It may have been warm outside, but the warmth inside, as 15 young men joined the adult Jewish community celebrating their bar mitzvah, was far greater. These young men, who for the past eight years have endured the hardships of ongoing rocket attacks on their hometown of Sderot, have in many cases lived through the dissolution of their families and been forced to trade a normal childhood for one in a war zone. On this special night, these thirteen year old boys glowed as they were escorted into the room under a tallit canopy and to the accompaniment of shofar blowing and drumming. And for many, it was the first time in years that they witnessed the smiling encouragement of their parents and other assembled family members and friends.The mayor of Sderot, David Bouskila, personally congratulated each and every family and the head of the religious council, Rabbi Oren Malka extended a strong handshake to these very strong individuals. Cameras flashed as each child was recognized for his personal accomplishments and in turn recited a special blessing/wish as he lit a candle on the cake.

These youngsters’ wishes further attested to their maturity on the one hand, and their reality on the other. They prayed for the safe return of Gilad Schalit and the other soldiers missing in action or held in captivity; they prayed for peace; they expressed their sincere yearning for a quiet Sderot and health for their families.

Tears of every kind flowed freely down the cheeks of those in attendance as they remembered. They remembered the child they had buried who had never reached the age of bar mitzvah because he was struck by a kassam rocket while playing in his yard; they remembered the now shattered family that was once whole; they remembered the struggles of this particular child as he was sent to a dormitory school in order to find a healthier environment in which he could thrive, away from the violence of his abusive father; they also remembered the joy of the morning ceremony where these boys were called up to the torah as full fledged adults; they remembered the showering of candies that greeted each child as he rose to the occasion; they remembered the singing and cheering of those sharing this special moment with them. And at that moment, each parent offered his or her own silent prayer for this child’s future and a hope of sharing it with them.

On behalf of the children of Sderot, we at Connections Israel want to thank you, our loyal supporters for enabling us to make this happen. Thank you for sharing with people who are both complete strangers and family members at the same time, for we are truly all brothers and “How goodly it is when brothers come together.” Please scroll through our bar mitzvah album and meet your family who hail from the four corners of the earth. As you have provided for them today, know that one day they will be here for you, protecting their extended family, Am Yisrael.

We encourage you to share this with your friends and community and once again consider partnering with us as we celebrate the bat mitzvah of a group of girls in Sderot in winter.

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Kol hakavod to David and Off the Wall Comedy Basement for offering to donate ALL the evening’s proceeds from entrance fees to ensure that 15 underprivileged and challenged young men in Sderot celebrate their bar mitzvah religiously and socially with joy!

For more information on this project, please contact sharon@connectionsisrael.com

Thursday- August 20 @ 8:30pm: (in Jerusalem)

Off The Wall Comedy Empire L’Mehadrin Presents:
David Kilimnick: ‘Frum From Birth- Religious Manifesto’

Starring David Kilmnick (as seen in your seat at shul). In the midst of summer vacation, David will address the issues of your community, being frum (religious) and what has to be done to for a religious person to enjoy a vacation .David will also share some of his rabbinic insights. That is correct, the man grew up frum and this is a show with no story.

Entrance: 35nis (30nis students, soldiers, seniors) + drink minimum purchase of 15nis

Location in Jerusalem: Off The Wall Comedy Basement- 34 Ben Yehuda (corner of King George- down the stairs, near the Mashbir)
Reservations: 050-875-5688

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Share Your Bar/Bat Mitzvah Celebration

Mazel tov! Your child has reached the age of Jewish adulthood, having become a bar or bat mitzvah, and is now considered ready to assume Jewish responsibilities. Family and friends will celebrate this milestone with you and the occasion will be marked with festivities, as it should be, creating memories that will last a lifetime.

In contrast, in Sderot, owing to the ongoing rocket attacks, in addition to issues of security and compromised emotional well being, the community as a whole is suffering from a depressed economy. As a result, many of the children becoming bar or bat mitzvah like your child, will have no positive memories to cherish for a lifetime. Friends and relatives will not gather to mark the occasion for fear of venturing too far away from a bomb shelter or protected environment. There will be no festivities as few can afford to celebrate, with their livelihoods largely obliterated owing to the ongoing terrorist attacks. Many do not even have the money to buy their children the requisite religious items such as teffilin, tallit and a siddur. Feeling abandoned and forgotten, this exciting milestone has been transformed into another experience of disappointment, parental ineptitude, and overall depression.

