Beit Shemesh, Southern District, Israel

0 Culture Music

Are We Turning Our Chasunahs into Concerts?

Cindy Scarr in Mishpacha · 30 Jun

Jewish weddings, traditionally celebrated with music and dance, are increasingly becoming elaborate productions akin to concerts, with discussions around the cost-benefit of musical enhancements.

0 Israel Politics

The Ultra-Orthodox Debate That Jews Can No Longer Avoid

Vanessa Berg in Future of Jewish · 11 Jun

Vanessa Berg examines the longstanding and complex relationship between ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities and the State of Israel, focusing on the tensions arising from military service exemptions and economic non-participation.

0 Politics Israel

De-Mo-Krat-Ya!

Moshe Koppel in Tablet · 5 Jun

Moshe Koppel explores the contentious topic of judicial reforms in Israel and the debate over the nature of democracy.

0 Politics Communities

Charedim, Violent Protests, and a Boycott

Emes Ve-Emunah · 2 Jun

The article discusses a recent incident in Beit Shemesh where a group of Charedi protesters violently clashed with police following the arrest of a draft evading yeshiva student.

0 Jewish Law Culture

Abled: Living With a Disability, A Torah View

Reviewed by Rachelly Eisenberger in Jewish Action · 2 Jun

Michal Horowitz's book, "Abled: Living With a Disability, A Torah View," deeply explores the Torah's teachings on disability and human worth.

0 Israel Leadership

Use Israeli bureaucracy to drive Israeli recovery

Contributing Author in eJewishPhilanthropy · 21 Apr

In the wake of recent conflict and ongoing challenges faced by Israel, there is an urgent need to enhance the capacity of Israeli municipalities to respond to crises and support recovery efforts.

0 Ethics Politics

Sacrifice vs. Jacuzzis

Natan Slifkin in Rationalist Judaism · 16 Apr

Natan Slifkin sharply criticizes a group of over 1200 young men in Beit Shemesh who indulge in luxurious recreational activities, such as pool and jacuzzi days, while evading military service—activities subsidized by the public.

0 Food Culture

The Feast of Kosher Curiosities

Kelsey Osgood in Tablet · 1 Apr

On Christmas Eve 2025, a unique dinner event at the Biblical Museum of Natural History in Beit Shemesh, Israel, combined culinary exploration with educational insights into kosher practices.

0 Israel Communities

When the headlines move on, but the missiles don’t

eJewishPhilanthropy · 22 Mar

The ongoing conflict with Iran is a stark reality for many Israelis, as frequent missile attacks disrupt daily life, forcing evacuations, closing schools, and displacing families.

0 Philosophy Education

Attached: Connecting to Our Creator—A Jewish Psychological Approach

Reviewed by Rabbi Micah Greenland in Jewish Action · 9 Mar

Rabbi Yakov Danishefsky's book "Attached: Connecting to Our Creator – A Jewish Psychological Approach" harnesses psychological principles to explore and deepen the relationship between individuals and G-d.

0 Culture Politics

As the Sirens Wail

Cindy Scarr in Mishpacha · 3 Mar

In "As the Sirens Wail," various writers from Family First share their personal reflections and anxieties about the ongoing tension and potential conflict with Iran.

0 Politics Israel

3 US soldiers killed in Middle East; 9 Israelis die in direct Iranian missile strike on their shelter

Philissa Cramer in JTA · 1 Mar

The escalating U.S.-Israel war against Iran has intensified with significant casualties, including nine Israelis killed in a missile strike on a bomb shelter in Beit Shemesh, and three American soldiers dead.

0 Politics Communities

The Fatal Consequences of Dangerous Disregard for Laws

Natan Slifkin in Rationalist Judaism · 20 Jan

Following the tragic deaths of two infants at an unlicensed daycare in Israel, significant attention is being drawn to the widespread issue of illegal charedi daycare centers.

0 Communities Education

Flat Earth reaches Israel

Natan Slifkin in Rationalist Judaism · 26 Sep 2025

The belief in a Flat Earth has intriguingly reached Israel, as detailed by Natan Slifkin.

0 Gender/Identity Communities

The Amazing Nechama Spiegel

Emes Ve-Emunah · 18 Jun 2025

The article discusses the impact of feminism on the Charedi community, highlighting the notable achievement of Nechama Spiegel, the first Charedi female El Al pilot.

0 Politics Israel

It’s Not About Kahane. Here’s Why Jews Support Ben-Gvir

Sruli Fruchter in 18forty · 8 May 2025

Sruli Fruchter critiques the tendency among American Jews to equate the current political upheaval in Israel with the legacy of Rabbi Meir Kahane.

0 Politics Israel

Under Fire

Sharona in Mishpacha · 6 May 2025

After 19 months of intense conflict, Israel's security cabinet has approved a significant escalation in military operations in Gaza, marked by a shift to high-intensity ground operations with the objective of eliminating Hamas and liberating Israeli hostages.

0 Culture Holidays

Standing Silent for the Siren

Natan Slifkin in Rationalist Judaism · 29 Apr 2025

Natan Slifkin explores the modern charedi response to the sirens sounded on Yom HaShoah and Yom HaZikaron in Israel.

0 History Culture

TIDBITS: Little girl finds 3,800-year old amulet near Beit Shemesh, Israel

פֿאָרווערטס־רעדאַקציע in Forward · 3 Apr 2025

A young girl discovered a 3,800-year-old amulet near Beit Shemesh in Israel, an archaeological find that intrigued both locals and researchers.

0 Leadership Israel

Zionism as a Method of Diversity

Sapir · 3 Apr 2025

Israeli President Isaac Herzog reflects on the complex identity of the Israeli nation, highlighting stories that contradict typical Israeli stereotypes.

0 Politics Communities

Documents Reveal Leaders Of Mysterious Charity Linked To Canary Mission

Forward · 15 Oct 2018

Megamot Shalom, an Israeli not-for-profit, has been revealed to be associated with the clandestine Canary Mission, an online platform that profiles individuals advocating Palestinian rights.

0 Gender/Identity Jewish Law

Men Refusing To Sit by Women? That's the Symptom. Here's the Sickness.

Forward · 20 Apr 2015

The issue of ultra-Orthodox Jewish men refusing to sit next to women on airplanes, citing shomer negiah (abstinence from touch with the opposite sex), highlights a deeper misogynistic trend within some ultra-Orthodox communities.

JL;DR

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Beit Shemesh