Israel Center Notes: - As usual, the OU Israel Center has been bubbling over with
activities in the last few weeks. Here we highlight several of the events,
in-house and around the country, with special emphasis on the recent Chanuka
holiday. Director Chaim Pelzner reports: "Baruch Hashem we completed all our Chanuka events successfully both in material terms and spiritual terms. These included: Newsletter. B”H, our tenth newsletter (in Hebrew and Russian)
was recently distributed and included an insert of Hilchot Chanuka, the
blessings for candle lighting, and various items highlighting different aspects
of Chanuka. Boys' Chanuka Seminar. Bet Kharkov launched a special Chanukah boys' seminar to help twenty Beit Charkov boys have a more meaningful Chag. The seminar was conducted in the fashion of a Yeshiva Tichonit: Learning Torah half day and enjoying different activities for the rest of the day. The seminar was far more successful than expected, the highlight being the contribution made by the six Kollel students who had participated in the summer Kollel in the Ukraine and who came especially to learn Torah with the boys. Chaim notes: Recently we have started local activities for groups of girls in the project in the Tel Aviv and Jerusalem areas. Soon, we hope to oopen another local chapter in the Bat Yam. NITZOTZ - Student volunteering program: During these past few weeks, no less than 250 overseas students from nine yeshivot and ulpanot in and around Jerusalem have been volunteering under the aegis of the OU Israel Center's Nitzotz volunteering project. Libi Weiss, Nitzotz Bat-Sherut, reports that this past Chanuka, Nitzotz - along with Kav L'chaim - organized three amazing parties for sick children. One took place in Hadassah Ein Karem Hopital, attended by Midreshet Moriah girls, while boys from Yeshivat Torah Shraga ran two additional parties in the Aleh and Alyn hospitals. The kids in the different parties played Chanuka Bingo, participated in an interactive Chanuka story and sang songs. Together with Kav L'chaim, Nitzotz and the outstanding volunteers, we managed to light up Chanuka for these children. Nitzotz promotes student tourism! On 27th November, Nitzotz together with the Ministry of Tourism videotaped 20 religious overseas yeshiva students from around Jerusalem who expressed their love for Israel, the importance of being here, and, of course, wished everyone a happy Chanukah. Libi adds: Why did the students volunteer for this? Because each and every one of them felt the need to share with Am Yisrael their experiences in Israel so far, their connection to the country, their expectations for the future, and how important it is for Jews all over the world to come visit, support, and make aliya. "As the students started to leave I felt a need to thank them,
not just for coming over to the Israel Center and helping me do my job! But
because listening to what they had to say reminded me of how lucky and blessed I
am that I live here and how I shouldn't take anything for granted because
growing up here is one of the best things that can happen to a person." Dor LeDor: is the OU Israel Center's Inter-generational Family Educa- tion Project Director, Dr. Michael Tobin, reports: Each evening is comprised of four mini-dramas that depict typical family and marital conflicts. Following the mini-drama, marital and family experts help the audience discover solutions to the dilemma facing the protagonists. The audience (usually consisting of at least 80 participants) and the psychologists directly interact with the actors by offering them suggestions on how to resolve the challenges facing them. Most of the vignettes deal directly or indirectly with the impact the current security situation is having on Israeli couples and families. Israel Center Family Counseling Center: This new venture of the OU Israel Center, under the supervision of psychologist Dr. Michael Tobin, is a direct response to the current situation that has taken an enormous psychological toll on the citizens of Israel. In order to meet this rapidly increasing need for psychological support and counseling, we opened the Israel Center Family Counseling Center. The Center has been receiving both English- and Hebrew-speaking clients since late October. Some of our clients are direct victims of terror while others are seeking help coping with the vast range of indirect challenges facing individuals, couples, and families in the current situation. Jewish Values Education Institute: In addition to the increasingly popular range of activities organized by Director, Rabbi David J. Derovan, for the OU Israel Center's Jewish Values Education Institute, two major programs took place during the Chanuka period: "Science & Torah" Seminar. This was a full-day