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ISRAEL CENTER SCENE
A Review of recent Israel Center Activities
June 2002
Often, we are told, people don’t realize how wide is the scope of the
Israel Center’s projects and programs. We hope that the following record
of the past few months’ activities will rapidly change this situation.
Torathon plus.
The Israel Center’s recent 11th Annual Torathon event pulled in record
crowds for the 26 hours of continuous learning and teaching by no less
than 26 of Jerusalem’s finest rabbis and educators. Highlights included
the ever-popular Rabbi Zev Leff who spoke on the “Inner Meaning of the
Sefira” and Rabbi Nathan Lopez Cordozo who lectured to overflow crowds.
Proceeds from Torathon help to support the ever-growing youth programs at
the OU Israel Center.
In a similar spirit, the Israel Center conducted a remarkably successful
Tikun Leil Shavu’ot, replete with Tefilla and the traditional “milchig”
meal, at which no less than 200 people attended. The peak of the program
was reached at one o’clock in the morning, which saw the Wolinetz Bet
Knesset packed to capacity, listening to Rabbi Avi Weiss giving a shiur on
Megillat Ruth.
Yom Ha’atzmaut celebrations took on a special significance this year due
to the ongoing tensions in the country. By popular demand, the Israel
Center opened its doors during the day for the festive Tefilla, communal
breakfast, and address by Rabbi Shalom Gold. In his remarks Rabbi Gold
stressed the centrality of Eretz Yisrael in Jewish life.
Joint Shavu’ot program with Yisrael Hatzair. Over 120 members of the
Israel Center and Yisrael Hatzair spent 5 glorious days at Kibbutz Lavee
for the annual Shavu’ot event. Guest of honor was Rabbi Emanuel Quint who
taught central themes of the Chag. The rabbi’s dedicated group of
Quintessential Players further involved almost every participant in
interactive sessions in which the lives and times of Jewish personalities
from various periods were highlighted.
Torah Tidbits 10th Anniversary Edition. Phil and his dedicated staff have
reached the Ten Year mark and the excitement is drawing near as the Tenth
Anniversary Luncheon in honor of all those making TT happen draws near.
Who can count the number of hours that the Torah Tidbits staff and
volunteers have put in to the hundreds of editions of Torah Tidbits since
the popular publication first saw the light of day!?
Recent additions to our programs
Recently, we introduced three new additions to the Israel Center “fare.”
1. Israel Center Choir - First is the Israel Center Men’s Choir under the
direction of Yisrael Schwarztein. This choir, made up of a small but
dedicated band of men and boys, is due to give its first rendition after
the Yamim Nora’im.
2. Bet Din Le’inyanei Mamonot - Under the chairmanship and guidance of
Israel Center President, Yitzhak Fund, and Senior-Vice President, Rabbi
Emanuel Quint, this new Bet Din (for monetary matters) is about to review
its first cases.
3. Erev Shabbat Minyan - As the OU Israel Center becomes more established
on the community map, it is only natural that the Wolinetz Bet Knesset
becomes a focus of increasing occasions for prayers. In addition to the
regular Shabbat Mincha and Perek Avot shiur held in the shul, the first
Kabbalat Shabbat was just launched. A loyal group of twenty men and women
became the pioneers of what, we believe, will become a more permanent
feature of the Center’s life.
Recent Israel Center Tours
EILAT TRIP – APRIL, 2002. One of the most successful trips in the Center’s
recent history, this tour gave an opportunity for the 42 participants to
stay in the brand new Royal Garden Suite Hotel. They were pleased to
receive suites with kitchenette, living room, and dinette areas, rather
than the regular hotel rooms. The hotel itself was beautiful and the
service excellent.
In addition to the many attractive sites visited, one highlight of the
trip was the fact that the participants were able to interact, at one
point, with the children of Kav L'chaim - an organization dealing with
children sick with cancer. It was a most unique and touching experience
for everyone.
TRIP TO TEL SHILO - BINYAMIN REGION – MAY, 2002. As part of the Israel
Center’s mission to give encouragement to the settlements in Yesha, a
busload of intrigued individuals took a recent trip to the Shomron. On
route they visited Eretz B'reishit (a desert mockup of Abraham’s home) and
the P'til Tekhelet factory where the blue dye for tzitzit is manufactured.
