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3.2.2010
To reveal a world with a different view
“A Jewish Perspective” is an initiative in Jewish education and culture, that is paving its way in the south of Israel to connect between worlds and bring Jewish identity to target populations in kibbutzim and communities in the south of the country.
The primary innovation is in bringing Jewish teachings to populations that appeared to be far from anything holy. To our surprise we discovered that, with the right approach, it is possible to bring the treasures of Judaism to them too.
A central issue in our work is the personal connection with communities and the public parallel to personal connection with individuals. We have emmissaries who live in far away kibbutzim and moshavim, and also connection between congregations, such as the refugees from Atzmona and Netzarim and the Torah community in Sederot, and the communities of kibbutzim and moshavim, and beyond that on the level of the regional councils and the entire area.
In the two years of our activity we have seen the coming closer of communities of kibbutzim and first steps of the clearly secular establishment in the direction of openness and readiness to hear messages of Jewish identity.
The areas of activity are:
Activities for children- children’s houses, in schools and in informal frameworks.
Personal bar mitzvah- putting on tefillin and aliya to the Torah.
Group bar mitzvah.
A network of Torah classes for adults.
Activities for youth- lectures and workshops.
Prayers on the high holidays.
Central public events: second hakafot, selichot tours, megillah reading.
Families of Torah emmisaries living in kibbutzim.
Description of activities in the past year:
Prayers on the High Holidays/blowing the shofar:
In 13 kibbutzim and moshavim we conducted prayers for the high holidays and blowing the shofar, with 350 men and women participating. It seemed that the amount of tears was greater than the amount of rainfall in this area.
Succot activity:
At kibbutz Dorot there was activity for 100 people – parents and children with the musician Mousa Berlin.
Second Hakafot:
The central event was at the regional council Sha’ar Hanegev with 400 participants with a chasidic band.
Chanukah in Kfar Aza:
During the rain of Kassam rockets we offered to hold the Chanukah party of the Torah community of Sederot in Kfar Aza at the pub. Who would have thought of a talk by Rav Dov Lior at a pub in a kibbutz? Members of the kibbutz said we did a big mitzvah to get them out of their homes during the rocket fire.
Chanukah happening:
At the community center of Diuna in Eshkol. 150 people participated in the event.
Lighting Chanukah candles together:
45 families invited residents of the Shalom region to light candles for the third year in a row.
Tour to Hebron and the Tomb of the Patriarchs:
100 people went on three days of tours: men, women, and students.
Activities for children:
Various activities at children’s homes and for groups of youth in afternoons and vacations by girls in Sherut Leumi (national service). So far there have been 50 days of activities which about 500 children have enjoyed.
Personal Bar Mitzvah program:
Yeshiva students give lessons in the notes for Torah reading and for putting on Tefillin. There is a noticeable change in recognition of the prayers and honor of the synagogue.
Group Bar Mitzvah:
At four kibbutzim we carried out a series of Bar mitzvah meetings that included two lectures, a day of volunteering in Sederot, concluding with a Jewish group experience. 40 youth have participated so far and there is much potential in the kibbutzim.
Activities for youth:
Lectures, seminars, and interesting people. Stories of the fighters in Lebanon, stories of Operation Cast Lead, volunteering, tours and other activities.
Megillah reading according to Halacha:
At four kibbutzim for the first time ever there was megillah reading. It was very emotional and they want to do it again this year. In this activity 300 people participated.
Passover Happening:
At the initiative of the Sha’ar Hanegev council there was special activity for Passover for kids, including storytelling and music and a mobile matzah factory. 300 children saw for the first time how matzah is baked and we were asked to open the event this year to parents too.
Cultural events:
We succeeded with Ibim community center of Sha’ar Hanegev to hold three events of Jewish culture, such as Etti Ankri for women only, and Amir Benayoun-in a Jewish spirit, for kibbutz members.
Regular Torah classes:
At 15 different places there are regular Torah classes. Personal spiritual improvement is the most desired topic and Ethics of the Fathers is a good basis for this. 150 people participated in this activity.
Unusual topics:
We held two pidyon haben, one of which was for a four-year-old whose father felt the time had come! We have four requests for help in building or rehabilitating synagogues. In Kfar Aza and Ein Habesor there are emmisary families living in the kibbutz bringing Torah to the periphery.
Southern Wind:
A special project of ‘A Jewish Perspective’ where we work with the social department of Sha’ar Hanegev in a settlement with financial difficulties. We have a Beit Midrash in the settlement. 20 members of the community participate regularly.
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