel. But we have an even greater need for this Torah in our generation of Redemption, an era of decay and rebirth, a time of concurrent darkness and light, despair and heroism.

Lag Sameach!

Lights of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai was prepared to suffer and to accept the attribute of judgment, so that the people of Israel not suffer and the attribute of mercy would shine upon them.

Yom Haatzmaut Sameach!

Stop By and Say Hello! - Machon Meir English Department The doors of Machon Meir in Jerusalem are open to seekers who want to deepen their connection to Torah, to Am Yisrael, to Tzahal, and to Eretz Yisrael. When you get here, stop by my office and say hello!

🌙 **Rosh Chodesh Nisan – A Time for Redemption!**

We’re thrilled to share some beautiful alumni news from the Machon Meir family:

✨ **Mazal Tov to Yonatan Neilson and family** on the birth of a baby boy, *Dan Rafael*! The brit milah was held right here at Machon Meir—and we look forward to celebrating the pidyon haben as well.

✨ **Mazal Tov to Yonatan Zomer and family**, and to **Dor Moshe Herman and family**, on the birth of their baby girls!

💍 **Mazal Tov to Ben Weisman** on his engagement—while still serving in the IDF!

🇮🇱 We are especially proud of our alumni serving and contributing on the front lines, including members of the Chashmonaim unit: **David Adler, Daniel Loewe, Yehonatan ben Israel**, and many more—it’s hard to keep track! Your dedication inspires us all.

🎉 **Mazal Tov to Shmuel Parlow** on his wedding this week in Jerusalem—celebrating with joy, even while staying close to shelter. What a simcha!

So many more celebrations—we wish we could name them all. This is how we build, grow, and bring redemption closer.

חודש טוב! 🌸

Tzvi Israel Fishman writes: Because of a family gathering I was not able to join the "Maccabees" of Machon Meir English Dept. on their Hanukah outing to Makhtesh Ramon. Jews ages 18-45, and students in the conversion program, come from around the world for the unique Religious Zionism learned at the yeshiva. During my 40 year association with the Machon Meir Institute for Jewish Studies some 35,000 Diaspora students have studied in the English, French, Russian, Spanish, and Ethiopian programs. side-by-side with their Israeli brothers (with parallel women's departments). Over 95% of the students go on to live in Israel and serve in the IDF. The site of this year's Hanukah tiyul was the unworldly Makhtesh Ramon, often compared to America's Grand Canyon. With one huge difference. Each 4 steps in Israel's wilderness-wonder earns a hiker a higher place in the World to Come. In contrast, you can walk from one end of the Grand Canyon to the other and all you will get is aching feet and holes in your sneakers.

Mazal Tov to our alumnus Yakov Visosky and his wife on the birth of their daughter!