In preparation for Tu Bishvat, the Shuvu Lod 4^th and 5^th grade boys planted trees this week in the Ben Shemen Forest near the city of Modiin.

The Shuvu Network, founded 22 years ago by Hagaon Harav Avrohom Yaakov Pam zt”l serves Russian and Israeli children from secular families in dozens of schools throughout Israel.

The Tu Bishvat planting was prefaced by special learning in the classrooms on the topic of “Shorashim” (roots), focusing on the roots of trees, and the rich roots of the members of Klal Yisroel.

The enjoyable excursion was held in conjunction with the Jewish National Fund (KK”L), now celebrating 111 years, and allowed the boys to appreciate and celebrate Tu Bishvat. Several parents accompanied their children, making the event a bonding activity as well.

The JNF representative who accompanied the children first explained the importance of cultivating the lands in Israel and read an emotional Tefilla “Birkas HaNote’a”, composed by the former Sefardi Chief Rabbi of Israel, Harav Ben Zion Chai Uziel zt”l.

Each two children were then given a pine seedling, and after digging a small pit with their hands, planted it into the moist ground.

Following the planting the children posed for a group photo, however at Shuvu instead of prompting the children with the word “cheese”, the teacher called out: “Talmidim! ‘Ki Ha’odom –” to which the children responded in unison “Etz Hasadeh!”, smiling widely for the photo.

Shuvu’s staff and the entire Shuvu family would like to send our condolences to the family and friends of Senator Daniel Inouye, who passed away last week at the age of 88. Senator Inouye was a staunch supporter of Israel and many Jewish causes, including Shuvu.  Click the picture to read an article from Ami Magazine on the passing of our dear friend.

Sentator Inouye at Shuvu’s 20th Anniversary Reception

With the ceasefire in place, and the hope that the quiet continues, we can now look back and reflect on the past week.

Foremost, Shuvu, our staff, and our families send our thoughts and prayers to all the families of those killed, and pray for full and speedy recoveries for the injured.

In four of the cities where Shuvu schools are located – Ashkelon, Kiryat Malachi, Ashdod and Be’er Sheva – life has been completely haywire over the past week.

Ever since Operation Pillar of Defense began last Wednesday, schools have been closed in southern Israeli cities, and the children and their families have not been able to conduct their daily routine.

As was three years ago during Operation Cast Iron in Gaza, the Shuvu schools again have been attempting to provide some level of “normality” for the students, and a sense of security and stability by having their “extended family” stand by their side.

Mrs. Esti Shapira, principal of Shuvu Ashdod reported that in some of her classes half of the students’ families found sanctuary in northern cities. At the start of the hostilities, Mrs. Shapira promptly contacted the Shuvu schools in “safe” cities, and arranged for the children to continue on with their studies in their “refugee city”. She placed children in Shuvu Netanya, Shuvu Rishon Letzion and Shuvu Hod Hasharon among others. The children have been feeling a most needed sense of normality, being in a familiarly warm environment, and exposed to the same level of exceptional behavior they’re accustomed to from their own Shuvu school in Ashdod.

For the children who did not escape and were sitting in bomb shelters in the city of Ashdod, the Shuvu school arranged educational computer programs on the internet. The Ministry of Education has even stated how impressed they are with the programs developed by the Shuvu Ashdod School. The children were given educational assignments which they subsequently submitted over their computers.

In addition, the teachers have all been in touch with their students. Every student has been called and encouraged to discuss their emotional condition and their experiences during these trying days.

Mrs. Shapira also arranged a special trip to Jerusalem, funded by Shuvu, for her students and parents on Thursday. They will all visit the Kotel and relax with an enjoyable visit to the Biblical Zoo.

The principal of Shuvu Be’er Sheva, Rav Yehuda Veitman has also not rested for a moment since the war broke out, affecting his hundreds of Shuvu families. One of his families was very narrowly spared, as a rocket landed in the yard of their next door neighbors. With Chasdei Hashem, the only injuries suffered were minor.

He too arranged for his staff to be in regular contact with the students and parents and even arranged a “Chat Room”. This technology allowed for a conference call for each individual class, allowing all of the students to be on the chat together at the same time, with their teachers.

Rav Veitman also paired up with the Shuvu Netanya School, whereby the children of Shuvu Be’er Sheva were given the phone numbers of their peers in Netanya and encouraged to call and discuss their feelings and experiences.

The Shuvu high school in Kiryat Malachi, headed by Rav Dov Glass, has also been in regular contact with the students. Here the students are older and self-disciplined, able to cover material on their own for the Bagrut (matriculation) exams, but the school is still there for them, for emotional and spiritual support.

