LIFE IN ISRAEL I
Ohr Somayach
Continued from preceding page
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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1990
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While the rabbis are
always eager for the oppor-
tunity to bring more Jews
back to tradition, they say
the education they offer does
more than just that. Soviet
Jews who study are more
likely to be committed to
staying in Israel, Rabbi
Weinbach said.
"They're developing a real
ideological anchor — which
is critical," he said. "If they
don't feel any ties to the re-
ligion and the land, they're
not going to stay here."
As part of its outreach to
the Soviet o/im, Ohr
Somayach recruited former
refusenik Vladimir Raiz of
Vilna.
Now a teacher and
counselor at the yeshiva, Mr.
Raiz "is a hero," Rabbi
Weinbach said. "For many
years, he ran an unofficial,
undercover Ohr Somayach
branch in Vilna."
Like most other Soviet
Jews, Mr. Raiz said he in-
itially knew nothing of
Judaism. "But in our heart
and soul we always had one
thing —Jerusalem."
He began attending pri-
vate classes taught by Jew-
ish visitors from the United
States and England. Then he
applied for permission to
emigrate. He believes get-
ting out was a miracle.
The KGB, he said, can
close many doors of Jewish
study, "but to close the ways
of heaven — that they can't
do."
Now, Mr. Raiz is hiring
other former refuseniks to
teach at Ohr Somayach. He
advises the instructors to
start at the very beginning
because many Soviet Jewish
ohm don't even know what a
mezuzah is, he said.
Classes at the yeshiva are
vital "because it's impossi-
ble to learn Judaism from
the newspapers or televi-
sion," Mr. Raiz said.
Students are often taken
on field trips, visiting the
very locations where biblical
events occurred.
"We're living in the labor-
atory of Jewish history,"
said Rabbi Yermiyahu
Abramov, an instructor at
the yeshiva and special
assistant to the Ministry of
Absorption.
The rabbis at Ohr
Somayach say their ap-
proach of not forcing religion
on the new students has paid
off. As the pupil's knowledge
increases, "he discovers pro-
found ideas behind every
practice and custom," Rabbi
Abramov said. "Then the
idea comes alive for him."
On a typical afternoon,
small groups of Soviet Jews
gather upstairs for courses
at Ohr Somayach. Which
class they attend depends on
their level of Hebrew. The
section's director, Yosef
Shachor, points to one room
where Soviet Jewish
students who've been in the
country one year already
speak fluent Hebrew.
Ohr Somayach has the
feeling of a typical American
college campus, with a few
noticeable exceptions: A
large Israeli flag is flown on
Israel Independence Day.
Beside bulletin board notices
requesting softball players
are announcements of up-
coming shiurs, lessons.
Classes include Jewish law
and practice, the Book of
Proverbs and the Oral Law
in a contemporary society.
Students are garbed in
everything from shorts and
multicolored kipot to black
suits and hats. The office
walls reveal paintings of
rabbis and airplanes — gifts
from Israel Defense Force
members who took classes at
the yeshiva.
With special summer and
winter sessions in addition
to the regular, year-round
study, most students stay for
one to two years.
"Sometimes they come for
one day, sometimes they
stay for years," Rabbi Wein-
bach said. "We want every-
body to walk out a little
more intelligent. What we're
against is ignorance."
❑
'1 NEWS him'.
Ed Koch Hit
In Jerusalem
Jerusalem (JTA) —
Former New York City
Mayor Edward Koch was
struck in the head by a rock
while on a walking tour of
the Old City with
Jerusalem's Teddy Kollek.
Mr. Koch, 66, suffered a
minor bruise on his scalp. He
was given first aid and con-
tinued his tour.
The incident occurred on
David Street, not usually a
trouble spot. Mr. Koch, who
served three terms as mayor
of New York and is an
outspoken supporter of
Israel, took his stroll with
Mr. Kollek, an old friend, to
demonstrate that the Old
City is basically safe and
secure.
The stoning clouded that
message. But Mr. Koch said
later that the tour had been
an uplifting experience for
him, and he urged pilgrims
and tourists, Christians and
Jews, to come to the Holy
City and enjoy it.