Part of Something Bigger
As new immigrants arrive, “Babait Beyahad, At Home Together,” offers the personal touch
In its fourth year and continuing to gain strength, Babait Beyahad recently celebrated ties forged between tens of thousands of new immigrants and veteran Israelis,
promoting the cause of aliyah and integration. “Babait Beyahad, is a very personal experience; individual families mentor or volunteer with individual new immigrants. Having a joint event puts everyone’s time and effort into a larger perspective and lets them know that they are part of a bigger enterprise,” explains Ariella Volé-Laniado, Director of Babait Beyahad.
“We invited 500 people from the North and 700 from the Center and South of the country to participate in celebratory evening events in Haifa and in Kibbutz Givat Brenner. All of those attending the event joined the program over the past year.
Inbal Levy, who with her husband Asher and their five children, mentor the newly arrived Andrei and Natalya Rosketz from Belarus, spoke to the audience of the many positive qualities which the Rosketz couple brought with them to Israel. “Andrei and Natalya have become part of our family. By standing by them and being there for them, we feel we are playing our own small part in the realization of the Zionist dream.”
The Feffers, Roni, an organizational consultant and Kfir, a doctor from Kfar Saba, made contact with Rudolfo Katz through Babait Beyahad while he was still in Brazil. Now residing in the Ra’anana Absorption Center, Rudolpho is pursuing his doctorate in molecular biology at Bar Ilan University. The initial bureaucratic errands in Israel were done with Kfir by his side and on Jewish holidays Rudolpho is embraced by the entire extended family where he cannot but revel in his new role. Rudolpho thanked them publicly - “Roni and Kfir - I thank you for being my family in Israel.” At each event, personal stories were interspersed with musical interludes. The popular Israeli entertainers were all veteran immigrants - from Argentina, France, Russia and Ethiopia - adding a touch of color, a bit of spice and dose of hope. •
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“In an age that offers opportunities for living and working in many places in the world, the Aliyah and Integration Department of the Jewish Agency must be creative and innovative in developing appealing options for Jews from all over the world to come to Israel, experience Israel, live in Israel. Even if these experiences do not lead immediately to Aliyah, they will deepen connections to Israel and strengthen Jewish communities with cadres of people who have a positive relationship to the State of Israel and to Am Yisrael..”
Paula Edelstein
Co-Chair, Immigration and Absorption Committee |