Building together

"Orot Hachoma" congregation was established during the summer of 2002 by the first few members of the new southern Jerusalem neighborhood "Homat Shmuel" also to be known as "Har Choma" and it is one of the important and veteran community in the neighborhood. Among our community are several dozens of families, across all varieties of life and age, divided to Regulars members for daily prayers and walk-ins on weekdays. Weekend (Shabbat) and holidays it can be seen >250 prayers! Our main goal is to construct our permanent shul, playing a center role in Tora studies, forming active social and Jewish life, mutual help and community events for our members and for the sake for all the fellow neighborhood. All of that within tolerate, dignity and respect for all others The synagogue was established within the forming of the community. As a temporary location, we held all our activities in a kinder garden located at 53 Harav Nissim St. including: "Tfilin club" (Morning Davin Sacharit), Minch and Maariv (At winter time we held 3 Maariv minyan), studies and learning activities, Shabbat and holidays minyan for both regulars and walk-ins. We held the must veteran Daf-Youmi study every evening. We also held Bar-Mitzvah services for all the boys from all Jewish spectrum in our neighborhood and community. During the years the late Rabbi Yehuda Ovadia Z"L moved to reside in the neighborhood (The great grandchildren of the great late "Mekubal" rabbi Yehuda Petaia). He was nominated to serve as congregation rabbi. Well educate on both Tora and general studies, very tolerant and humanize, speaking to everyone on his "own language”. Serve as focal point for all Jewish life including questions, studies in Tora and laws. Unfortunately, on the month of Heshvan 2005, after fighting a sever disease, our rabbi gone away. This days, our community is led by Rabbi Ohad Dana that among other qualifications come from the field of education and he is a relic for the great Damascus rabbinical chain. He spend a lot of time and activities with our community on Tora and Halluca studies and working restless with officials in order to promote our permanent shul. From day 1 when our community has been established our leaders are working on all the aspects in order to have a permanent location. Starting with the city of Jerusalem officials to allocate the space, the ministry of housing to have some funds and to raise donations from both community members and others. B"H, the city of Jerusalem allocated the space (knowing as field#605). Unfortunately, due to paper work and the need to have public structure (like kinder gardens) in the same location, there was extensive delay with the constructions. IN addition, 2nd congregation requested a permanent structure as well. The status for now it that only the skeleton of the structure exist, and for that the City charge us a lot. Now, there is a need to complete the structure (indoor as well as outdoor). Our congregation's members have done their best starting by 1 time donation and some by standing bank orders. Needless to say that this is a heavy burden for our members. A lot of constructions work is yet to be finished before we can move to the new shul. To name a few, we need a lift to help our elderly members, A/C, acoustic and furniture. After a long time of praying in temporary locations we would like to ask YOU to become a part of this vital mission and help us to pray G-D in a "Little Miksadh"