Introducing the next Israeli chefs | Graduates of the Cooking Up a Future major at Migdal Ohr successfully completed their studies!
Meet Israel’s next chefs, they are graduates of the Migdal Ohr Cooking Up a Future major, who have just successfully completed their studies!
This week, the graduation ceremony was held for graduates of the catering and hospitality training program for youth at-risk. Israel Prize Recipient, Rabbi Yitzchak David Grossman, founder of the Migdal Ohr Organization, the parents, and directors of the culinary program all enjoyed themselves, tasting the food prepared by the teens.
The graduates prepared a wonderful dinner and showcased their talents. At the end, they were presented their diplomas. They left us wanting more, but the time came to leave and wish them the best of luck in their journey in the culinary world. We are proud and excited for you.
Rabbi Grossman visited an air force base: “We have witnessed the wonderful expressions of Israeli unity. Our request is that we protect it”
Israel Prize Recipient, Rabbi Yitzchak David Grossman, visited an air force base yesterday, encouraging the ground crew and the pilots who work day and night to protect the security of the State of Israel.
The Rabbi spoke with the soldiers about the importance of the nation’s unity during these days and thanked them for their holy mission to protect the Jewish People.
Rabbi Grossman: “We have witnessed the wonderful expressions of Israeli unity. Our request is that we protect it – so that we are united all the time and not just in times of trouble. We must be ‘brothers in arms’ on a very basic level – without hatred, without disputes, knowing how to disagree and think differently, but also knowing that only if we are united – ‘as one man and one heart’ – no other nation can overcome us. However, if we are not, this is the greatest danger, as we saw what happened.”
The Rabbi strengthened and encouraged and blessed each and every one of them. At the end of the visit, the Rabbi held a prayer service together with the soldiers for the recovery of our wounded soldiers and the speedy return of all the hostages.
Despite this unconventional year | Migdal Ohr pupils put on an end of year performance and celebrated the end of the school year.
The 2023-2024 school year was not a conventional year. This year, the pupils were forced to experience the spirit of war – the difficult news every day, the lack of familiar routine and a heavy feeling that we all carry around – all of these have become a turbulent experience for the young pupils.
At the Migdal Ohr Organization’s educational institutions, we made sure to minimize the damaging effects of the war and to create a routine and sense of security for the pupils. We are proud of our dear pupils, who with their intelligence and wisdom, have adapted to the new reality and successfully completed the year.
The end of the school year party at the Migdal Ohr educational institutions were held in the shadow of war; but for a moment, they provided us with moments of happiness and satisfaction.
Although the school year was unconventional, the pupils put on a performance and celebrated its conclusion.
We wish all our pupils a quiet and beneficial vacation, when they can gather their strength and then return next year with renewed energy, and with God’s help it will be a year of peace, security and tranquility. Have a nice vacation!
12th graders from Zoharim Youth Village celebrated their graduation with a moving performance. Education Minister, Mr. Yoav Kisch told the pupils: “There is no boundary you cannot surpass”
Last week, a graduation party was held for 12th class of Zoharim Youth Village, attended by Education Minister, Yoav Kisch, and Israel Prize Recipient, Rabbi Yitzchak David Grossman, founder of the youth village.
Our pupils prepared a moving graduation performance – acting, singing and playing instruments – everyone thoroughly enjoyed it.
However, this year, alongside the happiness, the pupils were also concerned – what will come next? The teens who stood on the stage are about to start their military service and the vast majority will enter combat units.
The usual greetings we say to our graduates became prayers this year – We all pray to God that he assist and stand beside them, spread over them His tabernacle of peace, and return them home safely and in happiness.
The youth village staff reminded the new graduates that they will always have a home to come home to for a respite from the army, if they feel the need for reinforcement, a hug or support. Zoharim is always there for them.
Zoharim is home. Zoharim is family.
Education Minister Yoav Kisch said: “I am very proud of you. Proud of the youth village pupils, graduates, staff – you are a breath of fresh air.
This is what you do here at this youth village by taking young people from difficult places and enabling them to realize their potential and do the best that they can. A group of people performing a mission that changes the lives of many alumni.
And you, the pupils – there is no boundary you cannot surpass!
Congratulations to Chaim, an alumnus from Zoharim Youth Village’s fifth class, who married Techiya, lifting our spirits with his good news
Chaim grew up in a Haredi home and was educated in conventional educational frameworks in the Haredi community; however he did not find his place. Chaim was labeled as a ‘trouble-maker’ and he felt like a failure throughout his childhood. He was thrown out of every framework and got into trouble with the law, until he came to Zoharim Youth Village, where he was given a second and perhaps last chance to take a path to a better future.
Chaim arrived at the youth village and took his first life-changing steps. From a ‘rebellious teenager’ as he was perceived by his surroundings, he became a diligent, industrious and successful boy. Chaim said: “At Zoharim I discovered just how good and successful I am. The staff and teachers helped me believe that I could do and was capable of doing everything.”
