Last Wednesday it all came together.  180 Shuvu students and their parents  from our Netanya School celebrated Shavuot, the holiday that commemorates the Torah giving on Mount Sinai, in the Gardenia Hotel in Nazareth.  The theme was “A Successful Marriage and Successfully Educating Children”.    Rabbi Keinan, co-coordinator of the event and director of  Tzohar, was amazed at how receptive the parents were to learn about their Jewish Heritage. It was clear to him that Shuvu’s schools had a significant impact on the parents’ spiritual quest.  By the time it was over we were all bursting with pride as each family made a personal commitment to observe a specific mitzvah (commandment). These are some of the seminars heroic parents:

Shura, a young mother,  shared why she had chosen to send her child to a Shuvu School.  ”You know why I sent my son to Shuvu?  Because my cousin is a librarian in the Netanya Public Library and she told me that even when there are 300 children in the library she can always determine which are Shuvu students.  Their behavior is exceptional!”

Mikhael walked up to the podium and made his personal commitment: “My girlfriend and I have decided to have a Jewish marriage”.

Natasha came to the closing event determined to adhere to a long term commitment to the Laws of Family Purity.

Iliya declared that his mornings will now begin with Tefillin (phylacteries).  From now on, he would don Tefillin daily and start his day with this special commandment.

Svetlana lamented that only her younger daughter  merited to attend a Shuvu school and begged the staff to recommend a school for her older daughter that would instill Jewish Heritage just like Shuvu does.

Marina insisted on speaking to Rabbi Gutterman, Shuvu’s devoted director.  ”I know we have just attended a seminar and there are thousands of parents waiting to attend future seminars, but I beg you, please please coordinate additional seminars for our group.  We are craving for more!”

We couldn’t have summed it up better.  All the Shuvu parents left the seminar asking to learn more.  More about their Jewish Heritage, more about mitzvah observance and more about  how G-d wants them to lead their lives as Jewish families.

Cick here to donate and enable us to continue teaching Jewish Heritage.

Our high school girls learning to lead a Passover Seder

PASSOVER 2011

Anya’s father didn’t let her organize a Passover Seder at home.  Fearing his wrath, she waited up until after he was fast asleep to celebrate the special Jewish Holiday.  When silence prevailed, she agilely slipped behind the curtain and settled on the window sill to conduct her seder under the glow of the Acco street lights.   She melodiously sang through the Russian Haggadah, drank wine and ate matzot exactly as she had observed at Shuvu’s model seder.

Pleased with her success Anya conducted her seder the following year at the same time and place.  When her sister was old enough to join her and there wasn’t enough place on the window sill, she led the seder on the porch.  Proud of her heritage and unwavering in her commitment to Judaism, Anya has not missed a seder in years!

Anya is just one of our students who would not know how to conduct a seder nor have the basic Passover foods without our annual model seder and our food allocation (this year distributed to over 6,000 families).  Despite their young ages it is essential for Shuvu children to learn how to conduct a seder since most of them lead the seder for their parents.  It is the parents who ask the questions, and the children who provide the answers.  With only a rare exception, parents are usually happy to cooperate with their children who fill their homes with rich Jewish tradition.

This Passover Shuvu added handmade matza to the food packages.  Many of the students had never tasted this type of matza and it was very a special treat for them!

At our Lod School students were elated to go home with their all-inclusive Passover package.  As they left for the holiday vacation they told our principal, Mrs. Michal Huminer, “Hurray! We are so excited, now we’ll be able to have Matza on Passover!”

Click here to donate and enable Shuvu to continue educating girls like Anya!