Under the principal Rav Yitzchak Levy, the Ashkelon elementary school too has strongly maintained its contact with the students. The students were encouraged to email the staff and share their feelings and coping methods. One student, 4^th grader Anna Medvedev, wrote that on Sunday night she said Tehillim and Krias Shema before going to sleep and sure enough there was no siren that night. The next day she again repeated her Tefillos and although a siren was heard, the rocket was intercepted. She finishes her email stating: “It was a miracle from Hashem!”

One of the Shuvu Ashkelon students, a 5^th grade girl, moved up north with her parents, and the school arranged for her to learn in Shuvu Natzrat until the end of the war.

It should also be noted that the Shuvu schools opened their doors to all students from the south, even those not currently learning in Shuvu. Indeed, Mrs. Sarah Nadar, the principal of Shuvu Natzrat reported that a relative of one of her students, who lives in a southern city and is not yet a Shuvu student, will be learning in her school from tomorrow until the family returns home.

This past week has brought together the entire Shuvu family, and has proven that Shuvu indeed is a warm and loving home away from home.

Thank you to all the wonderful families that hosted our Shuvu children and their families, and to all the dedicated staff that worked tirelessly in this trying time. Many Shuvu familes will also be spending this coming Shabbat with host families, as many are still dealing with the trauma from the past week. Let’s all pray that the quiet continues, and next week all our children and their families can start to return to their normal lives.

The Shuvu High School in Tel Aviv commemorated the Yahrtzeit of Lord Leonard Steinberg z”l on the 16^th of Cheshvan, three years since his sudden passing.

The Steinberg family have been supporters of the Shuvu network of Schools in Israel and as Director Rabbi Chaim Michoel Gutterman explained, “Our marking the Yahrtzeit is the least we can do to show our great gratitude towards the Steinberg family and its patriarch, Lord Steinberg z”l”.

Rav Gutterman gave the Shuvu Tel Aviv High School students a brief biographical sketch of Lord Steinberg’s remarkable life. He referred to the great Chessed that Lord Steinberg was involved in within the Manchester Kehilla in particular and in world Jewry in general. Rav Gutterman emphasized the great Jewish pride Lord Steinberg always felt, and instructed the boys to emulate his ways.

Following Rav Gutterman’s words the School Rabbi spoke. Shuvu launched its School Rabbis program at the UK dinner one year ago in the presence of Israeli Sephardi Chief Rabbi Shlomo Moshe Amar Shlit”a. Within this framework, many of the Shuvu schools now have a School Rabbi who greatly strengthens the connection with the Shuvu parents. The School Rabbis deliver weekly Shiurim to the Shuvu families, and arrange Seminars and activities for the children and their families.

The School Rabbi in the Shuvu Tel Aviv school, Rav Moshe Halberstadt, explained to the boys the significance of a Yahrtzeit and the importance of Davening (praying) in his memory.

Standing before a poster of Lord Steinberg z”l, Rav Gutterman lit a Yahrtzeit candle in his memory.

The principal of the school Rav Yehoshua Milner then introduced the next speaker, a student of the school who rose to learn a Mishna from Tractate Sukkah, in memory of Lord Steinberg. The 8^th grader even offered his very own interpretations to the Mishna! Quite a remarkable achievement from a boy who not so long ago had a very limited Jewish background, and a tribute to the success of a Shuvu education.

The meaningful ceremony ended with Tehillim (Psalms) recited by the Shuvu boys in memory of Lord Steinberg and a most emotional Mincha (afternoon services) prayed together.

A most worthy memorial for Lord Steinberg z”l.

Shuvu is not an ordinary school.

Not only does Shuvu educate way and beyond the school hours, but it also extends its effects to the families of the students.

Many parents who grew up in the FSU were deprived themselves of their Jewish identity. While their children are provided with this in their Shuvu schools, what about the parents? How will they learn of their rich heritage? Shuvu provides for them as well, and this past year has arranged several educational and enjoyable weekend seminars for its students’ families.

The most recent of these seminars took place last week at the beautiful Golden Crown Hotel in the northern city of Natzrat, and it was our biggest one yet with 120 Shuvu families! Most of the families were parents of Shuvu Rishon Letzion students with some from Shuvu Petach Tikva and Shuvu Jerusalem.

The principals of the Shuvu schools and their spouses joined the Shuvu families in this seminar. This first of all allowed a beautiful get together for the staff, but no less important, gave them a firsthand understanding of how the seminars work. How basic Jewish identity is instilled in Shuvu families over just a short weekend.

The weekend included several lecturers who spoke to the parents until the wee hours of the night. They spoke about the meaning of being a Jew, basic Jewish tenets, and family unity. The parents lapped up the material which was presented in a most enjoyable and entertaining manner.

Throughout the weekend the families enjoyed the hotel amenities which recharged their batteries between the lectures. They also enjoyed the festive meals with the special relaxed atmosphere of a “Shabbat meal” including singing Shabbat songs with the family sitting together. Several families reported later that they had never before experienced a Shabbat meal with the family spending time together, and they loved it!

On a previous seminar several weeks earlier, 90 Shuvu families spent the weekend at the Bali Hotel in Tiberias. Most of these families were from Shuvu Netanya, with some from Shuvu Be’er Sheva and Shuvu Rechovot.

Mrs. Anna Shilkrot, principal of Shuvu Netanya, who joined the seminar, commented later: “The lectures were on the highest of levels. It was just an excellent and uplifting experience for all!”

Yet another Shuvu seminar which took place earlier catered to 90 families of Shuvu Bat Yam!

These seminars are greatly appreciated by the Shuvu families. They gain tremendously in an enjoyable atmosphere, and by the end of the weekends usually ask for more! We’re trying to arrange more and more seminars in the future to accommodate all Shuvu families and allow them all to learn about their heritage.

Please allow us to continue bringing Jewish education to our children and their families. Donate and Support Shuvu!

Our summer camps are coming to an end this week, and as always, have proven a great success. We show the children and their families clearly that Shuvu children are not abandoned during vacation months. The wholesome environment for them during these weeks is essential to keep up the momentum of the unique Shuvu education.

The success of our summer camps serves another purpose as well – to attract new students to the network. Many parents see how happy their children are during the summer, how wholesome the atmosphere is with no cursing or violence, and subsequently decide to transfer their children to Shuvu immediately after the camp.

Shuvu, our children, and their families would like to thank all the wonderful people that allowed us to provide all the fun and educational trips and activities that were possible only because of your continued support.

Just a week and a half after the Shuvu Boys’ Bar Mitzvah celebration, over 300 Shuvu girls celebrated their Bat Mitzvah together.

The 6^th grade girls of the Shuvu schools throughout Israel were all bussed in to Jerusalem, to one of the largest and most beautiful synagogues in the world – The Grand Belzer Synagogue.

The day began with the girls viewing a most emotional film about the beauty of a Jewish home. They saw a mother lighting Shabbat candles, families sitting together at festive meals and spending quality time together. During the subsequent music the girls all sang along enthusiastically, while waving their raised arms to and fro, totally getting into it!

Our Educational Director Mrs. Brocha Weinberger then addressed the crowd. “You are the future of the Jewish nation!” she exclaimed to the young girls who sat mesmerized in their chairs. “You are all proud of being Jewish, and we are so proud of you! Just as proud as we are of our own children!”

Mrs. Weinberger also mentioned Shuvu’s long-term commitment to all of its students, even after graduating. Several days earlier Shuvu had single-handedly “married off” a graduate who simply did not have the means. Shuvu never forgets its students.

Even years after graduating, the contact between principals and other staff members and the students is as strong as ever. “We never stop being there for our children, and we’ll never stop being there for our Shuvu children”, said Mrs. Weinberger.

More Jewish music was played, and the atmosphere was majestic. The 12 year old girls had never before felt so special, so royal!

Later, Shuvu’s Director Rabbi Chaim Michael Gutterman lit a candle and the girls all followed, with a candle of their own. At this point they were encouraged to pray their own individual prayer. Then the lights were turned off. The girls were all standing up, each holding her own lit candle. “Our Jewish flame will never be extinguished!” he exclaimed.

Rabbi Gutterman then emphasized that it is not just one celebration for 300 girls, but rather 300 individual celebrations, together. “Every girl is unique and has her own, special, entering womanhood. We celebrate together, but every girl is a world of her own.”

Following the speeches the girls toured the beautiful Grand Belzer Synagogue which left deep impressions on each and every one of them, received a Siddur and enjoyed a festive Bat Mitzvah luncheon.

All these combined to ensure that Shuvu’s annual Bat Mitzvah celebration will be one that the girls will cherish forever and never forget. The day they stood up proudly as they became full fledged members of the Jewish nation. A day ingrained in them for the rest of their lives.

