Shuvu differentiates itself as a unique educational system in Israel - not only because its schools offer academically advanced secular and religious education, but equally because we prioritize strengthening the connection of Jewish students and their families to their roots. We give them a sense of pride in their Jewish heritage and help them to forge a stronger bond with the land of Israel.
At its inception in 1991, all of Shuvu's students were new Russian immigrants, devoid of any spiritual connection to their new homeland and deprived of any understanding of Jewish practices. Today, Shuvu has overcome cultural and language barriers to remedy this situation, and we continue to provide vital Jewish spiritual support. With each new generation of Russian children, and with the recent rapid enrolment of secular Israeli children to Shuvu's schools, this work continues.
Shuvu provides a model of religious tolerance, running enrichment programs to ensure that our students and their families can understand what it means to be and live as a Jew. Employing a non-coercive approach, the Shuvu network provides its students with basic background education in tradition and Jewish identity. Teachers are sensitive never to tell a child that what their parents do at home is wrong. Students often enthusiastically share with their families what they have learned about Jewish holidays and mitzvot. By creating numerous motivational adult learning programs, Shuvu schools successfully engage with parents as active partners in the overall Jewish learning process.
In every Shuvu school, a special Roots program helps to steer the children on their spiritual journey, discovering meaningful links to their family's own history. One aspect of Jewish history which Shuvu emphasizes is the Shoah (Holocaust). History classes are intertwined with education programs and class trips to Yad Vashem, which help to make the subject more accessible to students. In the Former Soviet Union, the history of the Second World War focused on the suffering of Soviet citizens without mentioning the Nazis' impact on the Jewish nation, so Holocaust education is a crucial subject for Russian immigrants to Israel.
- Weekly Adult Learning Programs
Education for Shuvu parents who grew up in the Former Soviet Union is just as important as their children's religious studies. Many schools run weekly classes for parents, and there are several home study groups which meet weekly at the homes of individual parents. Inspirational teachers involve parents in discussions on various Torah topics, followed by question and answer sessions, and the teachers often find themselves helping families to take on Torah and mitzvah observance. Since many of the participants have similar levels of Jewish knowledge, individuals are able to develop Jewishly at their own pace with support from other families.
The adjective 'life-changing' has been one of the more frequently used expressions articulated by participants in Shuvu's Shabbat programs. Individual Russian families are hosted by open-minded religious families at their Friday night meal, followed by an Oneg Shabbat at a central location where about 20 participating Russian families meet together to sing and celebrate Shabbat together. On Shabbat morning, Shuvu provides a special introductory prayer service, followed by Kiddush, lectures and a festive lunch for all the families, followed by lively question and answer sessions with a local Rabbi. Experiencing Shabbat for the first time helps many Shuvu families to understand what is being taught in school and encourages them to live a more Jewish lifestyle.
Shuvu's pre-holiday programs are designed to nourish the mind, body and soul. Before each Jewish holiday, Shuvu students and their parents are enthusiastically briefed about what their children are learning in school. Pre-holiday events are held at most Shuvu schools for all the family, with lectures in Russian, exhibitions, interactive activities, carnivals and school wide performances.
Before Pesach, each school hosts an interactive model Seder, conducted by Shuvu students, to guide parents who may be making Seder at home for the first time. As many as 7,000 Shuvu families across Israel receive a special charity package for Pesach which includes a Russian-language Haggada, boxes of matza, bottles of wine and grape juice, and other basic Pesach necessities. Many families will also be invited to attend communal Sedarim or join local religious families for Seder night. Click here to support Shuvu's Pesach programs.
Becoming Bat or Bar Mitzva is a milestone event in every Jewish boy and girl's life and the Shuvu network fully appreciates this. Bat and Bar Mitzvah celebrations are held at the end of the school year for hundreds of Shuvu boys and girls who convene from all over Israel in Jerusalem to participate in festive meals with speakers and song and dance performances.
Shuvu provides many of the boys who do not come from religiously observant homes with their own kosher set of Tefillin, which many families cannot afford to purchase. To date, over 2,000 boys have become the proud owners and users of Tefillin provided by Shuvu. Click here to donate Tefillin to Shuvu students.
