Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., June 26, 2009 Tamuz 4, 5769 | | Israel Time: 02:55 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Focus U.S.A. Travel Week's End Anglo File
Share |
Rabbis take act to Maccabiah Games
By Cnaan Liphshiz

Dozens of rabbis will descend upon hotels across Israel next month, as part of a plan to instill Jewish values in non-Israeli participants of the 18th Maccabiah, the Jewish Olympics, which open July 13. The 50-odd rabbis, many of them hailing from English-speaking countries, are volunteers for Tzohar, a nonprofit organization working to "bridge the gap between religious and secular Jews."

The chief administrator of Tzohar's Maccabiah project - which is the first of its kind - says the rabbis will come to hotels of Maccabiah participants with a program focusing on younger athletes. "We aim at reinforcing Jewish identity and reaffirming the link to Israel," said Rabbi Ronen Neuwirth, Tzohar's overseas department director.
Advertisement

Tzohar rabbis plan to achieve this goal by holding festive Shabbat dinners in the participants' hotels, with activities and a prayer on Shabbat, he explained. This will be followed by an open discussion about Israel's role in the lives of young Jews. The Maccabiah will bring together some 8,000 participants, of whom 2,000 are under 18.

"According to what Maccabiah organizers are telling us, many participants have no real link to Judaism besides the event, which is less than desirable to us," said Neuwirth, the Israeli-born rabbi of Ra'anana's heavily-Anglo Ohel Ari shul.

Tzohar, an organization of some 600 volunteers which was formed 13 years ago following the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin, will also send the wives of rabbis to engage youths. Besides English speakers, there will be rabbis fluent in Russian, French, Spanish and Portuguese.

The biggest question mark hovering over the pilot program, according to Neuwirth, is "whether young, competitive and medal-oriented athletes will make themselves available emotionally or otherwise to the content that Tzohar's rabbis have to offer."

As for the participants, four of them told Anglo File they would like to participate in the activities. "I will make time for this sort of thing," said 14-year-old gymnast Doron Beuns from Holland. Judoka Gili Cohen, 17, from Ra'anana said she was open to it "as long as it didn't clash with training."
PROMOTION: Mamilla Hotel
Bookmark to del.icio.us  
 
Three years, no Shalit
WATCH: People around world read in various languages Gilad's tale of coexistence.
Demilitarized Palestine
After meeting EU leaders, PM insists controversial plan for peace will gain support.
Special Offers
Advertisement
hotel Jerusalem
David Citadel Hotel, come stay at the finest of Jerusalem hotels.
ISRAEL ARMY SURPLUS STORE
IDF insignia,Uniforms, Paladium Boots Watches, Israel Army T-shirts & Collectibles
Dead Sea Skin Care
Quality cosmetics from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 12% off!
Eldan Rent a Car
Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations
Junkyard
Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
More Headlines
00:06 Gilad Shalit transfer to Egypt imminent
23:42 U.S. praises Israel for easing West Bank restrictions
23:51 'Decision makers must grant my son's only wish - his freedom'
02:09 King of Pop Michael Jackson dies at 50
14:46 IN PICTURES / Gilad Shalit - three years in captivity
22:24 Hamas chief welcomes Obama approach to Mideast, but wants to see action
21:47 Israeli sources: IDF to limit West Bank raids
20:53 Lieberman slams U.S. on Iran, settlements
21:14 Ex-U.S. official: Bush agreed to Israel settlement construction
20:58 WATCH: Daily news round-up from Israel
22:30 Ahmadinejad: Obama like Bush, must apologize for Iran comments
20:46 Sharansky sworn in as Jewish Agency chief
20:46 18-year-old charged with killing man just for being an Arab
13:56 Exclusive: Leonard Cohen to perform in West Bank as well as Israel
18:16 230 Israeli lecturers vow not to obey law banning Nakba commemoration
17:11 Nixon administration pressured Israel on nuclear program, papers reveal
Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Site rules |
| Israel 2009 election results | Makom: Engaging on Israel
| Search engine marketing
Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved