WE NEED A HOME

An Open Letter from 125 Families Living in the Holy Land) Shlomo, a young American yeshiva student currently living in the Sanhedria Murchevet section of Yerushalayim, was walking down the street Shabbos morning. He was on his way to davening, when he unexpectedly bumped into an acquaintance from his hometown in America.

“Shlomo, how are you?”

“Boruch Hashem, fine”

“Are you on your way to daven?”

“Yes,” Shlomo answered.

“Where?” he asked.

“I’m not sure.”

Shlomo explained that although he had already been living in Sanhedria Murchevet for two years, he really did not have a place that he could call his own. He recalled, “It used to be so easy, when I was back in ___. We would all go to the same shul. I had a chevra there, and people I could learn with in a shiur. But somehow, with all that I have in Eretz Yisroel, that is the only missing link, but it leaves quite a large gap in my life.”

Shlomo’s friend echoed the same sentiments. He also bemoaned the fact that he didn’t have a place. “Sometimes,” he said, “I feel that I don’t belong anywhere. I begin to wonder if perhaps I should just daven quietly in the back of the shul and then leave unnoticed.”

This experience is common, unfortunately, among many of the young families living in Eretz Yisroel. They hadn’t realized how communities would develop, and certainly had not anticipated the different needs that a young growing community would have.

A group of concerned young men came together met to discuss the problem that individuals would possibly leave from within the community, or even chas v’sholom lose people who would return back to more familiar places where they could feel more secure.

It was very obvious that something had to be done. Everyone needs a home, a home of their own, especially a Bais Hashem – a place where one could turn to at all times. As Chazal tell us, “Kol hakovea mokom l’tefilloso Elokei Avrohom b’ezro – whoever has a fixed place for his prayer has the Hashem of Avrohom as his help” (Brochos 6b). Indeed, in order for the tefillos to be propelled, a person needs to have a mokom kevua. Traveling from one bais medrash to the next and sitting in the back, waiting for the end of davening, is not the kevius that Chazal intended.

The group of young men decided to do something to resolve this problem. An effort was made at the initial meeting to organize individuals to find out how many people were truly in need of a mokom and were experiencing the same dilemma of where to daven twice a day, in addition to every Shabbos and Yom Tov.

It was revealed that over 125 young men and their families found themselves in this same predicament. They were all fine, young, energetic talmidei chachomim and their families, immersed in learning, who yearned for a feeling of cohesiveness and achdus, a sense of community, those who would understand their background and their culture.

It is interesting that at times halacha requires that we secure people from three different countries in order to be able to issue a precise psak on certain matters. So too, these yungeleit from America, came from a slightly different perspective and background than others had experienced. Therefore, they wanted to get together within a community that would give expression to their needs.

A large gathering was organized to address this important subject. The speakers were two gedolei roshei yeshiva, HoRav Yitzchok Berkowitz shlita and HoRav Osher Arieli shlita. As the gedolei rabbonim presented the important aspects of organizing a tzibbur, one could see each member of the audience nodding his head in agreement, as if the answer for which he had been searching so long had become very apparent.

The audience was galvanized with a sense of urgency in having an organized community, a place where children could gather, where women could have shiurim and learn, a place where young men like themselves could maintain sedorim and chavrusos, a place where Shabbos could be the central focus and a person would not have to worry from Friday morning until Sunday morning where he would daven.

The gedolim exhorted the crowd to move ahead with their plans. The speakers agreed that it would be a challenge to create such an environment; it would certainly require a lot of hard work and substantial funds to get such a project off the ground. But, they charged the crowd, this should never stop anyone from becoming involved – l’fum tzaara agra --- according to the painstaking measures that will be needed to secure the right place, so will be the reward that all will reap. There will be a place for young men to get together, a place to share each others’ simchas, a place for children’s groups, a place where women and girls could have classes and activities on behalf of the klal, to organize and to understand the needs of the community.

The Novi Amos says, “Ish el rei’eihu yomar chazak – each one will give encouragement to his friend.” Rei’eihu is someone with whom we are able to develop a relationship. The young people in Sanhedria Murchevet are thirsting for that chizuk that the Novi is speaking about.

The group has many plans for their organization. One of the very exciting developments is procuring one of the most outstanding talmidei hachomim living in Eretz Yisroel, HoRav Yitzchok Berkowitz shlita to accept the kisei harabbonus (the position of spiritual leader) of the community. HoRav Berkowitz’s influence extends far beyond Eretz Yisroel, and he has made an indelible mark with his shiurim and seforim the world over, aside from his renown as a leading posek and exponent on Torah thought. After being approached by a delegation of esteemed members, Rav Berkowitz consented to be the Rav of the community. To be under the leadership of such a dynamic and illustrious Torah personality is certainly a crowning jewel in the keser Torah of this significant undertaking.

The young men have been hard at work raising the support and desperately needed funds for this project. The group has been urged to allow others to share in their zechus. They are therefore extending a humble request to all those who understand the importance of establishing this mokom Torah for acheinu Bnei Yisroel.

This project has received the enthusiastic endorsement of American rabbonim Horav Shmuel Kamenetsky shlita, Horav Yisroel Belsky shlita, and Rav Dovid Goldwasser shlita, who have encouraged the group to move ahead with plans. The group has already procured an unfinished site in a central location in the community and are now appealing for your help so that they can continue to aspire and accomplish in the Holy Land, while having the comfort and security of a place of their own.

Help strengthen the voice of Torah. Please respond generously. International communities, and the American community in particular, have been especially gracious and generous in sending their children and grandchildren to learn and to grow in Eretz Yisroel. This undertaking will ensure that the young people will be comfortable while they are there, and will not have to return earlier due to a lack of encouragement and a sense of belonging.

As you will recall, after Pesach 5732, there were few visitors venturing to Eretz Yisroel. However, as the new semester was scheduled to begin in yeshivah shortly, the various news agencies went with their cameras to the airports to see whether anyone was traveling to Israel in those days. The picture went out to the international media of yungeleit and yeshiva bochurim returning to Israel en masse. It was a 100% rate of return. What a kiddush Hashem! No bombs or terrorists ever held back Torah learning. Let us help the kiddush Hashem continue by establishing a place that these families can call their own. They are there in Eretz Yisroel learning for us, strengthening the Holy Land. Let us strengthen them.