Ayelet Hashachar January 2013

After Havdalah on Shabbat Parashat Vayigash, Ayelet Hashachar held its yearly meeting for the volunteers from the Men Chavruta project. Two hundred volunteers from the Modiin Elit area gathered for a unique meeting that units the volunteers and allows them to meet face to face with other volunteers and devoted staff from the project. The weekly contact is done by phone so the average volunteer can’t recognize the fellow volunteers. It is magical to see how often friends and neighbors find out they are involved in the same Mitzvah.Rabbi Rosen gave a lecture about public speaking and guidelines to a successful phone conversation.

The meeting concluded with everyone expressing their appreciation for the support and guidance from the Chavruta project staff and overall detail oriented approach to each and every volunteer. We parted with blessings for another successful year and wishes to meet again B”H next year.

After a hundred years the Shabbat had to be great and indeed it was. Chief Rabbi Metzger and Rabbi Feuer took part in a unique Shabbat to celebrate the Bar-Mitzvahs of all the boys in Kibbutz Dganya and surrounding kibbutzim. The celebration was happy and lasted until midday on Shabbat. Chief Rabbi Metzger blessed the kids and gave each one an Aliyah.

In the spirit of things many kibbutz members came to get an Aliyah for the first time in their life. People in their sixties and seventies got to expriance the holyness of Torah and the beauty of Shabbat.

Ayelet Hashachar is proud to be a part of such Simchas and we hope to celebrate many other Simchas in the future.

Amen!

As part of Chavruta’s annual meetings for the volunteers, two hundred men from the Bnai Brak area gathered. The volunteers connect to each other through mutual sense of responsibility and willingness to share with others their knowledge and experience. Later in the evening Rabbi Brook, the head Rabbi for Yeshivat Netivot Olam, shared in his experience of working alongside nonreligious people. He gave advice how to find the Jewish connection with every person and respect each other.

The meeting concluded with words of thanks and the volunteers gave their feedback about the wonderful event and expressed wishes for more events.

May we go from strength to strength.