Share a Simcha has been designed to benefit both your child and the needy children of Sderot. By partnering with the bar and bat mitzvah community of Sderot, you can enable a group bar/bat mitzvah celebration to be celebrated. You can create joyous memories of this important occasion and break the cycle of depression. You can assist the struggling families in acquiring the same ritual objects your children will be receiving. Nothing solidifies Jewish identity like Jewish action! Begin your child’s Jewish adulthood with a Jewish act and Share a Simcha today!

A sponsored child will receive 2 months of personal weekly training, a brand new set of Teffilin, Talit and a Siddur.

On the special day a new wardrobe will be given (shoes, pants /skirt, shirt) and a group ceremony will take place in the morning.

Later that day, family and friends will attend the festive celebration with food, music, a photographer and more.

Contribute some of your child’s bar/bat mitzvah gift money, or make a donation in his/her honor for this very important program.

Full package for one child: $1800 (includes Teffilin, Talit, Siddur, new clothes and a festive meal for family & friends)

Festive celebration for family and friends: $700
Teffilin: $ 500
2 months of lessons: $300
Set of clothes and shoes: $250
Tallit: $ 50
Siddur: $ 18

Click here to sponsor

Sderot municipality bar mitzvah project letter

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It was a typical Sunday evening, January 18th of this year. Many of the New York yeshivot were enjoying their winter vacations. Many of their Sderot counterparts were living with the realities of running for cover, caring for younger siblings and remaining indoors. For one group of yeshiva students and one group of Sderot teens this was an evening that significantly changed both of their lives.

For the past seven years, the Joel Braverman Yeshiva of Flatbush High School has sponsored a week long chessed mission to Israel. This year, through Connections Israel, they agreed to add a Sderot component to this most intense and worthwhile adventure. With limited time and the outbreak of Operation Cast Lead, the decision was made that if you can’t bring Flatbush to Sderot, bring Sderot to Flatbush!

And so, this past Sunday evening, through discussion, presentations, a guided activity and small group programming, these two diverse groups came to appreciate that they are all one. They may look somewhat different; their school schedules may be as different as night and day; their living conditions may be completely dissimilar. But they are all proud Jews; they are all teenagers; they are all passionate about their families, Israel and the Jewish People and they are more complete now that they have come together.

On the first day of the fragile, unilateral ceasefire, the Sderot teens were supposed to board a bus for Jerusalem and enjoy some leisurely time out in the open. As rockets came reigning down on greater numbers, the Sderot municipality forbade buses to leave or enter the city in an effort to protect the masses. But Connections Israel would not be deterred – this important interaction would take place! So taxis were arranged to shuttle the Sderot teens out of the city where their bus awaited them and they were off to the Kotel.

They had much to say to the Divine presence which hovers overhead. Prayers for those suffering from shock and prayers for the wounded chayalim; prayers for a safer, more stable future; prayers for strength and prayers of thanksgiving for the many miracles they themselves had witnessed over the past eight years of rocket attacks.

Simultaneously, in the Inbal Hotel’s conference room, the Flatbush students were getting a briefing on the events of the day; they were beginning to understand just how complicated a simple one hour bus ride for an activity could be. In essence, they were being transported into an unfamiliar zone.

A hush fell over the crowd as the Sderot teens entered and the group automatically rose and applauded their peers as they entered. No sooner had they arrived that questions were being shouted in every direction and the familiar noise of teenagers filled the space.

The Sderot teens, who are in leadership training programs, addressed their cohorts and described life, school, their volunteer work with younger children in bomb shelters etc. The Flatbush kids were full of questions. A short clip was aired that brought home just how short a 15 second red Alert warning truly is.

This was followed by an interactive activity which ended in small group discussions. Each group had independently brought along gifts for the other and email addresses were exchanged as photos were being snapped.

As the evening ended and each group went their separate ways the resounding message was: We each have so much to give to and learn from the other. Let’s do this more often!

If you are interested in having such an experience, please contact Connections Israel and “Get up close and Personal!”

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We are happy to announce that the first Connections Israel art competition.We received over one hundred beautiful works of art from students all over the world – USA, Canada, England, Russia, Ukraine, Argentina and Germany.

This years theme was Jewish Solidarity.

The art competition will take place every two years and is open to Jewish high school and university aged students.

The more than one hundred entries included paintings, photographs, poetry, and sculptures. A panel of experts chose 25 from among these entries that have been brought to Israel for an exhibition.

 

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 Dear Friends,

We are happy to announce that the first Connections Israel art competition is about to debut on May 13th !

