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WORLD MIZRACHI
SHLICHIM PROGRAM
America, Here We Come! SIVAN: Well, apart from the unity of Am
YEDIDYA: Wow! We're still replying to all
Yisrael, the Torah is our mutual treasure.
the messages. This is actually an oppor-
It’s our pulse and the pillar that lies at
tunity to apologize to all those we’ve not
replied to yet! We received thousands
of messages and it was all over social the foundation of Jewish life all over the
world. Here in Israel, after years of being
many communities as possible – because media. We were quite taken aback but involved in the media, I began to talk
it’s how we live our lives too. It carries so now people are talking to me about it openly about the weekly Torah portion.
much richness, relevance and wisdom for everywhere I go. And it’s not just the And I was astonished to see just how
all. And through that we hope to engen- religious or charedi crowd either. There’s important it is to millions of Israelis. We
der a positive, productive relationship widespread interest and encouragement want to expand this circle. We can argue
between American Jews and their Israeli for what we’re doing. People intuitively about politics, Bibi, Trump – all that’s
counterparts. understand how important the US-Israel legitimate and sometimes necessary, of
SIVAN: On a personal level, I’m going relationship is, on a person-to-person course – but the Torah, and particularly
to be keeping up my weekly Parashat level as well. the Torah of Eretz Yisrael, that comes
HaShavua shiur, which thank G-d has SIVAN: And it’s Israel, so everyone has from Jerusalem and shines its light upon
become very popular all over the world, something to say! The support and the world – is our common culture. It's
and I’m really excited to teach at Yeshiva advice are very helpful – about packing, irrelevant what party you vote for. We
University. Stephanie Strauss, CEO of YU preparing the children for their educa- can all connect to identity and heritage;
in Israel, has become a friend and a part- tional frameworks, moving apartments. to the basic common values we some-
ner in recent months. She initiated the We feel as though so many people are times forget about under the weight of
transfer of my weekly shiur to Stern Col- accompanying us on our journey. our often-petty debates.
lege in Manhattan. So it’ll now be acces-
sible to an English-speaking audience as But apart from the practical tools and YEDIDYA: I totally agree! I think our mes-
well. That’s just part of the partnership tips, it’s also very moving to hear what sage is that Judaism has a lot to give to the
with YU. There’s more in the pipeline! people are feeling. Take these special world. I sometimes feel that in Israel we
requests for example – “I have family put so much energy into headlines about
But the aim is not just to fill our diaries in Boston who left Israel 20 years ago.
to the brim! We want to really get to non-Orthodox movements, anti-Semi-
know American Jews and write about Please tell them to come back!” Or “My tism, terrorists, etc. but we sidestep the
them for the Israeli public. Present a cousin is assimilating in Los Angeles. heart, the essence of our existence. Shab-
Maybe you can go talk to him?” We’re
rounded, in-depth picture of our broth- obviously not going around the States bat for example. That’s the most basic
ers and sisters in America. Both of us are Jewish credo. Or working on our char-
journalists, and we’ll carry on with that knocking on every Jewish door, but these acter traits, Lashon Hara, Daf Yomi… I
over there. requests do reveal a deep connection and think we can talk about all of that unapol-
at the same time a deep crisis… a desire ogetically and make it relevant, vibrant
We’re not just coming to teach but to learn to reinforce the connections between “us and alive for today's young people.
as well. I think we (and Israelis in general) and them.”
have a tremendous amount to learn from SIVAN: But the message is for Israelis
American communities – education, One of our goals of course is to remove too. The time is ripe. Or maybe the time
chessed, the approach to Jewish life. Here the “them” from the equation as far is running out… after we made our Shli-
in Israel it’s just natural to be Jewish. In as possible. Am Yisrael are one united chut public, people have told me that
the rest of the world you have to put in the entity, whether they’re in New York, they too have begun thinking seriously
effort and pay the price to live Jewishly. London, Melbourne or Jerusalem. about it. Shlichut is not just for young,
That’s inspiring and worthy of apprecia- RAV DORON: Definitely. That was one newly-married couples to go have some
tion and publicity in Israel. of our drives in this project. We also fun and work for a year. That’s important
wanted to shake up the whole concept of too but we’re losing huge chunks of the
Were you surprised by the reactions to Shlichut. Let’s be more creative. There’s Jewish people…
the announcement? already been one article reacting to Sivan
RAV DORON: It was actually quite over- and Yedidya’s Shlichut saying that Israel YEDIDYA: Yes. Don’t say, “Who am I? I’m
only one person. What can I do?” We
whelming! We didn’t expect it to cause should be sending other well-known
so much attention, but it is evidently the Israelis to America. I hope other organi- can all do something. As the Lubavitcher
right move at the right time. We’re always zations follow our lead. It's definitely an Rebbe said: “Every Jew is a Shaliach.” We
looking to do more, to have greater idea worth looking into. can all do our bit, wherever we are.
impact, to bring Israel to the forefront, To bring Sivan and Yedidya to your
and having Sivan and Yedidya as part of Sivan, what’s going to be the central community, institution or school, please
this greatly furthers our goals. message of your Shlichut? e-mail rahavmeirbooking@mizrachi.org
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