"Tzamarot" - Our Story
On the edge of Israel's metropolitan area (AKA Gush Dan) and Judea & Samaria, with a unique geographical mixture of green and urban scenery, there is a small but inspiring settlement named Oranit, where veterans & new, young & old, religious & secular inhabitants, live in admirable harmony.
Young
We are a community of young families in the process of building our homes, families & community. Most of us are with toddlers, and despite the inherent challenge of praying with so many children around you, they fill our prayers with light and joy.
Our congregation includes and welcomes young families commencing their married life as well as pensioners who love the youthful spirit of our community.
Zionistic
We believe Zionism goes far beyond living in and supporting Israel. For us, Zionism is about the prophets' vision of being "Or Lagoyim," (a Light for Nations), being a righteous and caring community where the individual cares for all, and all care for the individual.
For us, mutual responsibility is an essential Zionist value that shapes our community towards one another within and outside our community.
We have dedicated committees for welcoming new families, cooking for women who gave birth, volunteering outside the community, and collecting clothes & toys for poor children.
IDF Graduates
The majority of our community, men & women alike, served or still perform a significant service in the IDF and other high-profile intelligence security agencies.
We have pilots, battalion colonels, company captains, aircraft navigators, military-intelligence personnel, and a few others with confidential roles.
As a community, we support lonely soldiers with donations and weekend hospitalities and buy food and drinks for military units that occasionally serve in our settlement.
Our Vision: A communal synagogue where everyone feels welcome
Community
In our community, if you want something to happen, the best way to make it happen is to lead the way, knowing you have the support of a community and friends.
For us, the synagogue is not merely a place of prayer but the foundation of our communal life and what it aspires to be.
The connection to other people in the settlement is crucial for us. Our congregation regularly hosts Bar Mitzva ceremonies for local secular youth, being taught and trained by a community member to read their Torah portion.
Religion
We are interested in turning our synagogue into a regional center for Bible study. We are privileged and honored to have Rabbi Shay Piron, former minister of education and a veteran Oranit resident, to head the program.
Acceptance
Another Zionistic value that is a significant part of our community is the joining of hearts. As a highly heterogeneous religious community, we believe everyone should feel comfortable in our community and synagogue.
While it is challenging for an orthodox community to be open, the benefits of being available to everyone outnumbers the challenges this open-mindedness brings.
While the Israeli nation is torn and divided into fractions, without acceptable leadership or a clear direction, we believe that the change required for the entire country can and should come from communities and people.
We are very proud that our community is a home for young & old, religious & secular, and new & veteran members.
Education
Children are a central pillar in our community's being and participate actively in our synagogue and activities.
Every Shabbos, a different family organizes children's prayer, including the morning prayer & a story from the weekly portion.
Every year, we celebrate children’s transition from kindergarten to school and grant the growing children a Sidur and a gift.
Help us build a home for our community
These days are crucial for the future of our community. After 8 years of countless efforts, the municipality council has dedicated a physical location for the synagogue.
Every family participated in donating to the synagogue, and without this initial amount, this journey could not have started. However, we still need the necessary budget to fulfill our dream.
Come and join us to make our dream a reality by making a fast, secure, and tax-deductible donation today.