“Gachelet” Embers Ignite Israel’s Towns Can a new brand of Torah pioneers create a revolution in Israeli life? By Leah Abramowitz

There’s a new kind of chalutziut years ago: the wide gap, maybe even Within a very short time, there were [pioneering spirit] attracting Israel’s widening, between Orthodox and sec- 25 such communities, each with its young, national religious population. ular citizens. own emphasis, pace of development Hesder graduates and National Service Initially, individual groups of garin- and character. Three years ago the veterans are setting up small religious im Torani’im [religious nuclei] began to garinim set up an umbrella organiza- communities in development towns move to cities such as Beit Shemesh, tion, called Gachelet (Garinim and border areas to make a concentrat- Maalot, Kiryat Shmonah, Dimona, Chinuchi’im Leumi’im Torani’im ed dent on the educational and Lod and Ashkelon. Some began with B’Eretz Yisrael, translated: National social/religious situation in outlying a kollel, while others were initiated by Torah Religious Units in Israel) for areas. From Katzrin in the Golan groups of teachers and community common purposes and unified efforts. Heights to Eilat in the south, these workers who sought to raise the stan- The Hebrew word itself means ember. Orthodox couples are imbued with a dards of education and services in Says Avi Wertman, the group’s desire to make their contribution to development towns. Some were initi- spokesman and recently-elected leader, improve today’s Israeli society. ated by local residents who invited the “Instead of each one of us approaching Until the Six Day War, kibbutz garin to set up centers. Others were the government offices individually for members were considered the chalutz- chosen by chance by a group of newly- a grant, we thought it would be better im of Eretz Yisrael. They drained the married yeshivah students ready to to submit a unified budget.” swamps, tilled the soil and selflessly learn in outlandish locations. Avi believes that the very important gave their all to establish the modern In Be’er Sheva, Avi Wertman, a job of enlisting new families and par- State of Israel. After 1967, the mantle young man who grew up in the south- ticipants is better accomplished of idealism passed to the mitnachalim, ern capital of Israel, noted that all his through a central office, where all the the settlers in the newly-liberated areas religious friends left Be’er Sheva, with information is at hand and each candi- in Judea and Samaria, the Gaza Strip no plans to return, when they attended date can find the place most suited to and the Hebron region. Young, reli- yeshivah high school, ulpana, and then his/her talents, desires and employ- gious families looking for challenges in hesder or university. It was his fore- ment opportunities. the 1970s and ’80s could find no bet- sight and talent that re-attracted many Like other unique movements, ter framework for their energies than of them back through an organization Gachelet started as a modest, localized joining a settlement, establishing a called Moriah. effort. Fifteen years ago, a group of presence in the abandoned, ancestral In some communities, the initiative eight young kollel students who were homeland and revitalizing a Jewish came from the young wives. Avishag studying at Mercaz HaRav Kook in presence there, despite the predomi- Redman did her two-year stint of Jerusalem, decided to accept an invita- nant Arab population. National Service in Lod. She was tion from Eilat to set up a religious But some members of the religious impressed with the need to bring in Zionist kollel there. Israel’s southern- Zionist camp were concerned about dedicated religious educators to coun- most point, and its most famous resort another “wilderness” that has existed in teract the many destructive elements to town, is known more as sin city than Israel ever since its establishment 50 which the youngsters of Lod are exposed. as a center for Yiddishkeit. However, it After she married, she returned with had a thriving little branch of Machon Leah Abramowitz is a freelance writer her husband and several other young Meir, maintained by a handful of local living in Jerusalem. couples to form a Torah-inspired garin. residents who had become baalei teshu-

