My wife and I just returned from a trip to Israel where we travelled to celebrate the Bat Mitzwah of our granddaughter, Adi Amalia. Our daughter, Elisheva, and her husband, Dr. Zev Hillel Davidovics, made Aliyah with their four daughters in the summer 5778 (2018) and decided to live in a beautiful yishuv dati, Neve Daniel in the Gush Etzion area. Perched on a high mountain in Yehuda, it is the second most elevated yishuv in Israel, 935-998 meters above sea level. Founded on the 22 Tammuz, 5742 (1982), it is now the home of nearly 600 families.
As the founding principal of The Frisch School, I was delighted to discover that there are thirteen Frisch alumni who live and are active in Neve Daniel. I will list them in alphabetical order, using the maiden names of the young women:
Tara Ben-David, Dr, Shifra Bieler, David Cohen, Shimona Dardik, Rabbi Yehuda Dardik, Erez Gotlieb (married to Shimona Dardik), Dr. Chava Levy, Ephraim Levi, Elisheva Meier, Tzalha Rosen, Tamar Safier, Rabbi Aharon Tirschwell. And Batya Zuckerman.
These young men and women have lovely families and are leading productive lives in the Jewish homeland. I am certain they realize that I and their parents are very proud of them!
In addition to above-mentioned Frisch alumni, there are also three former Frisch rebbis living in Neve Daniel: Rav Yitzhak Twersky, Rav Sinai Prebor and Rav Daniel Goldstein, who continue to impact the lives of students through their inspired teaching.
The name of the yishuv is rooted in the pre-State history of the Gush Eztion area. Before the State was proclaimed the Gush area was under attack. Convoys brought food, supplies and weapons to the residents to defend themselves against attacks by the local Arabs. One convoy was named Navi Daniel, after a point slightly north of the current settlement. That convoy was ambushed and all is people were ruthlessly murdered by the Arabs. In 1982 leaders decided to establish the new Yishuv and to name it in memory of the ambushed convoy. The verse from Isaiah 56:5 appears on the Aron Hakodesh of the central synagogue, “I will give them, in My House and within My walls a monument and a name better than sons and daughters. I will give them an everlasting name which shall not perish.” The Yishuv is a living monument to those who were slaughtered in that convoy.
I would like to conclude with words about the young bat mitzvah girl, Adi Amalia. Leaving West Hartford was not easy for her; today she is flourishing in Israel. Coming from a school with about 6 students in her grade, she now had about 50 girls from her Bnai Akiva shevet and Alon Shevut class at the celebration. Adi Amalia was always eager to help others and she continues to want to help those in her orbit but now she also thinks about serving the Jewish State. Kudos to her parents, Elisheva and Dr. Zev Hillel, for their wise decision and parenting skills.
By Menahem Meier
Rabbi Menahem Meier served as founding principal (1971-1997) of The Frisch School and lives in Teaneck with his wife, Dr. Tzipora Meier.
