LETTER TRANSLATED FROM THE HEBREW ORIGINAL SENT BY MICHAEL YEDID
PHOTOGRAPHS
21st Tishrei 5774
Dear Rabbi Shlomo Raanan, Rabbi Shraga Gelbhard and all those involved in the holy work of the Ayelet Hashachar Organization.
Re: Yom Kippur at Kibbutz Givat Oz
It all began a year ago as we stood before the pivotal first vote of its kind at the kibbutz. The subject was ‘Giving Permission to hold Yom Kippur Prayers in the public building including hosting an outside group to conduct the services’. Turning to Rav Shlomo Raanan at that time he immediately responded and came to the kibbutz to meet us. When Shlomo and Shraga saw the broken down building they promised to do everything they could to create a decent atmosphere for the occasion. We could tell we were in good hands.
It must be stated that we are a Shomer Hatzair kibbutz that is against, in principle, all religious services. We therefore had no support, from the kibbutz, neither moral or financial. The vote wasn’t passed – 75 against 64 in favor. Despite the disappointment we realized that there were quite a number of members that weren’t against the idea.
A year passed. We were ready to try our luck again. This time we really hoped the vote would go through. We prepared the ground, so to speak, spoke to people, put letters in people’s boxes, SMS’s before the vote but, to our chagrin, the response was even more negative, 72 against and only 49 for. We understood that any prayers here would have to be done privately without any support from the kibbutz at all.
After much deep thought and planning as to how to hold such an event in a way that would be fitting, either in someone’s home or even publically, and despite the vote, we worked on finding a place that could comfortably hold 50 people without upsetting those members who were against the idea. We finally decided to erect a tent in my yard, ‘The Slichos Tent’. A friend brought a large tent and I donated the space. This arrangement would avoid any negative comments from anyone. The entire thing was to take place in private. It was very important to us not to cause any upset, not to hurt anyone. We wanted to do everything peacefully and we had found a perfect solution.
I turned to Shlomo and Shraga describing the delicate situation, and we began to realize that this would require some financial outlay for cooling. The tent would be standing in the sun the entire day and the weather report promised plenty of sunshine.
Without flinching, Shlomo and Shraga told us to consider it done. Two days before Yom Kippur the tent was already up, chairs and tables were brought in and the first synagogue ever at Givat Oz was ready for use. Our last worry was how to host the group of organizers in the face of a vote against any religious services. We didn’t want any unpleasantness. Shraga calmed us down. He put together a mixed group of Hesder yeshiva (white kippot) and Yerushalmim (black kippot). External appearances is a pretty big topic at the kibbutz as they are not used to seeing anyone religious around. We had succeeded with this too.
Yom Kippur arrived at last. Slowly people began to trickle in - such sweet young men came. The atmosphere turned into one of precious holiness. Kibbutz members came in for Kol Nidre. The excitement and joy took over as 50 people came to join us! What we experienced can only be described as deep joy.
A big thank you to you all, Shlomo, Shraga and the Ayelet Hashachar Organization for your undaunted work and dedication to ensure that there will be Torah in every Jewish place in the land of Israel.
A small candle disperses great darkness. Each mitzvah we do allows us to light a spiritual candle. May you merit lighting many more such candles. Amen!
Michael Yedid, Kibbutz Givat Oz