In addition, the group visited the archeological site of the Mishkan in
Shilo, which gave everyone the opportunity to reconnect with a rich part
of our ancient past.
Recent Programs Jewish Values Education Institute
Women’s Beit Midrash. In recognition of the growing thirst that educated
and professional women have for a broader and deeper knowledge of Judaism,
the Israel Center opened an experimental Women’s Beit Midrash in April of
this year. Open twice a week, the Beit Midrash is under the direction of
Rebbetzin Pearl Borow, a veteran Jewish educator. The program includes
Chavrutah study of the Aseret Hadibrot, a shiur on “Learning an
Independent Study Method using Texts,” by Rabbi David Derovan (Director of
the Israel Center’s Jewish Values Education Institute), and a shiur on
“Women in Tanach.” One interesting feature of the Beit Midrash is the
Mother-Daughter Bat Mitzva program, which has gotten off to a good start.
Synagogues Seminar: Ancient to Modern. While most of us have been inside a
Shul, how many of us have explored its sanctity or are familiar with
ancient synagogues? Recently, the Jewish Values Education Institute
together with the Israel Center’s Avrom Silver Jerusalem College for
Adults sponsored a full day conference on “Synagogues: Ancient to Modern.”
The day’s presentations included a shi’ur by Rabbi Sholom Gold, Dean of
the Avrom Silver Jerusalem College, on the sanctity of the synagogue as
reflected in Sefer Tehilim and a lecture comparing the interpretations of
the mosaic floors of the Beit Alfa and Tzippori ancient synagogues. Each
participant received pictures and photos for easy comparison and viewing.
The day included a tour of the four synagogue installations at the Israel
Museum, which incorporated a wealth of historical and aesthetic
information about these synagogues.
Zionism: Post or Most? Is Zionism still relevant to our lives? What is
Post-Zionism? These and other questions were raised and dealt with by
various speakers at a seminar at the OU Israel Center on May 21. Speakers
included Yisrael Medad, Educational Director of the Begin Center, who
characterized Post-Zionism as a new ideology actually seeking to destroy
traditional Zionist values, and Rabbi Shlomo Riskin who, in contrast,
focussed on the rejuvenation of Zionism in the State of Israel in the
spirit of Torah. Dr. Mordechai Nissan, of Hebrew University, grappled with
later definitions of Zionism and raised the thorny issue of how non-Jews
who are loyal citizens of Israel fit into a Zionist society built on
common elements of Hebrew language, shared history and Judaism.
Shabbat Across Israel
In an inspiring example of inter-organizational cooperation, the OU Israel
Center together with Israel Hatza’ir (Israel), Amutat Adam [community
organization in Ra’anana] and Amutat “Ayelet Hashachar” are concurrently
launching a new project to be called: “Shabbat Across Israel.”
The first pilot program - to take place on Shabbat Korach - will consist
of four synagogue communities or yeshivot around the country hosting
guests for a Shabbat celebration for many first time Shabbat observers.
Additionally, there will be another program in which dati madrichim will
run a Shabbat experience for non-religious members of the Israeli Scouts.
The communities are as follows:
• Ra’anana (hosted by OU Israel Center in cooperation with t “Adam”.(
• Modi’in (hosted by “Ayelet Hashachar”)
• Yafo (hosted by “Ayelet Hashachar”)
• Kadima (hosted by “Yisrael Hatzair”)
• Nahariya (hosted by “ Yisrael Hatzair”)
Nitzotz 2001-2002
Nitzotz 2001-2002. One of the Israel Center’s best kept secrets is the
Nitzotz program. This project annually sends 250 overseas students
studying in yeshivot and seminaries in Israel to volunteer weekly in 15
institutions in the Jerusalem area.
The year began with a number parties in different institutions for
handicapped children and elderly people, as well as for sick children and
adults in various hospitals in Yerushalayim. In November, Nitzotzers held
a shabbaton for homeless children in Beit Hayeled, Bnei Brak, while
recently another shabbaton took place in Beit Hayeled in Netanya.
