A non-Jewish (Christian) security guard who works at the Mir Yerushalayim, wrote the following letter about his thoughts and feeling of the student body at the massive Yeshiva.
Born inside the Old City Walls of Jerusalem during the Jordanian Administration of East Jerusalem to a Greek Orthodox Christian family, I have been destined to associate with Yeshivat Mir in Jerusalem as Security Guard since June of 2014. Since that time, my perceptions of Judaism and religious Jews have been largely transformed due to my observations and discussions with the wonderful “bakhourim” (students), and the righteous Rabbis of this highly esteemed largest Yeshiva in Israel (7 to 8 thousand all-ages students from all parts of the world).
I have observed how newly-arrived students develop their attitudes, knowledge, “emuna”, and pattern of living almost instantly transformed during the first week of their participation. Several students come at the age of around 18 years and stay until they feel ready to get married or move on; while many decide to stay even after marriage. I always express myself to the “bakhourim” when I chat with them as they move from one building to the other for their lessons and prayers by saying the following to them:
“Those of you who are 21, 22, or 23 years old at this Yeshiva, you are considered in my opinion equivalent to secular people who are 30 years old due to the depth you learn in understanding who you are and your serious commitment to a way of life you have chosen and learned. The divorce rate in your communities is very low compared to the secular world, and you are happy. Why? Because you have Rabbis who teach you wisely by being genuinely themselves as best examples of the power of words they say and their deeds that match and melt smoothly into their teachings and behaviors.”
Yes, Yeshivat Mir is an essential tool to glorify God in the several young Jewish lives being served in the heart of Yerushalayim…I am a witness of that.
Michel Bahbah
Israeli Christian Security Guard at Yeshivat Mir/Jerusalem
[PHOTOS VIA BAMBI IMAGES]
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11 Responses
Yes, it takes a righteous gentile to see what a ben torah is and stays until he goes to the tamene secular colledge and becomes c’v tainted. ‘Kol bahayo lo yeshivin’. Unless its al taharos hakodesh and divrei kefire are not its curriculem
Was pleasantly surprised to read this after the headline insinuated negativity. Has this made it to anywhere that it would have an impact?
If only all our Yishivot could make such a Kiddush Hashem!
What a Kiddush Hashem this is! Truly touches my heart how a non-Jewish security guard can sincerely mean every loving word he’s said about the Mir!
Credits to Bambi Images for pointing this out as well!!
#1 When a bochur has a foundation of emunah, menshlichkeit and koved habrios, it DOES NOT leave him no matter what his circumstances are.
Kol hakavod, what a refreshing kiddush hashem.
Rid the yeshivos of the Muslim guards and hire Christians from Beis Lechem and the Old City.
Coy Boy, what in the headline insinuates negativity?
@ coy boy: I am having a hard time seeing the insinuations of negativity you referred to in the headline. Could it be that you read negativity because you are predisposed to seeing that? That would be a shame.
Just wondering what the kiss referred to…Some places fulfill “v’chai achicha imachmad”
#3 most yeshivos make the same kiddush Hashem, it doesn’t mean that because there isn’t a letter written by a goyishe security guard that there isn’t kiddush Hashem in other Yeshivos
#5 You are wrong. Al tamon beatzmoch ad yom moiso’ You have a lot of mussar seforim to learn , I see
#..PS…and who is the jugge of when one is immunized to kefira…the biggest tzdikkim were afraid. Chochmos chitzonis is assur…no we don’t have to know shakspheare etc etc. No heter whatsoever