Page 72 - issue
P. 72
Journey to Be’er Sheva
"Yudy Brody" BILL HACKNEY 443.763.6184 religious high schools. After high school, two of the boys went
to the Hesder army service and one went to Mechina, a
22 Years in the preparatory army program, and then to the army. The girls
Pest Control did Sheirut Leumi, National Service, an alternative to the
business army for religious girls.
PEST Many new diverse neighborhoods sprouted up after the
SERVICES Neumans moved in, which led to the development of new
schools, too. About 20 years ago, more Torani-style schools
Residential & Commercial started forming across Israel. The degree of religiosity and
amount of hours spent on Torah versus secular subject
410-989-1919 depends on each community. A new Rav moved to Be’er
www.QueenBPest.com Sheva at that time and spearheaded the development of Beit
Moriah, which includes a yeshiva, education programs for all
Email: QueenBpest@gmail.com ages, a center for family, and kiruv programs. “They brought
Torah to the South for people who want Torah,” says Judy.
M.HL.iIk.eCu.s#on104M3.H9.I.6C. #104396 Many younger families have moved out of the Neumans’
M.D.FAAC.EB#OO3K029M4.D.A. # 30294 mixed neighborhood to create Shechuna Datit, a dati leumi
neighborhood.
A number of years ago, Rav Yehuda Deri, the brother of
the politician Rabbi Aryeh Deri, became the Chief Sefardi
Rav of Be’er Sheva and built a chareidi neighborhood,
known as the Shechunah Chareidit. There is also an older,
small Hungarian chasidishe community in downtown Be’er
Sheva. Other than the dati, chareidi, and chasidishe neigh-
borhoods, the secular and religious live interspersed in the
various neighborhoods of the city.
Judy notes, “The big change today is that the kids who
were born in Be’er Sheva are coming back or remaining in
Be’er Sheva.” Judy tells me that there are a lot of jobs and real
estate opportunities, and the inter-city transportation has
also improved. “It’s a fun place to be and a lot to do.”
◆◆◆
The Neumans’ six children are all married, and two of
their daughters live in Be’er Sheva. As is true of many fami-
lies, each of the Neuman siblings has found his or her own
path in adulthood, yet their general direction and level of reli-
giosity is quite similar. I ask Yaakov and Judy to what would
they attribute this blessing of all their children remaining on
their parents’ path.
“We trusted them to make their own life decisions,” says
Judy. “We never forced them to do this or that. We treat our
children as individuals. They don’t have to follow a pattern.
Everyone is accepted for being whoever they are.”
The Neumans encourage aliyah and advise people to
come and settle in Israel – although Yaakov cautions, “Don’t
expect everything to fall into place.” And Judy adds, “There are
bumps in the road.” Nevertheless, the optimism and appreci-
ation of life in Eretz Yisrael of both Yaakov and Judy takes
precedence over everything. Judy interjects a final practical
note: “There’s nothing like a one-day Yom Tov,” while Yaakov
concludes, “This is the place we’re supposed to be, to live in
a place where Avraham Avinu lived. Come with a good atti-
tude and daven for siyata d’Shamaya, and it all works out.”◆
64 u www.wherewhatwhen.com u
"Yudy Brody" BILL HACKNEY 443.763.6184 religious high schools. After high school, two of the boys went
to the Hesder army service and one went to Mechina, a
22 Years in the preparatory army program, and then to the army. The girls
Pest Control did Sheirut Leumi, National Service, an alternative to the
business army for religious girls.
PEST Many new diverse neighborhoods sprouted up after the
SERVICES Neumans moved in, which led to the development of new
schools, too. About 20 years ago, more Torani-style schools
Residential & Commercial started forming across Israel. The degree of religiosity and
amount of hours spent on Torah versus secular subject
410-989-1919 depends on each community. A new Rav moved to Be’er
www.QueenBPest.com Sheva at that time and spearheaded the development of Beit
Moriah, which includes a yeshiva, education programs for all
Email: QueenBpest@gmail.com ages, a center for family, and kiruv programs. “They brought
Torah to the South for people who want Torah,” says Judy.
M.HL.iIk.eCu.s#on104M3.H9.I.6C. #104396 Many younger families have moved out of the Neumans’
M.D.FAAC.EB#OO3K029M4.D.A. # 30294 mixed neighborhood to create Shechuna Datit, a dati leumi
neighborhood.
A number of years ago, Rav Yehuda Deri, the brother of
the politician Rabbi Aryeh Deri, became the Chief Sefardi
Rav of Be’er Sheva and built a chareidi neighborhood,
known as the Shechunah Chareidit. There is also an older,
small Hungarian chasidishe community in downtown Be’er
Sheva. Other than the dati, chareidi, and chasidishe neigh-
borhoods, the secular and religious live interspersed in the
various neighborhoods of the city.
Judy notes, “The big change today is that the kids who
were born in Be’er Sheva are coming back or remaining in
Be’er Sheva.” Judy tells me that there are a lot of jobs and real
estate opportunities, and the inter-city transportation has
also improved. “It’s a fun place to be and a lot to do.”
◆◆◆
The Neumans’ six children are all married, and two of
their daughters live in Be’er Sheva. As is true of many fami-
lies, each of the Neuman siblings has found his or her own
path in adulthood, yet their general direction and level of reli-
giosity is quite similar. I ask Yaakov and Judy to what would
they attribute this blessing of all their children remaining on
their parents’ path.
“We trusted them to make their own life decisions,” says
Judy. “We never forced them to do this or that. We treat our
children as individuals. They don’t have to follow a pattern.
Everyone is accepted for being whoever they are.”
The Neumans encourage aliyah and advise people to
come and settle in Israel – although Yaakov cautions, “Don’t
expect everything to fall into place.” And Judy adds, “There are
bumps in the road.” Nevertheless, the optimism and appreci-
ation of life in Eretz Yisrael of both Yaakov and Judy takes
precedence over everything. Judy interjects a final practical
note: “There’s nothing like a one-day Yom Tov,” while Yaakov
concludes, “This is the place we’re supposed to be, to live in
a place where Avraham Avinu lived. Come with a good atti-
tude and daven for siyata d’Shamaya, and it all works out.”◆
64 u www.wherewhatwhen.com u
