new initiatives

WE COULDN’T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT THE DEDICATION OF THE STAFF ACROSS THE GLOBE xWHO WORK TIRELESSLY WITH THEIR STUDENTS

2,000 people work within

the Olami framework

worldwide

The educators that work within the network are a diverse and talented group, bringing their skills from other fields to their campus work.

Among us we have pyschologists, artists, journalists, programmers, communication professionals, physicians, photographers, broadcasters, personal trainers, life coaches, system analysts and more...

Sara Katz Torah MiTzion, Moscow

training conferences USA, Mexico, Brazil, France, Argentina and Israel STAFF

8

FSU

STAFF

What I do here is not my job.

It is my life. I don’t draw a distinction. I was born and raised here in Moscow and I understand what our students are experiencing in many ways. This enables me to be not only their mentor, but also their friend. Students come to our house for Shabbat meals, for learning, for advice and for friendship. We have become like a big family, each unique and growing in his own way on his Jewish journey.

Olami has a presence in

COUNTRIES

27

different countries across 7 regions

WHY SAY SOMETHING IN ONE LANGUAGE WHEN WE CAN SAY IT IN 11?

RUSSIA ESTONIA LATVIA BELARUS UNITED KINGDOM GERMANY POLAND UKRAINE AUSTRIA FRANCE HUNGARY GEORGIA PORTUGAL SPAIN AZERBRAIJIAN

CANADA

Olami participants speak

11 languages between them; different

English, Hebrew, French, Spanish, Portugese, Russian, German, Ukrainian, Hungarian, Georgian and Italian

UNITED STATES

ISRAEL MEXICO COSTA RICA PANAMA

ARGENTINA

9

COMING IN 2016!

SOUTH AFRICA

CHILE URUGUAY

REGIONS/COUNTRIES

NEW COUNTRY

BRAZIL

Our first student project in Rome, Italy. Italy is a prime space for an Olami program; with one Jewish school and around 17,000 Jews, they have the infrastructure we need to launch an incredible program. Watch this space!

AUSTRALIA

HUNGARY

COUNTRIES It’s hard to imagine Hungarian Jewish life without Tikvah. Every Hungarian Jew knows it’s a place where they can go: for kosher food, a place to pray, to learn, to meet and socialize. Tikvah’s student program is held twice each week, with over 100 students attending each session. More than 200 students celebrated Purim. Kornel, who runs the program says “It’s so beautiful to see them getting involved. When they come to us to celebrate Shabbat, they don’t just watch, they participate, they experience. Most have not seen this at home. Hungary is unique.

Our community went through the Shoah and then 40 years of communism, so Jewish expression and practice was almost invisible here. But I am proud to say, that with love, hard work, faith, and the incredible support of our donors, we are embracing the young Jewish adults and ensuring that they grow up as proud and active Jews.”

REGIONS/COUNTRIES

10

ORGANIZATIONS OLAMI NETWORK IS WORLDWIDE, AND KEEPS ON GROWING.

320 ORGANIZATIONS

13

organizations within the Olami network

The following organizations engaged over 500 students per month with their programs:

Three Olami organizations, Nefesh Yehudi from Israel, and Sucath David and Menora from Argentina, partnered for an inspiring evening of Israeli Hasbara followed by a powerful Kabbalat Shabbat in Jerusalem.

The Olami Director of Israel trips, Rabbi Rafael Sait says of the initiative “It was such an inspiring and impactful program.

“It was such an inspiring and impactful program. The Israeli and Argentinian students shared with each other what life is like in their respective countries.”

The Israeli and Argentinian students shared with each other what life is like in their respective countries. They opened each others’ eyes to their different experiences of being Jewish, what it means to be a supporter of Israel in their different countries. It created new ways of thinking for both and allowed for greater understanding of the challenges each face and how to overcome them.”

ORGANIZATIONS

14

ISRAEL/ARGENTINA

ORGANIZATIONS

NEW INITIATIVES

WE HAVE IMMENSE GRATITUDE TO OUR GENEROUS FUNDERS WHO PROVIDED NOT ONLY FUNDING BUT ALSO THEIR SOUND ADVICE AND GUIDANCE

SOUTH AFRICA

400 students “Ohrsom in South Africa joined the Olami network in 2015 and is the ‘in’ place to be for students. We have two branches; one in Johannesburg and one in Capetown, with approximately 400 students attending our programs. Our Shabbat program rocketed in popularity last year – with a service full of song and a fresh sushi kiddush break, it’s easy to see why! We also focused on our ‘Learn’n Earn program where community members come and teach different groups on a wide variety of topics. We have a host of other programs, events and activities going on, and thank God, all are popular and exciting. Thank you to Olami for this opportunity and your unwavering support.”

attending our programs

GERMANY

Rabbi Menachem Sosnovik, Director of Ohrsom

“The German Jewish community faces a huge challenge; we are scattered far and wide across the country in cities with little to no Jewish infrastructure or access to Jewish resources.”

NEW INITIATIVES

16

JCommunity in Berlin recently launched their e-learning initiative which is comprised of three weekly classes online. The person leading the session shares source sheets with participants, encourages group discussion and chat.

Rabbi Fabian, Director of JCommunity said “The German Jewish community faces a huge challenge; we are scattered far and wide across the country in cities with little to no Jewish infrastructure or access to Jewish resources. Our e-learning initiative enables them to remain involved with us, and with Judaism throughout the year, developing their Jewish knowledge and identity in a meaningful way.”

GEORGIA

“One of their most important projects is their mission to find available kosher foods on the market and provide certification via their website.”

Programs include: Torah classes, lectures, programs for young Jewish couples, Shabbatonim, meetings with famous Jewish people, training in management and business admin and more Olami Georgia had a busy year in 2015 with a vast range of programs including Torah classes, lectures, programs for young Jewish couples, Shabbatonim, meetings with famous Jewish people, training in management and business admin and more. In addition, there are special events that they ran for each of the chagim, trips, seminars or their monthly paper that they publish! At their Chanukah party in December, they had over 250 attendees, with the Minister of Education Mrs. Tamar Sanikidze as their guest of honor. One of their most important projects is their mission to find available kosher foods on the market and provide certification via their website.

Rav Avimelech Rosenblatt is continuously checking Georgian goods and assigning them certificates if they meet the requirements of the Kashrut laws. This is of increasing importance as the number of Jewish and Israeli tourists to Georgia increases. As you can imagine, their staff is critical to their success and so Olami Georgia invests in monthly training to ensure that they are the best they can be.

PORTUGAL

NEW INITIATIVES

The story of the Portuguese Jewish community dates back centuries. But in Porto, with just 1000 Jews remaining, the outlook seemed grim. The synagogue didn’t have weekly services and little in the way of Jewish infrastructure. All that looks set to change with the arrival in September 2015 of Yoel Zekri from France. With an increasing number of French students choosing to study in Portugal, Yoel and his wife moved there to inspire and educate the students. In the process, they have kickstarted an exciting process that is reinvigorating the entire community and igniting a spark of Judaism in Portugal. They give weekly classes to the students and the community at large, host Shabbat meals, established a weekly prayer service on Shabbat, they celebrated Chanukah with a big party, and even opened a new Jewish school. The community, so energized by their Jewish revival, purchased a new sefer torah. The students there are also excited; they recognize that they are part of a historic and momentous process and are proud of their involvement.

“...they have kickstarted an exciting process that is reinvigorating the entire community and returning the Judaism to Portugal.”

NEW INITIATIVES

17