Page 70 - issue
P. 70
Journey to Be’er Sheva
In-network with most major insurances. children with him to bring everyone mishloach manos.”
Specializing in: ◆◆◆
• anxiety • trauma A huge positive factor in the Neurmans’ life in Be’er Sheva
is their shul, Beit Shmuel Moledet. “One of the nice things
• life transitions • sleep disorders that happened because of the shul is that we made it a com-
munity and created family among our friends,” Judy says.
• self-esteem • behavioral “The hardest thing for me, when we made aliyah, was not
having a community.” The shul was started by American
• adjusting to addictions olim, but from the beginning there were Israeli and other
non-American immigrant members. Since then, the shul has
medical issues (i.e. gambling, grown and it’s very integrated into society now. Yaakov says,
• depression shopping, internet) “Everyone can feel comfortable. There are English, Spanish,
and Russian speakers amidst the Israeli speakers.” One year,
• substance abuse the shul made a communal Purim seuda for the shul mem-
bers, and the women did all the cooking and serving. It con-
©WWW tinued for several years in rented halls but stopped when
families became too large. “It was great fun,” Judy remembers.
9192 Red Branch Road info@embracecs.com
About seven years after joining the shul, Yaakov was
Suite 270 www.embracecs.com appointed as its Rav. I ask him what his tasks are as shul Rav.
He answers, “Over the years, most of the questions have had
Columbia, MD 21045 877-651-1841 to do with kashrut. At times I have to help families in person-
al matters. That is in addition to helping families when there
are smachot (celebrations) and, lo aleinu, periods of aveilut
(mourning). It’s a wide variety of activities that keep me busy.”
Judy says, “It’s cute when a student from my school ends
up getting engaged to someone from our shul and has
already met Yaakov with no idea that we are connected, and
then sees the two of us together.” Judy doesn’t have any spe-
cific duties as the rebbetzin of the shul, however, she is part
of the kiddush committee, unrelated to being the Rav’s wife.
A significant member of the community was Rav Aharon
Rabenstein, z”l, and his wife, a”h, who were very close friends
of the Neumans. (A native of Cincinnati and a musmach of
Telz yeshiva in Cleveland, he was the brother of Mrs. Naomi
Miller of Baltimore, tbl”c.) The relationship extended to the
children of both families, and friendships formed among
them as well. Yaakov and Judy considered Rav Rabenstein to
be their Rav, and Yaakov conferred with him regarding shai-
los that others would ask him. Rebbetzin Rabenstein taught
English to all of the Neuman kids after school. Today, Judy
gives English lessons to one of the Rabensteins’ grandsons.
◆◆◆
When she first moved to Be’er Sheva, Judy had a friend
who kept nudging her to become an English teacher in the
Yeshivat Bnei Akiva where the friend was teaching English.
Judy preferred being a full-time mother – until she had her
third child, when she felt a need to get out of the house more.
She decided to start working and received the teaching posi-
tion on the condition that she would get her teacher’s
license. Judy taught for many years, until she took early retire-
ment. Now she tutors privately from her home and volunteers
in her grandchildren’s school, where she helps kids learn
English one-on-one. She also volunteers in the English
62 u www.wherewhatwhen.com u
In-network with most major insurances. children with him to bring everyone mishloach manos.”
Specializing in: ◆◆◆
• anxiety • trauma A huge positive factor in the Neurmans’ life in Be’er Sheva
is their shul, Beit Shmuel Moledet. “One of the nice things
• life transitions • sleep disorders that happened because of the shul is that we made it a com-
munity and created family among our friends,” Judy says.
• self-esteem • behavioral “The hardest thing for me, when we made aliyah, was not
having a community.” The shul was started by American
• adjusting to addictions olim, but from the beginning there were Israeli and other
non-American immigrant members. Since then, the shul has
medical issues (i.e. gambling, grown and it’s very integrated into society now. Yaakov says,
• depression shopping, internet) “Everyone can feel comfortable. There are English, Spanish,
and Russian speakers amidst the Israeli speakers.” One year,
• substance abuse the shul made a communal Purim seuda for the shul mem-
bers, and the women did all the cooking and serving. It con-
©WWW tinued for several years in rented halls but stopped when
families became too large. “It was great fun,” Judy remembers.
9192 Red Branch Road info@embracecs.com
About seven years after joining the shul, Yaakov was
Suite 270 www.embracecs.com appointed as its Rav. I ask him what his tasks are as shul Rav.
He answers, “Over the years, most of the questions have had
Columbia, MD 21045 877-651-1841 to do with kashrut. At times I have to help families in person-
al matters. That is in addition to helping families when there
are smachot (celebrations) and, lo aleinu, periods of aveilut
(mourning). It’s a wide variety of activities that keep me busy.”
Judy says, “It’s cute when a student from my school ends
up getting engaged to someone from our shul and has
already met Yaakov with no idea that we are connected, and
then sees the two of us together.” Judy doesn’t have any spe-
cific duties as the rebbetzin of the shul, however, she is part
of the kiddush committee, unrelated to being the Rav’s wife.
A significant member of the community was Rav Aharon
Rabenstein, z”l, and his wife, a”h, who were very close friends
of the Neumans. (A native of Cincinnati and a musmach of
Telz yeshiva in Cleveland, he was the brother of Mrs. Naomi
Miller of Baltimore, tbl”c.) The relationship extended to the
children of both families, and friendships formed among
them as well. Yaakov and Judy considered Rav Rabenstein to
be their Rav, and Yaakov conferred with him regarding shai-
los that others would ask him. Rebbetzin Rabenstein taught
English to all of the Neuman kids after school. Today, Judy
gives English lessons to one of the Rabensteins’ grandsons.
◆◆◆
When she first moved to Be’er Sheva, Judy had a friend
who kept nudging her to become an English teacher in the
Yeshivat Bnei Akiva where the friend was teaching English.
Judy preferred being a full-time mother – until she had her
third child, when she felt a need to get out of the house more.
She decided to start working and received the teaching posi-
tion on the condition that she would get her teacher’s
license. Judy taught for many years, until she took early retire-
ment. Now she tutors privately from her home and volunteers
in her grandchildren’s school, where she helps kids learn
English one-on-one. She also volunteers in the English
62 u www.wherewhatwhen.com u