JEWISH ACTION Summer 5759/1998 vah through the influence of regular tural evenings with the local, non-reli- stand clapping and joyfully stamping visiting lecturers such as Rabbi gious intelligentsia where we discuss their feet without really knowing what Yehoshua Zuckerman, the late secular-Orthodox relationships. I can’t all the excitement is about. Said one Professor Nechama Leibowitz and the tell you how important these meetings of the original baalei teshuvah who late Rabbi Yisrael Hess. It was this are. Today the people of Eilat have a brought the first kollel students to Eilat group of baalei teshuvah which wel- lot of respect for anyone whose head is 15 years ago, “They’ve changed the comed the first eight couples. covered by a kippah or a kerchief.” face of the city; they’ve influenced Michy Abramowitz, a member of the hundreds of lives. If I’ve done nothing original eight families, moved to Eilat else worthwhile in my life than bring- in 1984 with his wife Chedva and ing these families here, dayenu.” their infant son. Today, Michy, the Of course there are difficul- While Eilat retains a steady number father of seven children, is the admin- ties. Despite the fact that they are one of 30 families, with newcomers replac- istrator of the widespread organization of the oldest garinim, the Eilat contin- ing old-timers who move elsewhere, which now encompasses 30 families, of gent remains relatively small, and there the numbers in the garin of Dimona whom 15 men study full time in the is quite a lot of turn-over. “The dis- are continually rising. In the nine kollel. There is a hesder yeshivah, a tance from the center of the country,” years since the first five families arrived midrashah [study seminar on Judaism], says Chedva, a senior nurse at the local (all are still there), the organization has a travel office, El Artzi, for religious hospital, “makes one think twice grown to over 50 families today. As in tours, a hotel and myriad educational before attending a family simchah or a Eilat and elsewhere, it all began with a and chesed programs. professional course.” Similarly, some kollel which was established in 1989. “We have unique attractions here,” people are put off by Eilat’s reputation A dynamic American rabbi, Rabbi says Michy. “Every school brings its as an immoral center of vice – which Yitzhak Elephant, came to Dimona classes to Eilat for school outings once Michy and Chedva claim is completely and looked for a way to strengthen and a year. In the evening, our midrashah unfounded. “This town is made up of expand religious life in that develop- steps in and organizes special exhibi- the nicest people you can imagine. ment town. He turned to Rabbi tions, games and discussions about There’s no connection with the lower David Turgeman, a local resident who basic Judaism in an informal manner. city, where the hotels and hostels are studied at Yeshivat HaKotel, and right- The kids love it and the teachers are located, and the upper city, where the ly assessed that a Dimona born and happy that they’re not turning the hard-working, decent residents live,” bred rabbi, embued with the right out- town upside down. they declare. look, would achieve the most. “Eilat was once a city where religious Every Motzei Simchat Torah, Rabbi Turgeman has more than ful- people were an unknown entity.Today “hakafot” are held in the town’s center, filled that expectation. After enlisting we are sought out by all the schools in and the whole population turns out to the first families of the garin to estab- the city – religious and secular. We give honor to the Torah (together with lish the kollel, every year since then he give enrichment programs, we invite the yeshivah students and National has added another institution or associ- the children to our after-school and Service volunteers). The influence of ated program. In 1990 a hesder yeshiv- holiday activities. In the synagogues in the garin is publicly recognized by the ah was established which remains town, our kollel students give lectures mayor, by the children of Eilat and by Rabbi Turgeman’s chief concern. and classes. Since Rabin’s murder, their parents, who participate whole- Despite serious financial difficulties we’ve held some highly interesting cul- heartedly in the lively dancing. Visitors and Spartan living quarters, it is one of

Beit Moriah Kollel in Be’er Sheva, one of the first in the Gachelet net- work, is made up of “hometown” members who moved back to maintain a religious presence in the city.

JEWISH ACTION Summer 5759/1998 Approximately 100 Ethiopian students currently participate in the Bar Mitzvah program established by Moriah in Be’er Sheva, a city with a large population of olim. Gachelet leader Avi Wertman stands amid his students during a Bar Mitzvah trip to the Cave of Machpelah in Hebron.

Israel’s leading and most attractive hes- programs. Seminars on religious and der programs, with more than 200 Biblical subjects are held for teachers young men enrolled. of the southern district. It is usually In 1991 a mi d ra s h a h op e n e d . the non-religious educators who are The midrashah in Dimona main- Fou r teen National Ser vice you n g the most impressed. Adult classes for tains a vehicle, a kind of Activity on women work on disseminating informal local residents are given as well. Rabbi Wheels float, which is taken around to Torah education to religious and secular Turgeman is a very popular speaker, various community centers and schools schools. In one innovat i v e prog r a m , especially among the North African to demonstrate subjects such as Sukkot the children of the first grades learned congregations. They’re proud that one and Shabbat. “Our presence is felt in about Rabbi Akiva. Then the mi d ra s h a h of their own is so knowledgeable and certain annual events like the Yom got a yes h i v ah boy to dress up in has come back to share his learning Yerushalayim March, in which all the Biblical garb and enter each class. “I with them. school children of Dimona partici- ne v er had a chance to learn to read and Other avreichim [kollel members] pate,” says Yifat, the current director of write,” the fellow would say. “Can I sit contribute to other congregations. the midrashah. “Outside of Jerusalem, in your class?” The children inevitably The synagogue for Russian speakers is very few people actually are aware of outdid themselves to “help” the lanky usually poorly attended, except for Jerusalem Day, every 28th of Iyar.” student who sat uncomfortably on the Simchat Torah. Ever since the revital- The garin organized a “Salute to small first grade seat. “Just like Rabbi ized Zionist movement in the Soviet Zionism” celebration to mark the 50th Ak i v a,” they whispered to each other. Union began in the 1970s, with huge anniversary of Israel, as well as a highly “D o you think it’s really him?” Jewish crowds attending hakafot out- successful local contest on brachot. In 1992, Rabbi Turgeman and his side the Central Synagogue in Moscow, Each holiday has its own special com- garin established an ulpana for local Simchat Torah has turned into an memoration. religious high school girls. This was important holiday for the Russians. Nevertheless, Yifat thinks their followed by a religious elementary Yeshivah students always help keep the biggest influence is on a one-to-one school. In 1994, a yeshivah high hakafot lively in this Dimona shul, but basis: as neighbors, as commuters on school opened, which today accepts this year they got “assistance” from an the same bus to Be’er Sheva, as parents half of its student body from outside unexpected source. All the town’s can- of children in the same nursery school Dimona, from families of Tel Aviv, didates for mayor in the forthcoming and as shoppers in the same mall. The Jerusalem and Rechovot. The fact that elections made it a point to attend the garin’s greatest contribution, in Yifat’s the yeshivah high school students learn Russian synagogue because there are opinion, is just living in Dimona, in close proximity to the super-popular many voters in that congregation. being on the spot as “living Judaism” hesder yeshivah, and that each young- Shmulik, the avreich who has been role models. ster has a chonech [big brother] with their liaison, arranged to have all five Avi Wertman tends to agree with whom he learns at least once a week, is candidates circle in the same hakafah, her. The important thing, according to a big drawing card. instead of adopting their more usual Avi, is the attitude. “People here real- The garin members are involved in position at this time of the year — at ize that we’ve come to contribute, but community activities and outreach each other’s necks. not to patronize. We’re at their eye

