COMMUNITY BUILDS RESILIENCE.
BARKAI BUILDS COMMUNITIES.
THISYEAR
TRAUMA|INJURY|DEPLOYMENT|ANXIETY|MOURNING
ThepasttragicyeartestedBARKAIrabbisineveryconceivable way. October7thandthewarsonourbordershavethrownour communitiesintodespair,fear,andtrauma.Thankstotheirtrainingin mentalhealth,grief,mediation,suicideprevention,community building,andmore,BARKAIrabbiswerereadyandabletoanswerthe manycallsandbringhope,joyandcomforteveninthehardestof times.BARKAIcontinuestostrengthentheresilienceandhopeof their85communitiesacrossIsrael.
...areuniqueinIsraelastheyareled byrabbiniccouplestrainedinallareas offamilyandcommunallife.Most Israelishulsdonothavefulltime clergyorsupport.
...haveaccesstoexpertsinareasthat impactfamiliesandcouplesthemost, givingthemthesupportnecessaryto buildresilienceandsurvivecrises.
...arenothomogenous.Theysitall acrossIsrael-geographicallyand socially.WerepresenttherealIsrael andareanever-growingfamily, alwaysthereforoneanother.
SuppliesforSoldiers
BARKAI fundraised and distributed 2M NIS worth of equipment for soldiers from lower socio-economic areas, who don’t have family or community members in position to purchase them highest-quality gear.
Rabbaniot Training
OUR rabbaniot meet monthly on various subjects to learn from and support one another. They also have access to on-staff professionals, available to provide advice or assist with people in crisis.
Rabbinic Training
OUR rabbis receive regular professional rabbinic training in Mental Heath, Marital Counseling, Coaching, Teens, Addiction, Suicide Prevention, Financial Counseling and more. Dozens of WhatsApp groups exist, dedicated to specific issues with paid staff to assist for advice and need.
AI procured and distributed
BARKAI RABBIS ARE
OntheFrontLines
SPIRITUAL&ACTUAL
Our rabbinic couples care for thousands of people hurting, suffering, and mourning terribly all over Israel.
Some have lost family members in the fighting.
Some have loved ones still missing or kidnapped.
Others suffer from anxiety, panic attacks, and depression.
Many have been evacuated from their homes and are living with other families or in hotels accross Israel.
Our rabbis are on the communal front lines, providing spiritual, emotional, and halachic advice and sustenance.
In addition, many of our rabbis are on the literal front lines as they have been called up for reserve duty along with hundreds of thousands of other Israelis.
GraduationofCohort6:Terror, TragedyandHope
OnJuly1stagraduationwasheldforCohort6ofBarkai.Theawardingof theBarkaiprizeinthreecategoriesalsotookplace:RabbinicAchievement, CommunityExcellenceandDistinguishedlayleader.
TherabbinicachievementawardwasawardedtoRabbiShacharButzchak,, BarkaialumnusofCohort1,theheadoftheGarinToraniinOfakimwhowas shotbyterroristsintheearlymorningofOctober7thwhilefightinginhis backyard RavShachar despitehavingtogotodailyphysicaltherapyand
GraduationofCohort6:Terror, TragedyandHope
ThekeynotespeakerswereOhad andSaritLapidot,parentsofTiferet, HY"DkilledatNovaonOctober7th. Theyspoke,amongstotherthings aboutthechallengesTiferetfaced withinthereligiouscommunity, aboutherstruggletofinddeeper spiritualityandmeaning,whichshe feltwaslackinginthereligious educationshereceived.Thisaspect oftheirlecturehighlightedthe importanceofcreatingmore inclusiveandspirituallyfulfilling environmentswithinreligious communitiesandamoreopenand supportiveapproachtoreligious educationandpractice.
AlsoinattendancewasBarkai honoraryPresidentRabbiIsrael MeirLauwhosaid"Inmyeyes, youaretheoneswhostillholdthe torch,notlettingthislight,thelight ofspiritualleadershipofthe rabbinatebeextinguished."
Eighteenrabbisgraduatedfrom Barkaicreating85alumni.These rabbisservingindiverse communities,nowequippedwith manynewskillsandinsightsare leadingtheircommunitiesduring theseverydifficultandtrying days.
InaugurationofCohort7
OnSeptember8th20rabbisjoinedthe7thcohortoftheBarkaiCenter tobegintwoyearsofintensivetraining.Theymetoneother,learned moreabouttheprogramanddoverightintotheirstudies.Theyalso heardabouttheimportanceoftherabbinicfigurefromRabbiYaakov Ariel,theformerChiefRabbiofRamatGanandnotedPosekinthe ReligiousZionistcommunity.
BARKAI COMMUNITIES ARE
PartneringwithU.S. Communities
BARKAIrabbisin20communitiespartnerwithUScommunitiesand celebrate,mournandlearntogether.BARKAIhasbecometheaddressfor visitingrabbisandkehillotfromtheU.S.comingtovisitinsolidaritywith Israel.
The rabbis visit one another residence and were there COVID lockdowns.
These relationships strengthen both communities and create lasting bonds as they share holidays, messages of love and support and visits to one another whenever possible.