Chaim successfully completed his studies with a full matriculation and was inducted into the IDF for a combat service. This was a long process and Chaim took it step by step in order to became a teen with self confidence and belief in himself. Last week, he took the step with his girlfriend toward the Chupa, bringing us all to tears. Now Chaim is building a home in Israel, while serving as a combat reservist in Gaza. When he is not doing reserve duty, Chaim works as a counselor at a pre-army academy for teens with a background and life story similar to his own.
Chaim is a success story. Chaim is a source of pride.
We love you and are excited for you!
A very moving Bar Mitzvah ceremony was held at Migdal Ohr for pupils who reached the age of mitzvot and for children from northern settlements who were evacuated from their homes
Every boy who reaches the age of mitzvot deserves to stand proudly at his Bar Mitzvah ceremony, surrounded by happy family and excited friends. This is a significant milestone in his life, symbolizing the transition from childhood to maturity; however, there are children who are unable to celebrate on this day, because their families do not have the means or because they have no family at all. These children are embarrassed, disappointed and sad, instead of being happy.
Yesterday, we held a very moving bar mitzvah ceremony, thanks to the generosity of Yardena and Yossi Ovadia, who volunteered to organize a big happy party for dozens of children from Migdal Ohr’s educational institutions, together with a group of children from northern settlements who were evacuated from their homes and they too cannot celebrate as they would in times of peace.
The children received tefillin and a siddur and were treated to a party that they will remember for the rest of their lives.
Mazal tov to the Bar Mitzvah boys!
The first Zoharim Youth Village marathon was held last week, in memory of the Israeli heroes who fell protecting the homeland during the war that still continues
Chaim Dan Blumkin, director of the youth village dormitories, told the pupils as they began the marathon: “You are making history as participants in the youth village’s first marathon. With God’s help, you will return here in a few yeas as alumni, and you will tell the pupils who come after you that you took place in the first marathon. You are part of the history not just for this reason, but also because you are running during a period that will be remembered in the history of your people. Everything we have gone through since October 7th is a chapter, one of the most important in the history of the Jewish People. Today we run in memory of those who fell in battle, in their memory and in their honor.”
At the youth village, the sorrow did not pass over us and two of our counselors lost their brothers in the difficult battles in Gaza. They told their pupils about their beloved brothers, their amazing personalities and great heroism.
This marathon is in their memory and in memory of all those who fell during this terrible war.
First Sergeant Tzvika Lavi, of blessed memory
Son of Miriam and Moshe, soldier in the Fire Formation (551), 699th battalion. He fell in battle in the northern Gaza strip on the 29th of Kislev 5784 (December 11, 2023). He was 30 years old when he fell.
Tzvika left behind a wife, three children, brothers and sisters.
First Sergeant Ari Yehiel Zanilman, of blessed memory
Son of Miriam and Avraham Reuven, combat soldier in the 8111th battalion of Division 5, fell in battle in the Gaza Strip on the 27th of Kislev 5784 (December 10, 2023). He was 32 years old when he fell.
Ari left behind a wife, three children, parents and siblings.
May his memory be a blessing.
The Face of an Angel | Sergeant Daniel Hemo, alumnus of the Migdal Ohr educational institutions, combat soldier in the 202nd regiment of the Paratrooper Corp, fell in battle in the northern Gaza strip.
Daniel, the son of Eliyahu and Sara, grew up in Tiberias; and in recent years, he lived in Netanya. During his childhood, he attended the Migdal Ohr Middle School and was an inquisitive, intelligent boy who was loved by his classmates and teachers.
His classmates from Migdal Ohr eulogized him: Daniel only wanted to do good, before he began his army service he told everyone: “I want to do meaningful things in the IDF for the benefit of the State of Israel.”
Israel Prize Recipient, Rabbi Yitzchak David Grossman, founder of the Migdal Ohr Organization said this morning: “Our heart breaks to hear this terrible news. The sadness and pain hit us when we were informed that Daniel had fallen. Daniel studied with us and was a beloved and special boy. Daniel will remain a boy. He was 20 years old when he fell.”
We share the sorrow of the family in its most difficult hour.
Blessed is the true judge.
The funeral will take place today (Thursday), the 8th of Iyar 5784 at the Netanya Military Ceremony at 14:00
Israel’s Independence Day 5784 (2024) | We will salute Israeli bravery and will not forget our hostages in Gaza
This year, Israel’s Independence Day will be celebrated in a different way. It is difficult to celebrate and rejoice, when thousands of families had lost their loved ones and joined the circle of bereaved families in recent months and when the families of the hostages are suffering as their loved ones are still held captive in Gaza.
This year, we will recognize and salute Israeli heroism, as it has been expressed in the recent period. Civilians who took to the streets to defend their city, reservists who did not hesitate for a moment, leaving everything and going into battle, members of the rescue forces that risked their lives to save civilians, wonderful people who helped and offered assistance to civilians in their time of need, thousands of volunteers who helped others. This is the beautiful Israel – the people who make it so.
At the Migdal Ohr Organization’s educational institutions, the State of Israel’s 76th year of independence was celebrated by waving Israeli flags with pride and joy. Although the regular celebrations were not held at Migdal Ohr, we chose to celebrate the tireless spirit and resilience of the Jewish People, especially during this difficult period for us as a nation.