JEWISH ACTION Summer 5759/1998 level,” he says. “We work as equals, as t h rough our Ba r / Bat Mi t z va h “Benda” (Ariel Ben David), the garin members of the same society.” Institute,” he says. Of Be’er Sh e va’s administrator, points out what is When Moriah was established five 180,000 residents, over 40% are new unique about their community. “We’re short years ago, religious life in the immigrants, Avi reminds us. Many of actually located in the center of the southern capital of Israel was in a very the beneficiaries of the Bar Mi t z va h country. There are many employment poor position. “For example, there p rogram are Ethiopians whose finan- opportunities for the wives, and were only 70 children studying at the cial situation would never allow them enough local residents who give us Bar Ilan National Religious elementary to celebrate a Bar or Bat Mi t z vah so moral and material support to make school in 1993,” said the dynamic e l a b o r a t e l y. things easy. Nevertheless, it’s some- organizer. “The garin brought in a times harder to find participants for new principal. He added teachers who our garin than in Eilat or Katzrin.” were married to our kollel students. The town of Lod has a packet of social He added hot lunches. He fixed up As elsewhere, the garin in problems. There is a large population the physical facilities of the building. Be’er Sheva sponsors enrichment pro- of well-educated Arabs, many of whom Today there are 260 children in the grams in the schools and synagogues. live side-by-side with Jewish families. school. This year 60 youngsters signed Its members are instrumental in teach- As a result, there are assimilation prob- up for first grade.” ers’ training, in courses for converts, lems and even intermarriage, as well as Like Rabbi Turgeman, Avi is a and especially in significantly improv- one of Israel’s highest crime rates. p roduct of his field of operation. No t ing the existing school system. Avi esti- The garin has already made impor- only was he born in Be’er Sh e va, but mates that in the short time Moriah tant inroads. Kollel members give his mother was born there, too. At has been operating they have influ- classes for young people, which the age of 22, Avi convinced four enced 10,000 residents. Over 4,000 includes a mix of recently discharged friends, former Be’er Sh e va re s i d e n t s , visitors from local schools have attend- soldiers, university students and nar-

