Learning Torah for Sderot – The Shavuot Mishnathon for Sderot

12Tribe Films Foundations, the “For Impact” not for profit organization dedicated to raising awareness for causes about the Jewish people and the State of Israel by promoting creative projects, has partnered with the Sderot Hesder Yeshiva to raise awareness for the situation in Sderot by promoting a Shavuot Mishnathon project for communities and schools worldwide to take part in solidarity with Sderot. What better way to spend Shvuot – learning Torah and having friends and family members sponsor your learning towards donations for for the Sderot Hesder Yeshiva.

As rockets continue to fall on Sderot, the Sderot Hesder Yeshiva continues to build in Sderot as the ultimate Zionist response to the Kassam attacks. Several major projects are taking off on the campus, including the construction of “rocket-proof” housing units, a study hall and a pedagogical cultural center.

The enemies of Israel are trying to turn Sderot into a ghost town; we are determined not to let that happen.

See a video of the building project here.

Despite the situation, the Hesder Yeshiva  in Sderot has continued to flourish.  Located in the center of town, over 500 student/soldiers are currently enrolled in the Hesder’s five-year program, which combines Israel’s mandatory army service, with Torah study.  In addition, the Hesder remains a pillar in the community, reaching out to those in need from all walks of Jewish life during these difficult times.

The Hesder is currently:

•  Volunteering to help residents whose lives have been shattered as a result of a missile attack.  Hesder students visit families within 24 hours of an attack, providing them with food, water, and toys for the children. The students also spend hours talking to the victims, giving them strength and support on their road to recovery/rebuilding

•  Running a big brother program in the community to provide care and support for the children of Sderot

 
•  Running a program for retirees on the campus

 

 

•  Working with MDA to train the Hesder students to serve in the local MDA units. Many times a Hesder student is the first one on the scene following a kassam attack

All of this and much more!

Schools and communities can support the efforts of the Hesder Yeshiva in Sderot by taking part in the Shavuot Mishnathon for Sderot. For additional details about the Mishnathon, or to  have your community or school join, please visit:

www.12tribefilms.org/mishnathongforsderot

and contact avi@12tribefilms.org to receive the Mishnathon packet for running it in your community or school.

In the meantime, read the following New York Times article on Sderot that includes an interview with Rabbi Fendel, the head of the Sderot Hesder Yeshiva.

 

ABOUT 12TRIBE FILMS FOUNDATION: 

12Tribe Films Foundation (“12Tribe Films”) is a program provider specializing in movies and cultural events that show a side of the Jewish and Israeli narrative that receives little attention in the public discourse today. Our aim is to provide programs that allow people to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the Jewish people and the Land of Israel today.

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Contact:

Avi Abelow

12Tribe Films Foundation

Phone:  718-577-1390

Email:  avi@12tribefilms.org

Website:  www.12tribefilms.org  

Life in Sderot Today

Sderot Programs “Israel’s Ability to Deal with Qassams is Almost Non-Existant” – This is today’s headline in the Jerusalem Post.  It is so important to expose people to the situation our brothers and sisters in and around Sderot are living through.  Click here to see some of our Sderot programs (http://www.12tribefilms.org/project.php?id=7)  The daily reality of qassam rockets falling on Sderot and the Northern Negev continues without any hope for change. It is hard to imagine the reality of living in fear of rockets falling around you. This is the day to day reality that Israelis living in and around Sderot live with. Unfortunately, there is little awareness to the daily plight of our brothers and sisters in and around Sderot amongst world Jewry.  12Tribe Films Foundation is now promoting different cultural programs for synagogues, schools, organizations etc. to schedule so that Jews worldwide can connect with our brothers and sisters living in and around Sderot by better understanding their plight. Movies, Plays, Picture Exhibits and Speaking Engagements – each organization can decide what program or programs they are most interested in to create awareness and raise money to help the people of Sderot.    Click here to see some of our Sderot programs (http://www.12tribefilms.org/project.php?id=7)  More programs will be added soon. Anyone interested in finding out more information about any of the programs can contact avi@12tribefilms.org  12Tribe Films Foundation is working together with the Sderot Media Center so that the proceeds from the Sderot programs go towards refurbishing the emergency shelters in and around Sderot. (unknown by many, the shelters in and around Sderot need millions of dollars of refurbishments to make them usable)     Even With the Unfortunate Situation in the South We Can’t Forget the Current Plight of former Gush Katif Residents   This Saturday night tell your friends and family to set aside time to watch Home Game online and then contact us to set up a community screening. Click here to see the movie online (http://12tribefilms.org/player.php)  Click the “Rent” button on the movie webpage and follow the steps to see the movie.   The movie can be viewed online for a 3 day rental period for $4.99.  For any technical questions or issues see this link (http://studio.brightcove.com/library/faq/viewing_video_faq.cfm) and if necessary, contact the website platform company hosting the movie. Please do not contact me since I do not know the technical information.  Upcoming Home Game Screening in Mount Vernon, New York:  Dec. 29th at 6:30 PM   Fleetwood Synagogue 11 E. Broad Street Mount Vernon, NY 10552 www.fleetwoodsynagogue.org  Spread the word to your friends and family who live nearby.   on Facebook can assist in spreading the word by joining the 12Tribe Films Foundation Facebook group here: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=6197893450

