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Outreach to Immigrants |
Kehilat Hakerem includes both native Israelis and three major immigrant groups: Spanish-speaking immigrants, English-speaking immigrants, Russian-speaking immigrants
SPANISH-SPEAKING IMMIGRANTS
Since 2002, hundreds of Latin-American immigrants have participated in the year-long “Kalanit” workshop, led by Senior Educator Baruch Steimberg. The program focuses on the Tanach, Jewish History, and Jewish tradition.
In addition, our members and staff work with the OLEI organization, the Karmiel Absorption Center, and the Karmiel Aliyah Department to help facilitate the absorption of Latin-American immigrants into our congregation and Israeli society in general.
ENGLISH-SPEAKING IMMIGRANTS
In addition to our regular programs in Hebrew, we offer English-language adult education classes. We are also active participants in the Go North program which facilitates the absorption of new North American immigrants in the Galilee.
RUSSIAN-SPEAKING IMMIGRANTS
Approximately 40% of the total population of Karmiel is composed of Russian-speaking immigrants and their families. The overwhelming majority of these immigrants experienced little or no Jewish education or Jewish communal involvement in the former Soviet Union.
Kehilat Hakerem has been involved in active outreach to the Russian-speaking population of Karmiel since the year 2000. We are particularly proud of the fact that both Rabbi and Shulamit Resnick, fluent Russian-speakers, have been pioneers in the field of congregational development for Russian-speaking Jews in both the FSU and Israel. Our current outreach activities include:
1. Special prayer services for Russian-speakers during the High Holidays and approximately one Shabbat per month (at the synagogue).
2. Kabbalat Shabbat prayer services and "Rabbi's Tisch" at the "Mikbats Diyur" apartment complex once a month.
3. Three hours of Judaica classes in Russian every Friday morning at the synagogue, attended by dozens of immigrants.
4. Weekly classes at the "Mikbats Diyur" apartment complex.
5. Rabbi Resnick and his wife Cantor Shulamit Resnick both teach weekly Judaism classes to one hundred college-age new immigrants at the Karmiel Absorption Center. The Resnicks also arrange home hospitality for many of the students, virtually all of whom are in Israel without parents.
6. We help facilitate the Russian-language intellectual club “What, When, Where.”
7. Rabbi Resnick often performs life-cycle events and provides pastoral counseling for members of the Russian-speaking population at large.
Approximately 10% of our official members, and about 15% of our of our Shabbat minyan “regulars,” are immigrants from the former Soviet Union. Many are active volunteers in the congregation.
Rabbi Resnick also serves as a Senior Educator with the Ramah-Yachad network in the Ukraine.
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Community Activity with Russian speaking youth in Karmiel Absorption Center |
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