Please click on the following link which shows a very brief summary of the exciting Shuvu Bat Mitzvah celebration:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MicNdMILJY

Help us to support all of Shuvu’s programs by Donating Now!

Shuvu’s annual communal Bar Mitzvah celebration for 180 of our students throughout the country took place on May 22^nd.

Knowing that many of Shuvu’s children’s families will not be making celebrations for their children, either due to financial restraints or to lack of knowledge, Shuvu fills this void and arranges a festive day for these children too.

The boys from the Shuvu schools were all bussed to Jerusalem in the morning to begin their special day. They congregated in the Kaliver Halls where several boys delivered Bar Mitzvah speeches and thanked Shuvu for allowing them to celebrate their reaching this milestone.

Shuvu was honored to have the renowned Chassidic Rabbi, the Kaliver Rebbe, address the boys. Despite his frail health at the time, the Kaliver Rebbe did not forgo the opportunity to address the Shuvu boys. “For Shuvu boys I must speak” he remarked.

Not only did the Rebbe inspire with his words, but also with a special tune he taught which he composed himself, to the words “Shema Yisrael“! The boys were all mesmerized hearing the Rebbe tell his courageous tale of survival during the holocaust and his seeing that only through faith were they able to survive.

The Bar Mitzvah boys sang, danced and enjoyed their festive Bar Mitzvah meal before moving on to the second part of the day – the Old City of Jerusalem.

The boys were divided into groups. Each toured a different area of the Old City but all ended off at the same time and at the same place – the Kotel.

It was there that Shuvu’s Chairman Mr. Abe Biderman joined the Bar Mitzvah celebrations, as did the Rabbi of the Kotel Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, and USA Shuvu Board Member and supporter Mr. Elly Kleinman and his wife Brochie.

Mr. Kleinman spoke on behalf of the Shuvu board and gave words of encouragement to the boys as they begin their manhood journey. He referred to the Shuvu children as “the future of the Jewish nation”, and said that he prays for them as he does for his own children and receives Nachas from them as he does from his own children. He ended his words saying “Trust in Hashem – and you will excel!

Following the inspiring speeches the distinguished guests distributed pairs of Tefillin and Siddurim to the Bar Mitzvah boys. Every Shuvu boy receives a pair of Tefillin from Shuvu upon reaching Bar Mitzvah age. To date we have distributed over 2,000 pairs of Tefillin to our students! We are most grateful to our generous supporters who allow us to continue this initiative.

Please help us continue to help our children by donating now to Shuvu.

Shuvu has focused on chess over the years and has even hosted grandmasters in our schools who have played against the students. But it seems we’re developing a grandmaster of our own! Remarkably, our 10 year old Shuvu Beit Shemesh 5th grade student Alex Zlatin is now 2nd place in the world for his age group! Earlier this year Alex won 4th place in Europe and now he has even surpassed that achievement.

This week Alex and his parents were invited to the office of Beit Shemesh Mayor Rav Moshe Abutboul who praised Alex for bringing such pride to their city!

The Shuvu Beit Shemesh principal Mrs. Esther Ackerman emphasized that they’re even more impressed with his achievements in school. His family is also very appreciative of what Shuvu is giving them, and Alex’s 2nd grade sister is in the school too!

The recent tournament took place in Romania , and hearing of the important visitor from Eretz Yisroel, the Chief Rabbi of Romania met with Alex during his stay!

The Shuvu Network of schools was recently priviliged to have the Chief Rabbi of Israel, Harav Shlomo Moshe Amar participate in its exclusive dinner in the UK.

The unique event took place at the beautiful Pillar Hotel in Hendon. Major long time UK Shuvu supporters participated as did new supporters. Shuvu Co-Chairman Dr. Joseph Hoch came in specially from New York to particpate as well.

An 11th grade student from the Shuvu Petach Tikva High School, Shiran Shumianov, participated in the event as well, and told her story of having been born to Bucharian parents unaware of their Jewish heritage, but thanks to Shuvu now enjoys a rich knowledge and sense of her Jewish identity.

The Chief Rabbi and other UK Rabbis who participated praised the work of Shuvu, including Dayan Yonasan Abraham who commented that in his opinion, Shuvu is, without exaggeration, the most important educational project in Israel today.

During his short stay in the UK, Chief Rabbi Amar also particpated in a Shuvu breakfast reception in the Nancy Ruben School and visited the Od Yosef Chai Synagogue and leading Jewish schools including Hasmonean and Yavneh College.

The visit of the Chief Rabbi left a deep impression on the Shuvu activists in the UK and displayed the great appreciation that exists for the network.