ENHANCE YOUR SCHOOLS TU B’SHVAT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM

Give All Your Students the Chance to Own a Piece of Land in Israel to Better Understand and Fulfill the Mitzvah of Shmitta 

What:  This sabbatical year of Shmitta enhance your Tu B’shvat educational program by allowing your students to better understand the mitzvah of shmitta – have them become  owners of a piece of land in Israel to fulfill the mitzvah as well!

The mitzvah of Shmitta is one that few have the privilege of fulfilling. The opportunity provides itself only once in 7 years and only those who own land according to the Torah’s specifications can fulfill it. Rabbis throughout the generations have longed for the opportunity to fulfill this mitzvah, even when they lived outside of the land of Israel.

The 12Tribe Films Foundation – www.12tribefilms.org – together with the Shomrei Shviit organization – www.shviit.com – bring this special program to Jewish educational institutions worldwide for this very unique Tu B’shvat.

(See http://www.shviit.com/ and download this brochure for all the information about this special Shmitta opportunity that complies with Halacha, Jewish law, and Israeli law. Letter of Support from former Chief Israeli Rabbi – Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu)

How:  Shomrei Shvi’it offers each Jew the opportunity to fulfill the mitzvah of shmitta by buying a piece of agricultural land located in an apricot field near Zichron Yaakov (Section 11326, parcel 29 – as registered in the Tabu by the Israeli government). Each person is given an opportunity to purchase a piece of land that is the area of at least 4 square amos (4.429 square feet) that will be totally owned by the buyer according to both Halacha, Jewish law, and Israeli law.

Each student pays only $7 to own a piece of land in Israel. Your school will be given a piece of land whose size will be dependant upon the number of students who pay the $7. The school will receive the legal documents attesting to the ownership of the piece of land and each student will receive a personalized certificate from Shomrei Shviit authorizing their ownership.

The students fulfill the mitzvah of Shmitta since the apricot fields are laying fallow until the end of the Shmitta year and all who desire may enter the fields and take from the produce which have the sanctity of Shvi’it. 

Why:  Like Shabbat, Shmitta is a means for connecting everything back to its source. As we grow farther in time from the point of creation, we need Shmitta to bring us home. Just when creation seems a faded memory and we feel that mankind runs the world and that our brilliance has brought us whatever bounty humankind has achieved, Shmitta brings a Shabbat to the land that changes everything.

According to Jewish law, fruits that grow during the special year in the land of Israel are public domain, and anyone, rich or poor can eat them. We are reminded that any personal property we have is nothing more than a Divine loan. Classic laws of property that give us comfort and delude us into thinking we run the world are suspended as debts are forgiven, and on the yovel following the culmination of seven shmitta cycles, land sales revert and property goes back to its tribal apportionment from the time Jews entered the land of Israel. Shmitta gives us the opportunity to melt away the distance between ourselves and creation, and to give the land back to God, thereby returning it to its source.

Teach your students these important lessons by giving them the ability to fulfill the mitzvah of Shmitta this Tu B’shvat by owning their own piece of land in Israel this Shmitta year. This program allows educational institutions worldwide to make the mitzvah of Shmitta much more tangible and appreciated by their students.

***Any individual who wants to purchase his own piece of land can do so as well for the special price of $170***

 For additional information about having your school take part in this special Tu B’svhat program or inquiries about purchasing your own personal piece of land to fulfill the mitzva of Shmitta please send an email to avi@12tribefilms.org 

Stay tuned for other 12Tribe Films Foundation special cultural programs for your educational institutions – Including: Israel’s 60th Birthday, Yom Yerushalayim events, Connecting with the people of Sderot and connecting with the former residents of Gush Katif.

ABOUT 12TRIBE FILMS FOUNDATION:  12Tribe Films Foundation (“12Tribe Films”) is a “For Impact” not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting creative projects about the Jewish people and the land of Israel that connect, entertain, and inspire.  While the projects of 12Tribe Films address religious, political, sociological, and current events effecting Israel and the Jewish people, our goal is to be an informative and educational resource that focuses on the underlying Jewish values and human experiences beneath the issues. 

Contact:Avi Abelow

12Tribe Films Foundation

Email:  avi@12tribefilms.org 

Website:  http://www.12tribefilms.org/