The garin’s greatest contribution is just living there, being on the spot as “living Judaism” role models. to move back, as returning sons of the ed programs of the midrashah alone, cotics addicts. One talented kollel stu- t own, to help improve its name and including students from 20 secular dent visits a nearby prison to give the state of Ort h o d ox life – especially schools who have become regular par- classes on Judaism there. A yeshivah among the younger generation. Now ticipants. high school has just opened, and there t h e re are 35 families associated with The numbers may be smaller, but is close contact between the 27 local the g a r i n, and most of the men learn the enthusiasm and the scope of a rela- students and the garin’s kollel. The most of the day in the k o l l e l. tively new garin in Lod is no less great. unusually large contingent of 30 Howe ve r, eve ry single one of them Three years ago, two families and a National Service women serving in also performs some community ser- single fellow came to Lod, expecting to Lod have the opportunity to attend a vice. Some are invo l ved in adult edu- establish a kollel with the help of sever- beit midrash of their own two morn- cation, others serve as a ra v. A few al yeshivah students from a nearby hes- ings a week for three hours, so that, in g i ve s h i u r i m or teach concepts of der institution. The students never Benda’s words, “they don’t only give, Judaism to new immigrants in an materialized and the garin was in dan- but also gain and improve themselves i n n ova t i ve Jewish Content Ul p a n . ger of closing, even before it started. during their National Service.” Benda One a v re i c h o r g a n i zes Bar and Ba t Nevertheless, the founders persevered. believes the garin’s beit midrash will Mi t z vot for new immigrants. During the second year, the group attract the more serious volunteers to “We don’t just teach the children to doubled (four couples and two bache- Lod in the long run. read the Torah,” Avi states. “We give lors), and the kollel began to function Since most of the garin consists of ‘complete care:’ for the boys, we buy several hours a day. Last year, 13 cou- young couples, they needed a day care t e f i l l i n, suits and shoes; for the girls, ples came to live in Lod, including the center for their own children. A new i t’s candlesticks and new clothes. We rosh yeshivah, Rabbi Moti Diamant. nursery was opened recently which is take them as a group to Je rusalem and The kollel kept its doors open all day still under-equipped, but already popu- o r g a n i ze a tour which includes the long. This year began with 21 couples lar, among the local population as well traditional visit to the Ko t e l. Ove r and several bachelors, and it seems that as the garin members. Next year, they 350 children have already gone the garin is well on its way. hope to have a Talmud Torah for Lod

JEWISH ACTION Summer 5759/1998 A girls’ program run by Moriah introduces public school children to Jewish values in a warm, fun-filled atmosphere.

school children. As elsewhere, the kol- should join the garin; those mitnachal- other, yet each community maintains a lel students are all involved in educa- im in Hebron could help us cope with distinct “personality.” Each one tional work during their off-hours. One the local Arabs.” The rabbis and edu- enables talented individuals to channel is a school principal, another the rav of cators of Lod have given them high their idealism where it’s most needed. a school; several work as school teach- words of praise, and several of them They are helping to overcome some of ers or give Torah classes in synagogues, are on a board to investigate the possi- the boundaries that separate the vari- old age homes and community centers. bilities of establishing a hesder yeshivah ous camps in Israel. In doing religious through the garin as well. outreach work in disadvantaged areas, “They respect us because we’ve come they are not alone. Shas, Chabad, and to live here, not to lord over anyone, another national Zionistic organiza- “We have no not to give Torah lessons and then dis- tion, called Keren Moreshet, are doing building of our own,” explains Benda. appear,” says Avishag, now entering her very good work, in similar or different “The kollel uses the premises of a syna- fourth year in Lod. “While others ways. The important thing is the gogue; the high school is in rented only want to leave this place, we’ve ongoing effort, though the results will apartment buildings; the day care cen- indicated that we’ve come to stay – not be known for years. ter is in a loaned bomb shelter.” The that makes the biggest impression on Meanwhile, there are “facts on the budget is also problematic. According the local population.” Avishag points ground,” as they say in Israel. Today to the young administrator, 70% of out another aspect of Gachelet. Living there are 500 young families connected the funds comes from government in out-of-the-way places, in develop- to Gachelet, working mostly in devel- grants, especially from the Ministries ment towns where services are not run opment towns. The various garinim of Education and Religion. The rest on the highest level, still has certain have established 12 kollelim, 5 hesder comes from private donations. When advantages for young people beginning yeshivot, 2 ulpanot, innumerable the money is funneled through the their careers. Even as they make Talmud Torahs and afternoon activi- municipality, there is always the danger important contributions in their ties, and they operate an impressive that some (if not all) will be siphoned adopted community, they are also number of adult education classes, off by the local council, which is in given the opportunity to advance in charitable organizations, Bar Mitzvah everlasting debt. their fields and test their “mettle” in programs, new immigrant absorption “We try to stay away from politics,” challenging situations. She, for exam- programs and teachers’ training work- declares Benda, even though several ple, the mother of four small children, shops. As Avi Wertman declared at a parties have made efforts to attract became a substitute school principal at recent gathering of the garin leaders: their participation, especially during the age of 29 – something which “Gachelet is bringing about the most the current elections for mayor. “We would probably not have occurred had important revolution in Israeli life in have an excellent reputation in this she stayed in Jerusalem or even in our generation.” As if seconding the town; everyone wants to be associated Ofra, a settlement in Benjamin, where thought, one representative held up a with us,” he adds. One of his neigh- her family lived previously. finger and added, “And it’s still bors told him recently, “All the settlers The Torah garinim resemble each g row i n g ! ” JA

JEWISH ACTION Summer 5759/1998