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No Arabs are allowed into the yishuv.

“Rebbetzin Batya explains that this is
meant both to establish the Torah’s
principle that it is a mitzva to hire Jewish

laborers and also to ensure SthominegS
tnoeebde
security for the yishuv families. tmaaildoer.

Chana Bracha Seigelbaum, originally from Denmark, to provide inSurance iS
Jewish women and conversion candidates a holistic women’s one of them.
learning experience. It offers classes in Torah and chasidut, as
Don’t settle for a one-size-fits-all policy.
”well as activities such as gardening, art, and herbal workshops. At Wealcatch Insurance every policy
is custom made.
After touring the campus, which is comprised of caravans sur-
rounded by beautiful plants and herbs, a greenhouse, an or- AUTO • HOME • COMMERCIAL • LIFE
chard, and a chicken coop, I met with some staff and students
and sat in on a couple of classes. I felt keenly that I was home. 410.653.3053 • info@wealcatchmd.com
Although I did not know a whole lot about the midrasha, and I
certainly did not know much about the yishuv itself, my appre-
ciation for the place grows greater the longer I am here.

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Interested in finding out about Bat Ayin’s beginning and de-
velopment, I met with the rebbetzin of the yishuv. Rebbetzin
Batya Kohen was kind enough to give me some of her time as
she is very busy not only with her own household and yishuv
affairs but also with her midrasha, named Zohar. She explains
that she opened the midrasha with just evening classes to give
an opportunity to young Israeli women of all backgrounds to
learn Torah while working or studying in college.
Rav Daniel and Rebbetzin Batya were one of the seven fam-
ilies who founded Bat Ayin in 1989. Their group formed the
yishuv on the principles of Torah, yiras Shamayim, chasidut,
and agriculture. Rav Yitzchok Ginzberg, a brilliant talmid cha-
cham and kabbalist in Kfar Chabad, led the yishuv’s infrastruc-
ture and provided both practical and spiritual advice to the early
settlers. Rebbetzin Batya explains why they named their yishuv
Bat Ayin. The first book of chasidut that was written in Eretz
Yisrael was in Tzfat and was named Bat Ayin. Also, an ayin is

u 410 358 8509 u 35
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