THE SPECIFICS

The Bnei Israel are a traditional community, and for them two clearest features of Jewish Knowledge are that it connects one to the God of Israel and to the State of Israel. The vitality and resilience of a Jewish community depends on its cultivation of Jewish knowledge in all its aspects. An Online initiative to teach Judaic studies will help cultivate an intellectually involved learning community. It will inspire members to become communal and spiritual leaders, educators, and active participants in Jewish social life. Classes given in Hebrew, English and Marathi about Biblical Hebrew, Spoken Hebrew, Torah, Halacha, Midrash, Talmud, Jewish philosophy, Jewish History, Kabbalah, Hassidut, Contemporary Israeli Arts, Israeli Social Studies and more will be taught over zoom to different groups as per their choices. An Online Kollel will study 2 hours daily 5 times a week. Other participants will opt for classes of their choice once a week or more. Conversion classes for those who need to clear their Giyur as per the Rabbinate’s requirements will be made available along with guidance to make the process user friendly. Prominent Yeshivot will be instrumental in guiding the program. 

The Bene Israel community of India is a unique community among the Jews, being in all likelihood, a remnant of the Northern Kingdom of Ancient Israel. Therefore, it is essential to record its unique traditions. Today Bnei Israel form a small micro minority in Mumbai and its suburbs. Most of the community is now in Israel and they are finding it a challenge to retain their unique identity. We will use every asset (Rabbis, Cantors, scholars, cultural researchers etc.) to investigate, preserve and propagate their Jewish cultural traditions. A website - Sambatyon.com is being set up to record, and publish their Torah trope, liturgical music, and other traditions accentuating the community's unique rich past. Sambatyon.com will play a pivotal role in keeping the Bene Israel community’s traditions alive for future generations while helping the community withstand the melting pot effects of Israel’s contemporary culture. Not only will it help the community to have pride in their roots and have a strong Bene Israel identity but will also serve as a platform to exhibit its culture and traditions to all other communities of Jews in Israel and around the world.

The traditions of Bnei Israel still exist in spoken traditions and is remembered by elder Hazzanim and Synagogue Lay Leaders. It is imperative to record and collate this information while it is still possible. Keren Oz Le Ammi Inc. will work together with the Elders of the Bnei Israel community to gather these traditions and publish them in the form of Prayer Books, Guides to Jewish practice, Home Worship Songbooks for use in family gatherings on Sabbaths and Holidays along with guides for the celebration of lifecycle events. These publications will contain translations, commentaries and notations to make the texts and practices clear and comprehensible for everyone.

I. Keren Oz Le-Ammi Inc. is participating in publicizing and printing a book of Kirtan in Marathi authored by Ms. Shoshanna Eliezer Kolet along with an audio of its rendition to preserve the unique tradition of storytelling in the devotional format of a Kirtan - a unique traditional Indian literary musical form that involves narration, recitation and singing of spiritual and religious ideas.

II. Keren Oz Le-Ammi Inc. has undertaken to publicize a Kosher Bene-Israel recipe book. A collection of all the unique dishes influenced by Indian cuisine with a Jewish stamp!

III. Keren Oz Le-Ammi Inc. has undertaken to finance the project initiated by the Union of  Hazzanim of the Bene Israel to print the Siddur with an explanation of the unique customs and traditions of the community.  

To encourage the members of the community to enter the world of entrepreneurship, community wise Free Loan Associations, inspired by Jewish values, offering interest-free loans will be initiated. These will help people with the needed resources to start their businesses. This revolving loan fund will be supported by members of the community through private donations.

To enhance the wellbeing of needy families Keren Oz Le-Ammi Inc. will take up the fight against extreme poverty by initiating a fresh food redistribution program for under-privileged families. This will help people with financial difficulties with needed respite to get back on their feet.

Keren Oz Le-Ammi Inc. will have salaried social workers and helping professionals on their staff to support the weaker sections of the Bene-Israel societies and the new immigrants. They will also help with facilitating scholarship and financial support from existing frameworks for the needy students from the community, for higher education. Full time social workers will help deal with the strata of the community that needs immediate attention due to variety of factors like immigration to Israel, old age, medical necessities etc., helping Bnei Israel persons and families access help from existing government support systems. The social workers will educate them about their rights. They will assist those who need special attention by helping them deal with anxiety, depression, trauma, disfunction, addiction and similar challenges. 

Keren Oz Le-Ammi Inc. will inspire, nurture, promote and support social entrepreneurs from the Bene-Israel community who are involved with important projects like building Synagogues, Schools, Yeshivot, Old Age homes, the Bene-Israel Museum, etc. It will help facilitate finding grants to support them.

I. Da’at Utvunah Synagogue and Jewish Community center

Keren Oz Le-Ammi Inc. is participating in building the Synagogues and Community center, being built by Yeshivat Da’at Utvunah Trust in Ezor Vav, Ashdod, for the Bene Israel community. It will serve the community by providing necessary Spiritual and Cultural support to the Bnei Israel communities in Ashdod for all Life Cycle events, Festivals and Holidays. It will also operate a drop-in center for young people who would like to “hang out” with their friends in a safe and supervised framework.

Keren Oz Le-Ammi Inc. will sponsor or subsidize formal and informal educational courses to help educate volunteers from among the community to carry out social work tasks. The training will utilize motivational speakers knowledgeable in volunteering to help volunteers develop skills and adapt to working in the community in a helping capacity. 

Keren Oz Le-Ammi Inc. will also help the marginalized populations to become trained for the workforce. By empowering these families with education and skills, job opportunities will be created so these families can make a definitive change to their fortunes. Successful candidates will also be helped to receive microfinance Loans from relevant Foundations.

Entrepreneurial training. Keren Oz Le-Ammi Inc. will strive to teach members of the Bnei Israel community how to think creatively and open their own businesses; how to work step by step to avoid the pitfalls of poor planning, excessive debt and unrealistic expectations. Keren Oz Le-Ammi Inc. will likewise use its connections and networks to help publicize new businesses and generate customer bases.