BARKAIACROSSISRAEL
Achiya
Azor
Bait Dagan
Bat Yam
Ofakim
Adumim
Ashkelon
Beit Dagan
Bet El
Bat Ayin
Beer Sheva
Bet Shemesh
Bnai Reem
Dimona
Gadera
Gimzu
Geva Binyamin
Gitit
Givaat Zeev (3)
Herzliya
Hod Hasharon
Jerusalem (7)
Karnei Shomron
Kerem B'Yavne
Kedumim
Keren Reim
Kfar Darom
Kfar Oranim
Kibbutz Ein Tzurim
Kiryat Gat (3)
Kochav Yaakov
Lod (8)
Maale Adumin 4
Maon
Mechola
Mevo Choron
Modiin (8)
Nechalim
Netanya 3
Netivot
Petach Tikva 4
Raanana
Ramot Meir
Rechovot (2)
Ramle
Sderot
Shiloh
Tel Aviv (5)
Talmon
Yad Binyamin 2
Shoham (3)
Yatir
Yerucham
Storiesfromthefield
Awomanfromthecommunity approachedmywife with tears in her eyes. Her husband was wronging her terribly and she asked if she could consult with us. We helped guide her and resolved the matter in the least contentious way.
Thanks to Barkai's training, for both rabbis & rabbaniot, we fostered deep bonds of trust with the community and she felt able to come to us. The fact that we were able to serve as an address for a woman in her time of need and successfully help her navigate it is a direct result of the the Barkai training - it gives us great satisfaction in our rabbinical work.
Thesonofoneofourfamilieswas kidnapped andheldbyHamas.After severalmonths,welearnedthattheir sonwasmurdered(hisbodyisstill beingheldinGaza).Anumberof halachicquestionsarose.Thanksto ourstudiesatBarkai,whichconnectus withexpertsinvariousfields,Ihadan addresstocontactandconsult,and indeedIreceivedanswersfromRabbi YaakovRoja,Shlit'a.
Ifithadnotbeenforthisconnection,it wouldhavebeenmuchmoredifficult formetoanswerthequestionsbefore me.Iwouldhavehadaverydifficult timefindingarabbitowhomIfelt comfortableturning,andwhohas broadshoulderswithexpertiseinthe lawsofbereavement.
IserveasarabbiforanEthiopian community in Petah Tikva. Many members of my community have been drafted to fight since Simchat Torah. I became a listening ear to the mothers and wives of those defending the nation. Twice during the war, I turned to Rabbi Fine to assist families whose financial situation was dire.
Rabbi Fine recruited donors and helped me to save these families whose home lives were in peril due to their husbands serving for months. Having their financial and spiritual support enables me to be there for my community in ways I otherwise could not. Many thanks to Rabbi Fine and Rabbi Sobol for training and guiding rabbis of our communities at all times.
Oneofourresidentsreturnedhomeaftera longperiodoffighting in an elite unit in Gaza I saw him looking downcast and I tried to ascertain if it was related to friends he lost or something else. The conversation unfolded and he opened up about difficulties at home The distance from home and his wife for such a long period of time created a great distance between them as a couple and they are no longer able to function together...
I remembered the principles we learned in the couple counseling course in the Barkai program. I spoke to him about stages in a relationship and the various tools that can help him. Of course, I suggested they see a professional therapist, but my ability to give first aid was very significant. This is just one little story of the many tools I received from Barakai which accompany me in support of the community every day.
We’velongknownthatcommunitiesledbyrabbisarestronger,closerand moreresilient.Nowwehaveproofoftheimportanceofprofessionalrabbinic leadershipinfosteringstrong,supportive,andresilientreligiouscommunities inIsrael.BarkaicontractedwithIsraelipollsters“DirectPolls”tomeasurethe effectivenessandrelevancyofcommunityrabbisinIsrael.
SomeHighlights
Communities led by rabbis consistently report higher levels of belonging, mutual trust, and community pride. These congregations also demonstrated a greater ability to support members during personal and national crises.
Members of rabbi-led communities, especially those of Barkai, expressed a stronger capacity to maintain an optimistic outlook since the war.
The survey highlights the crucial role of community rabbis as leadership figures who positively impact community cohesion and resilience.
Members of rabbi-led synagogues reported feeling more comfortable approaching their rabbi for help or support and highly valued the rabbi's ability to assist with personal challenges.
The data clearly indicates that synagogues with rabbis, particularly those trained by Barkai, are better equipped to handle emergencies, provide aid, and respond effectively to national or political events.
Rabbinic Stipends
Rabbaniot Training Rabbinic Training Salaries 74,948 26,205 160,246 12,054
Alumni continuing education
Barkai Shabbat
Annual family day
End of year conference/ceremony
Publication of Barkai Book
Specialized training for alumni 25,681 12,054 10,823 11,792 65,514 10,482 5765
Administrative Costs
413,114
DearcherishedfriendsofBarkai,
This past year has been a profound and tumultuous journey for the people of Israel, challenging us emotionally, physically, spiritually, and in our faith. We began in the darkest of valleys, yet we've risen with the strength of a lion. Our path has been marked by both tears and triumph, a mixture of deep pain and an overwhelming sense of connection to our eternal spirit.
From a time of division and isolation, we've witnessed a remarkable movement towards unity, rediscovering our essence, reinforcing our faith, and rekindling the vision of our ultimate redemption.
In these turbulent times, we need strong, supportive spiritual leadership rooted in Torah more than ever – guidance that reaches every home and touches every heart The Barkai community rabbis have worked tirelessly in their communities, lifting spirits, strengthening souls, and reconnecting people to our timeless heritage.
Throughout this ongoing crisis, the Barkai Association, bolstered by your generous support, has extended a helping hand to countless members of our Israeli family. We've aided soldiers, evacuees, emergency response teams, families of reservists dealing with the aftermath of combat, and those whose livelihoods have been shattered by the war.
As we approach the new year, let us pray for a time of renewed connections: may children reconnect with their Heavenly Father, may we forge stronger bonds with each other through love and respect, may we deepen our connection to the whole of the Land of Israel, and may we find strength in relevant and inspiring Torah leadership.
Let this be a year of physical and mental well-being, a year of peace, and a year that brings us closer to our ultimate redemption.