Nitzotz volunteers acted as big brothers or sisters through Gan Harmony,
spending time with special needs children or their siblings. Others worked
with mentally handicapped children at SHALVA and ILANOT. Some volunteers
worked in soup kitchens, while others worked with blind people at The
Institute for the Blind. A few worked packaging food for the needy and
many more chose to work with elderly people - either at an old age home or
visiting them in their homes. There were volunteers in orphanages around
Jerusalem as well.
No matter what the volunteers chose to do as their Chessed work, they all
did an amazing job and a performed a great Kiddush Hashem.
As the year comes to its end, there is one last project keeping us busy.
The project is working with Terror Victims, visiting them in the different
hospitals, and spending time with them. We are trying to prove that even
though we don’t have a great impact on the situation and there is little
we can do to change it, we can still make a tremendous difference in many
peoples lives. Yashar Koach NITZOTZ volunteers!
Bet Kharkov
This project is designed to give the graduates of the OU community program
in Kharkov a warm and inviting social, spiritual and cultural program that
will help them in their integration in Israel and provide a framework
within which to develop their religious commitment.
Bet Kharkov graduates were among those called up in the face of the
increasing terror attacks. Consequently those “left behind” were busy
preparing food parcels for the soldiers, their friends, that included
letters from students in the program in Kharkov. The Bet Kharkov soldiers
in Jenin, Kalkiliya, and other areas were extremely touched to get such
letters from “home.”
Other recent activities include the traditional Yom Ha’atzma’ut
festivities with participants from all over the country, a Shabbaton for
“juniors” in Kedumim, and a Lag Ba’omer get together in Efrat. Of
significance was the most recent Shabbaton held for 85 Bet Kharkovers and
20 “old timers” and madrichim. The theme was Leadership and guests
included Shlomo Asraf, head of the OU project in the Ukraine. The Shabbat
was a splendid opportunity to give the older members a chance to take on
leadership roles themselves – to return something of what they received
from the program.
This is the opportunity to welcome Chaim Plessner on board. Chaim was a
shaliach at the OU community program in Kharkov for three years. He has
now joined the Israel Center staff, heading up this Bet Kharkov program
and assisting with other Israel Center youth projects.
Bet Kharkov Kollel in Kharkov. This year we plan to send at least 20
Israeli young yeshiva students to the OU summer camp in Kharkov to renew
the old tradition of bringing a boost of Torah and Eretz Yisrael to the
summer program. Both the Israelis and the young people attending the camp
are sure to benefit from this joint learning experience.
Makom Balev
Did you know? The Israel Center now has 11 branches of its youth-houses,
known as Makom Balev, in the following locations: Nahariya, South Netanya,
Lod, Ramle, Bet Shemesh, Jerusalem, Sderot, and four yishuvim in the
Modi’in area. Besides being a fine kiruv program, the chapter in Sderot is
a beautiful example of community cooperation between different bodies who
have all agreed to work together for the good of the kids.
On a recent visit there, Israel Center Director Menachem Persoff met with
Rabbi Dovid Fendel, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Hahesder Sderot, members of
the Garin Afikim BaNegev, the community youth worker, the representative
of Amigur, the government unit involved with neighborhood rehabilitation (Shikum
Shechunot) and, of course, the dedicated madrichim of the chapter. Within
six months the madrichim have built up programs with no less than sixty
kids. As we go to press, a new group of immigrant children from the
Caucasian Mountains of Russia is being formed in one of the most
downtrodden areas of this poor development town.
Recent events included a shabbaton in Bet Harif in the Modiin region (30
participants), several fun days for various chapters, and a particularly
notable Tikun Leil Shavu’ot in Sderot at which 45 young participants
experienced an all night Torah event for the first time in their lives.
The “Zula”
This project for at risk kids has now been running for one and half years
and is showing results. To
listen to Torah used to be taboo with these teenagers. Now, at the
all-night events, there are kids asking when will the next “rabbi” come to
talk to them. Recently, Harav Stavski, replete with beard and bekesher,
kept the youngsters from all backgrounds - including chilonim - spellbound
for no less than three hours with stories and “maiselech,” infused with
Divrei Torah. The teenagers were attracted like a magnet with many kids
later approaching the Rav on an individual level.
