Babait, Bayahad

"The bottom line is that many people are happy to be of help, happy to connect with someone new. They just need direction and a framework in which to volunteer," states Tzippi Pinkus-Hart, Director of the Unit for Immigrant Associations and Information Centers, and an expert on effective mobilization of volunteers. Although running for less than a year, the Babait Bayahad / At Home-Together national campaign has recruited close to 2,000 immigrant families and 1,800 veteran Israeli families. Of those, 1,200 have already been paired. "With dedicated professionalism at every level of this project, we have exceeded our original goals, and are going from strength to strength."

A Ripple Effect

Ruth Levy, of the Magshimim group in Beer Sheva volunteers with new immigrants at the Nurit Absorption Center.

Arie and Ruth Levy are part of the Magshimim Hazon (fulfilling a dream) group based in Beer Sheva. These ex-Montrealers are graduates of Birthright and other Israel programs, who decided to make aliyah, and spend their first year of absorption together in Beer Sheva. Arie explains, "As part of Babait Bayahad , we were matched with a group of Israeli youth movement graduates who are creating an urban kibbutz (irbutz ) in Beer Sheva. Although we differ from them ideologically, we are all basically young idealists out to change the world." In a major undertaking, the two groups joined forces, while mobilizing local Israeli youth movement activists, to volunteer together at sites around the city. "We had bases in after-school enrichment centers, a community center, retirement homes, and at the Nurit Absorption Center where we worked with immigrant children." What began as the pairing of two relatively small groups branched out into the fruitful coming together of hundreds of immigrants and veteran Israelis.

Celebrating Together

The Jewish holidays provide a colorful backdrop for parties, get-togethers and cultural activities. Babait Bayahad coordinators took advantage of festivities around the country to bring new immigrants and veteran Israelis together. One hundred and twenty Babait Bayahad participants from Rishon LeZion celebrated with a trip to the Land of Israel Museum where they attended creative workshops and visited the planetarium.

Incorporating other organizations into Babait Bayahad programs has proved a great success. The Lions Club in Arad is committed to finding a mentoring family for each new immigrant in the local Absorption Center, the majority of whom are students from Ethiopia, Latin America or the FSU. The opening of that campaign was held on the second night of Chanukah in the Lion's Clubhouse where immigrants joined club members and their families to light candles, sing and dance.