All of our work reflects our belief in the importance of fostering strong Jewish values within our community. These ideals – such as tolerance, patience, charity, and good behavior – are conveyed through our educational and social programs. Additionally, Beit Moriah offers services that explicitly allow our residents to connect to their Jewish identity and heritage.

 

 

From its foundation in 1993 to the present day, the heart of the Beit Moriah organization has been our Beit Midrash, or religious learning institute. Here, we have trained teachers, mentors and religious community leaders and counselors who are making their mark on our schools and the quality of life in Be’er Sheva.

 

Through our community center and affiliated synagogues, Beit Moriah offers classes for general Torah study to residents of Be’er Sheva. Our Beit Midrash students and graduates –as well as some retired volunteers – give approximately 110 classes and lessons each week, helping students appreciate and understand the teachings of our holy text. For a full schedule of Torah classes, please click here.

 

 

Beit Moriah is the local operator of a 10-month preparatory course endorsed by the Prime Minister’s Office for Israeli residents or citizens seeking to convert to Judaism. Classes meet twice a week for four hours each session, and the course culminates in the Beit Din exam. Our well-trained and professional staff prepares students for both their exams and personal interviews, leading to a 95% conversion success rate – the highest in the nation for Rabbinate-endorsed conversions. We currently have seven classes on our schedule, offered in Hebrew, Russian, and Spanish.

 

 

As part of our efforts to help residents and visitors to Be’er Sheva connect with their Jewish heritage, we offer historical tours of the Negev Desert and important sights in Be’er Sheva. Our licensed tour guides inform participants of the historical and religious significance of the region’s landmarks, helping them form a spiritual connection with the physical land of Israel. We recently launched a new Negev program for groups visiting Israel that couples these tours with a service activity, such as packing food parcels for needy families. The combination of tourism and charitable work adds new value to visiting Israel. To learn more about our Negev tours or to sign up, please contact us.

 

Beit Midrash, Torah learning program for women in Be'er Sheva

From August 28, 2013 Beit Moriah runs a new program for women in Be'er Sheva. A Beit Midrash, a Torah study program for women. Every wednesdaymornig women come together to study and listen inspirational teachers !!!

 

 

In 2010 we launched a new “Kishurim” program that seeks to strengthen familial relationships among our community members, particularly among new couples and between parents and their children. For couples, we offer premarital counseling that includes information on better relationships and parenting to prepare partners for the commitment of marriage. This tutoring usually includes five sessions with an experienced counselor. 

In addition to premarital counseling, the cornerstone of the Family Alliance program is a free lecture series for parents of our kindergarten students consisting of five sessions each year. The lectures deal with various issues of educating and raising children, and are a valuable way to bridge the gap between what children are taught at home and what they learn in school. These seminars are delivered at each kindergarten by expert speakers, and simultaneous activities are provided for the children of all attendees. In its first year, the kindergarten Family Alliance seminars garnered better than 90% attendance from parents at the schools. Due to the program’s popularity, we have recently launched similar Family Alliance lecture series at our daycare centers and one of our elementary schools. As the program is very succesful, it is now run throughout the whole country.

 

 

Beit Moriah proudly operates a Jewish community center (JCC), called Mercaz Moriah, in the Dalet neighborhood of Be’er Sheva (see address). Our JCC facility is equipped with computer resource rooms, a public library, and a sport center/workout room with new state-of-the-art equipment. At the JCC, we offer a range of programs and services, including computer classes, workout classes, arts and crafts projects, and a variety of activities for residents of all ages – from toddlers to senior citizens. One important goal of the center is to provide neighborhood residents with a feeling of connection and community with others in the area. The JCC is open from 8:00 to 22:00 daily, and a full schedule of classes and activities can be found here. Due to the high demand at our current facility, we are planning the construction of a new JCC in the Hey neighborhood, to be built in 2015/2016.

 

 

Through the 'Choneg lechol yatom' program Beit Moriah teaches life-skills to two hundred orphaned children through the support and friendship of teenage volunteers. These teens are literally and figuratively take their hand and provide help and assistance with their daily lives and the multitude of challenges they face.  With our focus on education and social support here at Beit Moriah, we see this project is a wonderful opportunity to expand our involvement in elevating educational and moral standards in Be’er Sheva.