Recently, at a “concert” given by Aharon Raziel at the Zula, kids totally
removed from anything religious asked to dance to his music. They were
inspired enough even to dance separately. They asked the madrichim to put
up a mechitza! These kids told us later that they hadn’t had such an
inspiring evening in a long time. They had even given up a happening in
Kikar Zion to stay at the Zula.
We have had particularly successful results with the girls on this
program, with a group coming weekly to the Israel Center for enrichment
and nearly twenty who have found their way weekly to shiurim at a local
center for spiritual growth.
NESTO
Yom Yerushalayim: It isn’t easy to combine education and fun, but if you
ask those who participated with NESTO – the Israel Center’s
English-speaking teenage organization - on Yom Yerushalayim you will
discover that it can be done. The day, organized by NESTO coordinator
Chave Herschberg, combined challenging games, creative arts and crafts
workshops, and a grand tour of Yerushalayim, including fascinating
discussions in which all the teenagers participated. This is a classical
model of NESTO programming.
Junior NESTO Shabbaton: Lively tefilla, dancing and singing, and
remarkable Divrei Torah were just some of fabulous activities that kicked
off the recent Junior NESTO Shabbaton that took place in Yerushalayim that
was attended by 38 participants. In a addition to the thrilling program,
this event served as a perfect opportunity for all the kids from the many
different cities to get to know each other, particularly because Junior
Nesto began only a few months earlier and is continuously blossoming.
Also included in this spectacular Shabbat, were heated group debates and
discussion on important issues such as “Ahavat Chinam,” leisurely walks
(including to the historical Yemin Moshe) and non-stop entertainment by
the dedicated madrichim.
All in all, whichever way you choose to look at this event - its
incredible success, as well as the growth of this new Junior Division of
NESTO, will impress you.
Gesharim – The Israel Center’s Bar/Bat Mizva Program
The Center is currently preparing groups of children from Religious State
Schools for their Bar or Bat Mizva in Bet Shemesh, Yerushalayim, Ramle and
Lod. Although the children attend religious schools there is still a great
need to enrich the children’s love of Jewish tradition.
In each of the groups, the madrichim teach creatively about various
concepts in Jewish life, with a special emphasis on the social aspects,
Ben Adam Lechaveiro, which speak to the hearts of the children. In
addition, the youngsters discuss topics that relate directly to the new
phase in their lives and the various mizvot and customs associated with
that.
In Bet Shemesh, we are having exceptional success with the girls under the
guidance of their teacher who won a prestigious education prize for her
talents, which include creative workshops.
In all four neighborhoods, emphasis is put on building strong
relationships with the children and preparing them for the ceremony, which
marks the end of the program.
Did you know? Project “Tefilla.” In addition to the “regular” OU Israel
Center programs for youth, the Center’s dedicated staff are running
extra-curricular activities with marginally religious teenagers in three
Jerusalem schools centered around the topic of Tefilla –in Ort Spanion,
Jenogli and Moria Religious High Schools. This pilot project has met with
great success and we look forward to seeing it expand in the fall, in
cooperation with the Ministry of Education.
Did you know? Project with the Koby Mandell Foundation. The Israel Center,
in cooperation with the Koby Mandell Foundation (founded by Rabbi Seth and
Sheri Mandell in memory of their son Koby הי'ד, killed by terrorists a
year ago), is developing a project for Israeli youth at the threshold. In
the first pilot phase a group of madrichim took 25 teenage boys to Zefat
for an “experiential” Shabbaton. Zefat did its magic and the advisors did
their job. The kids, who are now enjoying a 2-month follow-up program, are
already more into Shabbat, “davening,” and learning…
Read the OU/NCSY Israel Center Torah
Tidbits
None of these wonderful programs
could happen without the dedication and hard work of the staff, the
guidance provided by Israel Center Director General, Rabbi Dovid Cohen,
the assistance of the OU and the Jewish Agency’s Allocations Unit, the
Board of the Israel Center under the Direction of Yizhak Fund, and all of
our contributors and friends. – MP.
www.ou.org
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