conference co-sponsored by B'OR HA'TORAH, the "Journal of Science, the Arts & Modern Life in the Light of the Torah." Over fifty people spent the day enjoying an impressive line-up of talks including: Rabbi Nosson Slifkin (the Zoo Rabbi) on The Zoology of Chanukah; Dr. Emanuel Segal on Jewish perspectives of time, and Sarah Yehudit Schneider, Director of A Still Small Voice, on Biological Evolution & String Theory. The Chanukah Extravaganza. In a departure from the usually sophisticated activities of the Jewish Values Education Institute, for the second year running, over 150 children, aged 3-14, enjoyed four hours of fun at the Israel Center under the aegis of the Institute. There were arts and crafts for everyone, from making your own Chanukah hat to working with clay. Howie Kahn presented the Shimon Sings Chanukah Concert to everyone's delight. In addition, the OU Israel Center's own NESTO group prepared three and a half hours of continuous games. Each child received a free drink and a sufgania. Parents attended free of charge! Everyone had a great time and can't wait until the next Extravaganza day before Purim! Mother-Daughter Bat Mitzvah Course begins a Second Series In each of these places there has been such a hearty response to the program that the participants were very happy to enjoy additional Chanuka activities. In Hadnas, for example, 25 residents attended lectures on the battles of the Maccabim and the meaning of Chanukah. Moreover, 75 people from all over the Golan attended our Chanuka party in Katzrin where, in addition to listening to a talk on Hellenism vs. Judaism, all the participants enjoyed the music, song, and stories of Shlomo Carlebach, courtesy of the "LeChatchila" band. In Shoresh, with the assistance of Hagai Hadar, a regular daily minyan has been started for the community, which also now enjoys Shabbat programming. Some eighty adults and children participated in a very successful and exciting Chanuka party run through this project. NCSY in Israel: Makom Balev now has 14 chapters around the country offering young people a warm environment where they can meet socially and imbibe Jewish values while participating in chugim, and chessed prorams, Shabbatonim and other leisure-filled events. Bat Sherut, Mimi Edel reports: Shabbatonim. In the past three weeks we hosted four Shabbatonim with Makom Balev. Our first Shabbat was for 50 boys from the Haifa region, incorporating the branches in Netanya, Lod and Ramle. The following Shabbat we held two Shabbatonim, one in Netanya for 80 girls (from Nahariyah, Netanya, Lod and Ramle) and another for 50 boys in Arad (from Ra'anana, Kiryat Gat, and Lod. Finally, during the second Shabbat of Chanuka another shabbaton was held for 80 girls from Sderot, Kiryat Gat and Ramle in Arad. "For most of these children this was their first real Shabbat. We know that these Shabbatonim did not change their entire lives, but our goal was to introduce them to a world they do not know much of and teach them slowly what to do and what these things mean. For example: Netilat Yadayim, Birkat Hamazon, and Kriyat Hatorah. With these children one tends to think that they are not listening, but they surprise you with their questions. For instance, because the topic we focused on was 'The Power of the Individual', I began discussing the meaning of life with them and every individual's purpose. And then one girl asked me: "If life is so short, I'd rather have fun. Being religious isn't fun!" You find yourself getting into very deep and long conversations - and that's when you know that all your efforts count." New Branches. We have opened three new branches in Ra'anana, Tzefat and Kiryat Gat where much progress has been made in the past few months. They all have regular weekly activities. Slowly, the branches are growing, as is Makom Balev as a whole. Our Branch in Ra'anana differs from the others. There we work with high school-age children from an "external" high school with the assistance of the boys from Yeshivat Hesder "Binot" who voluntarily learn with the boys in Chavrutot. This is a tremendous achievement. In Kiryat Gat we have 12th graders from Mekor Chaim High School who interact with the kids and are developing strong relationships with them. Chanuka. During Chanuka, each branch had its own program. There were day trips that took the kids to different museums, rafting, or to a day filled with challenging group activities. Each branch had its own Chanuka party. Makom Balev Leadership Program. The ongoing Makom Balev leadership program takes place in Jerusalem, Lod, Nahariyah, Netanya, Ramle and Kiryat Gat for some 15 more mature members of Makom Balev (eight to ninth grade) in each of these branches. Our goal is for the teen to ask himself, "As a responsible