Work Begun on New Makor Chaim Campus in Memory of Naftali, Gilad & Eyal
After another terror attack on Makor Chaim students and just days before “Unity Day” marking their second yahrzeit, Makor Chaim has begun work on a new campus in Gush Etzion in memory of the three boys. The new development adjacent to Neve Daniel, on the ancient “Patriarchs’ Road” is just the beginning of what will eventually be a major expansion of Neve Daniel.
Ever since the tragic kidnapping, Makor Chaim and the Gush Etzion area have continued to bear the brunt of the recent wave of terror. Makor Chaim families are still in mourning over Capt. Benaya Sarel, Dahlia Lemkus, Shalom Sherki, Daphne Meir and Capt. Eliav Gelman along with other local victims. Last Saturday night, terrorists opened fire on a bus filled with 50 Makor Chaim students returning from spending Shabbos in Tekoa with their Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Dov Singer. Thankfully no one was hurt on the bulletproof bus. Despite the fact that a bullet hole appeared right in front of the driver’s face, he sped from the scene while comforting the students.
Deputy Defense Minister Rabbi Eli Ben Dehan visited the building site near Neve Daniel as well as Yeshivat Makor Chaim in Kfar Etzion last Tuesday and presented the heroic driver Giora Spitzer with a special award for his bravery. He recalled how Makor Chaim was the inspiring headquarters of the “Shuvu Achim—Return our Brothers” Campaign during the 18 days of frantic searching for the three boys. Many recall the moving funeral of the three boys, which Rabbi Singer opened by asking all to join him in declaring their commitment to the mitzvah “Love Thy Neighbor.”
In order to try and preserve and develop that unique feeling of unity felt by all, the Fraenkel, Shaer & Ifrach families, together with government agencies, the city of Jerusalem, the Gesher Foundation and others have officially declared Wednesday June 1st as an annual “Day of Unity.” Once again, on this day, Makor Chaim students spread out across the country to teach themes of unity to about 5000 other students in close to 200 classrooms at both religious and secular high schools.
With the beginning of work on the new campus, Rabbi Dov Singer expressed the hope that “This place will be like Jacob’s Ladder—not only connecting Heaven and Earth, but also connecting our outreach programs to wider and wider circles of Israeli society of which Unity Day is but one example.”
For decades, Makor Chaim has been operating out of a group of old shacks and caravans that served Yeshivat Har Etzion over 45 years ago. The new eight-acre campus will include the Yeshiva’s Beit Midrash, an Outreach Study Center, a high school building, dormitories, sports center and more.
For more information contact 718-734-6524 or [email protected], or visit makorchaim.org or Facebook at MaKorChaimCampus.
By Yossi Baumol
