1 2 3 5 4 108 109 Chapter Seven | Educa�on and Culture The school in Netzarim In the first years, the children of Netzarim studied Atsmona, which was about 30 km away. Due to the difficult security situa�on on the roads and the need to escort and coordinate transporta�on with the Pales�nians, they were o�en late for school. In 5756 (1995), a miracle had happened. A bus loaded with children from Netzarim passed through the Atsmona intersec�on, where a suicide bomber was wai�ng for them, and by the grace of God, he blew himself up before the bus arrived. This event was a great catalyst for the establishment of a school in Netzarim. The residents and council appealed to Binyamin Netanyahu, the prime minister, with a request to establish a school in Netzarim. Their request was granted within a short �me, and a new school was established in Netzarim, in collabora�on with the Noam network - 'Noam Netzarim'.18 The school in Kfar Darom When the security situa�on escalated around New Year's Eve 5761 (2001), Kfar Darom realized there would be no escape from establishing a school within the se�lement. Un�l then, two buses full of students le� every morning for the 'Neot Ka�f' school in Neve Dekalim and the 'Atsmona Talmud Torah.' However, the security situa�on was challenging, and the concerns overwhelmed everyone. A month later, what everybody dreaded had happened - a bus full of children exploded, with two adults killed and many children injured, some with amputated legs. That same night, Ruthie Rothstein, a seasoned teacher from Kfar Maimon, was called to come and help establish a school in the se�lement. Classrooms were improvised, and volunteer teachers were recruited. Two days later, the Director General of the Ministry of Educa�on, Ms. Shlomit Amichai, came to the se�lement on a condolence call, and with her assistance, within one week a�er the a�ack, an associa�on was established and operated the new school - a State-Religious School. Great effort was put into making it a proper school, and the Ministry of Educa�on allocated budgets for the program. That summer, a large building was refurbished with the help of 'Aley Ka�f,' where the students studied. This development contributed to doubling the se�lement's popula�on, from 40 to 80 families, by the eve of disengagement. Some came to work in the new school, and some saw the challenge and order of the day - bolstering the injured community. The school operated un�l the last day of Gush Ka�f.19 Talmud Torah "Torat HaChaim" (The Torah of Life) In addi�on to the two educa�onal systems that already existed in Gush Ka�f, a third one was established as an offshoot from 'Torat HaChayim,' the high yeshiva led by Rabbi Shmuel Tal, founded in Neve Dekalim. That educa�onal system was established upon the growth of the yeshiva, next to it and following its educa�onal and learning principles. It addressed the needs of community members and other affiliates. Thus, a Talmud Torah was established for boys, and at a later stage, also a school for girls. Furthermore, a seminary (ter�ary educa�on) for girls, 'Midereshet Tohar,' was also established, which incorporated religious studies with the acquisi�on of a profession, including an academic degree. A Talmud Torah for boys was opened in the yeshiva. It was managed in accordance with Rabbi Zilberman's method, i.e., repe��on and memoriza�on, to offer students more knowledge vis-a-vis the standard educa�on systems. The new ins�tu�on gnawed some of the 'Atsmona Talmud Torah' enrollees as well as from the 'Neot Ka�f' school. Its fundamental principle was no admission tests; those who wished to enroll were accepted. But it also promoted, first and foremost, sacred studies before the mundane. The first part of each day was dedicated to religious subjects, and most efforts were invested in them. The second half of the day was dedicated to mundane/secular subjects. Rabbi Tal saw this as the founda�on for his high yeshiva.20 Middle Schools In 5749 [1989], the Ministry of Educa�on approved opening a middle school for boys and girls in Gush Ka�f, with two classes in each grade, star�ng in the 5750 [1989-90] school year. Indeed, junior high classrooms were inaugurated in the 'Neve Dekalim' all-girls religious high school, and a middle school for boys was established in the 'Neot Ka�f' school under the management of Shmuel Levran as the kickstart for a future high school. The first two years of the boys' middle school went well, but con�nuing from there to a Yeshiva high school was challenging because only children from 'Neot Ka�f' studied there. The students of 'Atsmona Talmud Torah' proceeded to external educa�onal ins�tu�ons. It was clear that it would be difficult to establish a high-level religious high school with such a limited line-up of students.21 Neve Dekalim All-Girls Religious High School Avraham Bar Ilan, who came to Neve Dekalim a�er the evacua�on of Yamit, came up with the idea to establish an all-girl religious high school. Avraham wanted his daughter to study in Gush Ka�f rather than commute for hours each day. He searched for families with daughters of high school age and convinced them to send their daughters to the new ins�tu�on to be established. Harnessing Rabbi Mordechai (Mota) Greenbla� from the Shapira Center to the school principal posi�on, Bar Ilan had laid out a prac�cal plan. With all these, he turned to the council. Although the council did not oppose the idea, it believed it would be worthwhile to wait un�l more girls reached high school age. Bar Ilan did not give up, and eventually, the head of the council, Reuven Rosenbla�, agreed to establish the high school for girls.22 1 'Noam Netzarim' school in Netzarim 2 Talmud Torah and a State-Religious School in Kfar Darom 3 Talmud Torah at the 'Torat Chaim' Yeshiva in Neve Dekalim 4 Neve Dekalim Seminary for girls 5 The dining room of the Neve Dekalim Seminary for Girls
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