| The Russian Program of Aish HaTorah continues its mandate under the able leadership of world-renown refusnik and teacher Rav Eliyahu Essas, along with popular experts Efim Svirsky and Misha Gitik. Today 18% of Israel’s Jewish population is from the Former Soviet Union (F.S.U.) and they are dramatically affecting the future direction of the country. When these immigrants first arrived in Israel they were mostly worried about finding a job in their field. Now that they are by and large, more settled with their work and careers, they are ready and willing to make that spiritual connection to Jewish life and their Jewish souls. The ability to further connect these olim with both Judaism and Israel is within our hands and we cannot afford to lose this historic opportunity.
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Operation
Community Branches-Israel |
Our Ashdod, Haifa, Petach Tikvah, Bat Yam and Carmiel Communities serve as extended family for new Russian olim. Hundreds of families and students participate weekly in the programs and development of their communities. They implement everything from social clubs and Shabbat programs to family support groups as well as the Bar/Bat Mitzvah Twinning program and they even pay membership dues. We are seeking partners to strengthen this effort that will significantly impact the future of Israel. One million Russian Jews are pivotal in determining the future strength of our nation. We are now working towards opening a new community branch in Beit Shemesh and hopefully after that in Netanya where there are very large populations from the F.S.U.
Click here
for More Pictures
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| Evrey.com
Aish Russian Website - A Virtual Community! |
Since its launch in April 2001, our site has grown to be the number-one Internet Site in the world in its field of Russian language Jewish outreach for its 5th consecutive year. Over 5,000 regular visitors weekly, 20,000 unique visitors monthly, and 50,000 monthly hits indicates that this will increasingly be a tremendous vehicle for guiding and assisting Russian Jewry worldwide. The innovative news analysis as well as the daily "Ask the Rabbi" column attract a daily flow of regular visitors. Besides Israel, Russian Jews are logging in regularly to Evrey.com from such distant places as Taiwan, Germany, Alaska, Siberia, China and Japan to name a few.
It is important to note that the over 5,000 regular visitors means that these people are attending regular classes every week at least once and often more, much like a university program.
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| Bar/Bat
Mitzvah Twinning Program |
| Our Bar/Bat Mitzvah Twinning Program is matching sponsor families in North America and England with boys and girls who would not otherwise be able to celebrate this important Jewish milestone in their lives. This program is having a profoundly inspiring effect on both the sponsoring teens and their counterparts in Israel.
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Aish Kiev |
| Aish Kiev is housed in a very nice building that was donated to our community there. Our programs range from a full time leadership development program, to a medical consultation center and soup kitchen. The ongoing Shabbat, holiday, and life cycle celebrations provide a focal point for community development. Aish Kiev continues to be the most vibrant Jewish locale for young people in the city. In recognition of this contribution, the local JDC and the Rabbinic leadership of the city have sought out our partnership in servicing the Jewish community. There are also 20 young men learning Torah in the Kollel and the women's programs attract students from all over the city.
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| Institute
of Emotional/ Spiritual Therapy/ Torah and Psychology |
| In addition to his regular radio appearances, lectures and seminars, Efim Svirsky, a psychotherapist, published his third book recently. It is a manual for the spiritual/emotional healing and training program he has so successfully taught to thousands over the past years. (The book has also recently been released in English) Efim instructs and counsels both laymen and health professionals with his very effective healing methods and spiritual instruction.
READ MORE ABOUT EFIM
SVIRSKY
DONATE HERE |
| Academy of
Jewish Studies-Misha Gitik |
| This phenomenal program has educated over hundreds of Russian Jews over the past 5 years in an extraordinarily cost efficient and effective system. It combines the effective elements of outreach—tapes, CD's seminars, personal guidance through 42 graduate tutors, leadership development, and creative testing into one academic framework (Academy). Our tutors learn by phone every week with the many participants from around the world. This program is looking for partners to expand further to Russian Jews in North America as well. A recent B.A. program was implemented for our Torah students in Kiev to combine their studies with degree programs at the Kiev University. This will further enable them to find placements and employment when they complete their studies with us.
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| Pesach
Seder Program |
Thanks to your partnership this past year our Israel Pesach Seder program hosted some 1,000 participants in centers all over the country. We hope to increase this number this coming year with your help, as Pesach is a key holiday in attracting Russian Jews to our ongoing programs and Jewish life in general. This year Kiev hosted some 500 participants for its Pesach Seders and this had a very positive impact on the families that attended.
Some Russian olim require financial assistance and food donations to be able to have kosher-for-Pesach foods, so each year we have a food drive before Pesach. The mitzvah of providing food and nourishment for a fellow Jew at Pesach, known as Maot Chitim, is a very important act of tzedakah that allows those less fortunate to enjoy this meaningful holiday. In addition to the Seders, we also subsidize Pesach food for families that need assistance during the 8 days of the holiday based on sponsorship from our partners.
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| High
Holiday Services/ Year-round Holiday Programs |
| Each year our centers host a very large number of participants for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur as well as the many other holidays. We usually have to use additional facilities in order to accommodate the larger attendance at High Holiday services and other celebrations such as Purim, Chanukah and Sukkot. Classes and other programs are provided to instruct the many newcomers on how to take part in the services and how to enjoy and observe the holidays in general.
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ISRAEL RUSSIAN PROGRAM AISH- BUDGET FOR 2008/ 5768
1 YEAR BUDGET (IN U.S. FUNDS)
OPERATION COMMUNITY: ISRAEL COMMUNITIES
5 COMMUNITIES
| Ashdod, Petach Tikvah, Bat Yam, Haifa, Carmiel Pooled current cost for 5 communities: |
$ 125,000.00 Total |
| New community proposed: |
|
Beit Shemesh Branch, cost per year:
(Cost per year for 2 years-this will be lower in subsequent years) |
$ 90,000.00 / year |
| INTERNET SITE: |
$ 180,000.00 |
| KIEV: |
$ 60,000.00 |
| INSTITUTE OF EMOTIONAL/ SPIRITUAL THERAPY: |
$ 42,000.00 |
| EFIM SVIRSKY’S PROGRAMS ACADEMY OF TORAH STUDY MISHA GITIK’S PROGRAMS: |
$ 41,000.00 |
| CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION COSTS*: |
$ 80,000.00 |
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| TOTAL BUDGET: |
$ 618,000.00 USD |
*Central Administrative costs include:
Accounting / bookkeeping
Administrative Salaries
Phone / faxing / internet costs
Tapes, supplies
Promotional materials
Legal advice
Central information services
Travel expenses for central staff
The Bar/Bat Mitzvah Twinning Program is funded by direct donations to this program
For further information please contact Russell Myers at:
Israel: 011-972-546-319-781 / rmyers@aish.com
North America: 905-764-1818 ext. 231- Kathy Laszlo
DONATE HERE
THANKS FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP AND CONCERN!
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Operation Community Branches-Israel |
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© 2008 Bar Mitzvah Twinning. All rights reserved.