We received over one hundred beautiful works of art from students all over the world – USA, Canada, England, Russia, Ukraine, Argentina and Germany.

This year’s theme was “Jewish Solidarity”.

More than one hundred entries included paintings, photographs, poetry, and sculptures.

A panel of experts chose 25  from among these entries that have been brought to Israel for an exhibition. This art exhibit will open  in the city of Sderot and ultimately tour Israel prior to going to Jewish communities abroad.

Sincerely,

Mordechai D. Cohen
Director – Connections Israel
mdc@connectionsisrael.com

Join us on Facebook

 

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Direct link here

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Dear Friends,

We are happy to announce that the first Connections Israel art competition is about to debut!

We received over one hundred beautiful works of art from students all over the world – USA, Canada, England, Russia, Ukraine, Argentina and Germany.

This year’s theme was “Jewish Solidarity”.

The art competition will take place every two years and is open to Jewish high school and university aged students.

The more than one hundred entries included paintings, photographs, poetry, and sculptures. A panel of experts chose 25 from among these entries that have been brought to Israel for an exhibition. This art exhibit will open shortly in the city of Sderot and ultimately tour Israel prior to going to Jewish communities abroad.

We are busy attending to the final details and hopeful that government officials from the department of Culture will participate in the opening of the exhibit. As soon as these details are worked out, you will receive a formal invitation.

I want to take this opportunity to thank all of those schools and students who sent us their works.

Only one of you will get the first prize, but all of you are now more connected!

Sincerely,
Mordechai D. Cohen
Director – Connections Israel
mdc@connectionsisrael.com

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Dear Runners and Friends,

On March 26th 2009, Team Connections will participate in the 17th Jerusalem Half Marathon with all proceeds going to the families of Sderot.

Many of you have participated last year in our “Team Connections – Running for Sderot” race in the Jerusalem Half Marathon.

It was a wonderful event, a great cause and with your help we managed to raised close to $20,000 that went to various projects in Sderot.

Unfortunately the situation in Sderot has only gotten worse, in all aspects, and even after the ceasefire there will be much help needed in restoring life to normalcy.

We plan on running again this year as a team and want to double the number of runners !

The funds raised this year will go to 2 projects:

1. Bar/Bat Mitzvah Celebrations for under privileged families – see: http://connectionsisrael.com/educational-programs/share-your-barbat-mitzvah-celebration

2. Helping to create a safe multi-purpose space providing education, religious expression and culture for 4 communities – see: http://connectionsisrael.com/get-involved/sderot-campus-connections-build-it-with-us

Please check out the Team Connection site at : http://runforsderot.connectionsisrael.com - see last years clip and pictures.

We will be training every Tuesday at 18:00 with the Hasolelim Running Club in Givat Ram (Jerusalem) – not mandatory.

Please share this opportunity with other runners.

Looking forward to hearing from you regarding your participation this year.

Sincerely,

Adi Friedman
Managing Director
adi@connectionsisrael.com
Office: 972 2 6235266
Mobile: 972 54 3452566

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Here’s how your school/community can get involved:

(1) Contact us
Tell us that you’re interested!
If you would like posters and/or fliers, tell us how many to send, and where to send them to.
Feel free to ask any questions that you may have. We’re happy to help you!

(2) Dedicate an hour to our Educational program
We have downloadable lesson plans for grades: 1st to 12th: http://connectionsisrael.com/educational-programs/educational-modules-and-lessons

(3) Write letters to the Soldiers
The letters are a way for your students or congregants to feel personally involved with the Soldiers, and the soldiers really appreciate knowing that they have support and gratitude, even from people outside of Israel. 

(4) Fundraising
This can be done in either of the following ways:
(a) Putting up posters and giving out fliers to encourage people to sponsor a basket.  
(b) Organizing student fundraisers. For example: baking and selling cookies, doing a movie night, or a car wash to raise money for the project. You can get your students or congregants to think of their own ways to raise money for this worthy cause.

(5) Send the letters and checks, payable to Connections Israel to:
Connections Israel
PO Box 28371
Jerusalem 91283
Israel
Mail by 15 February so that we will receive the letters with enough time to get them into the Purim Baskets.

(6) On Purim
We deliver the baskets, together with your letters, to the Soldiers.

(7) In appreciation
We will send you a special commendation from the Israeli Army, as well as a picture of the unit that your gifts were delivered to. You can display these in your school or synagogue. Your students and congregants will feel proud with their connection to Israel!

Watch our 2008 clip !!!

 

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