Jew, what will my future look like? How can I make it better? What can I give to others after I have received so much? - and, of course, to teach skills that will further positive responses and applications to these questions. The Zula is the OU Israel Center's special program for teenage kids searching for themselves… Harel Hetzroni, the Zula's dynamic director, reports, first with a story: "Yaakov (name changed) works as a guard in Egged Jerusalem and lives in the Beit Gesher guesthouse where the Zula hosts its activities every Saturday night. Yaakov is a secular young man. Since the Zula began its activity in Beit Gesher he comes from his room to join the Zula and quietly sits on the side listening to the music and stories. He has been attending the Zula regularly for a year. A few months ago he turned to me and asked a few questions about Judaism. I spoke to him and consequently met with him several times. Two weeks ago Yaakov turned up at the Zula wearing a kippa and thanked me and the Zula staff for showing him the right direction. He told us that he is now learning with a Rav on a regular basis. He also thanked us again for 'opening his eyes." We have gone to places where no one has gone before, Baruch Hashem. The Zula has influenced many people. A recent addition to the Zula program on Saturday evening has now made its mark: There is now a group of boys who have a creative writing activity with an experienced madrich from the Ma'ale Film School. We also conduct a workshop that penetrates the girls' souls at which they learn Divrei Tora at a deeper level. It is an achievement for these young people that these are separate workshops for boys and girls. Each last for at least two hours and sometimes the girl's workshop lasts all night long. The resonance is great and the fruits of our labors are amazing. People we would not have been able to reach have opened up to us and we have broken many communication barriers. Chanuka. Many of our participants joined a Shorashim seminar at Nokdim for three days during Chanuka. These kids were searching for answers to basic questions of faith in G-d, not yet having received satisfactory answers from others. Several speakers, including Rav Stavsky, Rav Michi Yosefi, and Rav Erez Moshe Doron, opened their hearts. They were so successful with these kids that last Saturday night the girls said that they are now keeping laws of modesty and will continue attending lectures at Shorashim. May it be Hashem's will that we can continue to spread the light of G-d to others. "Gesharim" Bar/Bat Mitzva Project: This project has grown significantly in the last few months. There are now 275 children from schools that are "orthodox," traditional and "secular" in seven development areas around the country. Yael Chori, educational director of the project, reports: Through the good services of the OU Israel Task Force (in the US), two girls from Gesharim, Netanya were twinned with twin Bat Mitzva age girls from New Jersey. The two girls from Netanya were chosen by their madricha because they are responsible and diligent. The first letters were sent out two weeks ago and we hope that this project will be a success and the beginning of similar twinning projects to strengthen the connection, love, and responsibility between the Jews in the Diaspora and the Jews in Israel. Gesharim recently launched a new initiative: an interactive theater. Two students from Michlelet Emuna travel around to different branches in all parts of the country. The goal is to have the kids participate in a role-play of real life dilemmas on the subject of "Bein Adam Lechavero." The role-plays touch on topics related to child-parent relationships, the unpopular kid in the class, and how to withstand peer pressure. Until now three Gesharim classes in the 'Shiber' school in Beit Shemesh successfully participated in this program. Shabbatonim plus. Many of the kids in this program have joined in the different shabbatonim of 'Makom Balev'. They are thus exposed to an authentic traditional Shabbat and to the idea of 'holiness'. Beit Shemesh students have also participated in a wonderful workshop and presentation on the subject of Tefillin. G-d willing, another boys' group will soon open in Netanya, and Gesharim will continue to develop and reach new heights all the time. NESTO • Native English-Speaking Teen Olim, Coordinator, Chave Herschberg reporting: Mishna Shiur in Beit Shemesh. Besha’a Tovah, the lecture in Mishna for all of the Junior NESTO kids that live in Beit Shemesh has begun with the participation of 20 teenagers - and some madrichim. Chanuka events. NESTO's Chanuka events were excellent. Over 50
members participated in a day filled with fun and challenges in The Beraishit
Forest. Moreover, at the Israel Center's Chanuka extravaganza held for children,
Senior NESTO played a major role. The kids made up the different games for the
children to play, including Chanuka bingo, Chanuka word search, and chocolate
coin hunt. They also help facilitate the games. "Scene" and Heardat the OU Israel Center: On Thursday evening, December 5, the Jewish Values Education Institute, together with Mo'adon Sanhedria (Shulamit Neaman, Director) presented an evening of "Musical Delight for Chanukah with Bernie Marinbach & the Israel Klezmer Ensemble." Well known throughout Israel as one of the top Klezmer bands, Bernie and company gave a two hour concert that had the crowd tapping their toes, clapping their hands and ultimately, dancing in the aisles! This was a phenomenal program that brought warmth to the heart and a smile to everyone's face. The Yair Landau Memorial Library Israel Center Shabbaton: Over Shabbat Parashat Vayishlach, more than 60 people participated in this highly successful Shabbaton. The theme, of course, was Chanuka. The heart and soul of Chanuka was probed, as was its Halachic details. Even though most participants knew the basics of Hilchot Chanuka well and had practiced them for years, there were new things to learn. And Parshat Hashavua wasn't neglected, thanks to Rabbi Quint, who read from'personal diary of Yaakov Avinu', a first person description of Yaakov's experiences, based on the Torah’s text and many sources from the Oral Torah. Travel Desk: The tale of two tiyulim: Eretz Binyamin. Travel
Desk Coordinator, Sara Kern, reports: On second day of Chanuka, a busload of
happy Israel Center travelers visited "The Land Where Chanuka Happened," with
guide Estie Herskowitz. The group visited Giv'at Achiya, a yishuv with 12
families, with an oil press founded by the Shukar family. They were also shown
the process of olive oil making and were even able to purchase bottles of olive
oil for both consumption and candle lighting. Chanuka in Eilat. Shulamit Ne'eman, Tiyul Coordinator, reports: Forty excited participants in this 5-day program traveled via the magnificent Ramon crater to Eilat, getting to the Sheraton Plaza Hotel in time to light candles. The tour incorporated a guided tour of the Eilat Port and the Israel Oceanographic Center where we learned about fish and ecology. We cruised on the Jules Verne Glass Bottom Ship watching the breathtaking schools of fish all around us. Some of the children participated in the hovering experience, many meters in the sky, at the Aerodium. We also learned about the inspiring capture of Um Rash that preempted the founding of modern Eilat. On Wednesday evening, the Mayor of Eilat joined us and related that Eilat is the only city in Israel which has no water shortage, thanks to the Desalination Plant, which we visited earlier in the week. In the famous Timna Park we all had a fabulous time learning history and climbing to great heights. Everyone returned in great spirits, more knowledgeable about our southernmost city. Tikva - The OU Israel Center's Projectfor Russian Speaking Olim: The OU Israel Center, in conjunction with the Keren Klita Foundation and others, is currently running the only Russian- speaking psychological counseling program of its kind in Jerusalem. The program offers assistance to the Russian community that suffers from various degrees of anxiety and stress due to adjustment to their new lifestyle, which has been exacerbated by the stresses related to the security situation in Israel. Current activities: Support group - one ongoing weekly support group takes place at the Israel Center on Wednesdays from 18:00 -19:45. Single parent education groupin parallel with a group for children of pre-school age. Neve Yaakov Community Center Wed. 17:00-18:30. Parent education group - in parallel with a group for children of school age (10 - 12) who are going through the difficult stage of being caught between the demands of parents and peers. Neve Yakov Community Centers on Sundays from 17:00-18:30. Hot Line - Tue, Wed., Thu, 16:00-18:00. 02-566-7787 ext. 256 ...and at the Center Itself: Only a few of the regular classes at the Center took a “Chanuka vacation”. Mostly, it was “vacation? what vacation?” as shiurim and lectures took place, as usual. Of course, we didn’t forget that it was Chanuka. Many shiurim were focused on the holiday, and there were musical programs to help us get into the joyous holiday mood. On Sunday morning, second day of Chanuka, there was a special Shacharit minyan that featured a beautiful, 35-min. Hallel, in the Carlebach style, ably led by Chazan Yitzhak Miller. Managing Editor of Kol Yirael’s English news, David Zeev
Jablinowitz led us through the political pre-election maze. [The Parshat
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