Tour to Agronan Katif in Gadera
Over the past two weeks on 11.06.25, the Bnei Menashe community in Sderot had the wonderful opportunity to enjoy a special tour of Agronan Katif, an agricultural site where a variety of fruits—such as berries, strawberries, and more—are lovingly grown. Participants were invited to walk among the fields, pluck fresh fruits straight from the plants, and savor them on the spot.
This beautiful experience was made possible by the Agaf HaKlita in Sderot (a local branch of the Ministry of Absorption), which organized the event especially for women and children of the Bnei Menashe community. The outing brought great joy, allowing participants not only to taste the sweet fruits of the land but also to enjoy a day of relaxation, nature, and bonding.
The Bnei Menashe community extends its deepest gratitude to Agaf HaKlita – Sderot for their ongoing support, care, and meaningful efforts to enrich the lives of new immigrants. Your dedication helps families feel welcomed, valued, and connected to the Land of Israel.
We offer our special thanks to Era Buber for her personal dedication, enthusiasm, and tireless work in bringing this tour program to fruition. Her involvement made a true difference in the lives of many.
Thank you all for bringing joy and happiness to our community
סיור לאגרונן קטיף בגדרה
בשבועיים האחרונים ב- 11.06.25 זכתה קהילת בני מנשה בשדרות לביקור מיוחד ומרומם נפש באגרונן קטיף – אתר חקלאי שבו מגדלים באהבה פירות שונים, כגון פטל, תות שדה ועוד. המשתתפים נהנו מסיור חווייתי, שבו יכלו לטייל בין השדות, לקטוף את הפירות ישירות מהשיחים וליהנות מטעמם המתוק במקום.
החוויה הנפלאה הזו התאפשרה בזכות אגף הקליטה בשדרות (סניף מקומי של משרד העלייה והקליטה), שארגן את הביקור במיוחד עבור נשים וילדים מקהילת בני מנשה. הטיול העניק שמחה רבה, חיבור לטבע והפוגה מהשגרה, תוך יצירת חוויות משותפות ומשמעותיות.
קהילת בני מנשה מביעה את תודתה העמוקה לאגף הקליטה בשדרות על התמיכה הרצופה, הדאגה הכנה, והמאמצים המבורכים לשיפור איכות החיים של העולים החדשים. מסירותכם עוזרת למשפחות להרגיש רצויות, מוערכות ומחוברות לארץ ישראל.
ברצוננו להוסיף תודה מיוחדת לגב' עֶרה בובר, על מסירותה האישית, מעורבותה הפעילה, והשקעתה הרבה שהביאה להוצאת התוכנית לפועל. תרומתה ניכרת והשפיעה לטובה על רבים.
תודה לכם על שהבאתם שמחה ואור לקהילתנו!
Ira Buber
אירה בובר
קורס אולפן לנשים מבוגרות מבני מנשה
האגף לחינוך מבוגרים יזם פרויקט מיוחד שמטרתו להעצים נשים מבוגרות מבני מנשה, רבות מהן מתקשות להשתלב בחברה עקב שליטה מוגבלת בשפה העברית.האולפן פועל ביום ראשון בין השעות 17:00 עד 20:30, והתכנית זוכה להצלחה רבה הודות למנהלת גילי מוליאן, האחראית על אזור הדרום. גילי פועלת רבות לשילוב והקלת ההשתלבות של האוכלוסייה המבוגרת בקהילות השונות בחברה הישראלית.
אנו מצפים כי הנשים המבוגרות ירכשו שליטה טובה יותר בעברית, ומביעים את תודתנו למורה אורית ושרה להונגדים רכזת בני מנשה שדרות אגף הקליטה במיוחד לגילי מוליאן על תמיכתה בקידום החינוך של בני מנשה בשדרות.
מורה אורית
מנהלת גילי מוליאן, האגף לחינוך מבוגרים
קורס אולפן לנשים מבוגרות
Ulpan Course for Elderly Bnei Menashe Women
The Department of Adult Education has launched a special project aimed at empowering elderly women from the Bnei Menashe community, many of whom face difficulties integrating into society due to limited proficiency in Hebrew.
The Ulpan (Hebrew language class) takes place on Sundays from 17:00 to 20:30 and has seen great success thanks to the leadership of Gili Moulian, who is responsible for the southern region. Gili has been instrumental in promoting the integration and inclusion of the elderly population within various communities in Israeli society.
We hope that the elderly women will gain better command of the Hebrew language, and we express our heartfelt thanks to their teacher Orith and Sarah Lhungdim, the Bnei Menashe Coordinator in Sderot’s Absorption Department, and especially to Gili Moulian for her dedicated support in advancing the education of the Bnei Menashe community in Sderot.
Ulpan teacher Orith and manager of education branch for elders Gili Mulian
Ulpan course for Elderly Bnei Menashe Women
כולל ערב
בני מנשה בשדרות מודים לה׳ מקרב לב על הזכות להקים את כולל הערב. לפני חמש שנים יזמה הקהילה את הקמת הכולל באופן עצמאי, אך נתקלה בקשיים כלכליים רבים. בהמשך, מספר בעלי בתים החלו ללמוד תורה בערבים לאחר עבודתם, ובכך סללו את הדרך להקמת כולל יום קבוע, שנחנך ביולי 2023. כיום, משתתפים בכולל הערב כ-13 לומדים, והוא מתקיים מיד לאחר תפילת ערבית. הלומדים שוקדים על תלמודם במשך שעה, חלקם מקבלים מלגה מהרב הרצל שאובי, חבר מועצת העיר שדרות, ואחרים זוכים לתמיכה מקרן הקהילה.
הרב הרצל הבטיח כי בעוד מספר חודשים יספק מלגות גם ליתר הלומדים. אנו מודים לו ולבנו, הרב אבשלום שאובי, אשר מסייעים בעקביות לאברכי הכולל בשעת הצורך.
חסדם אינו מוגבל רק לבני מנשה, אלא כולל את כלל האברכים בעיר שדרות; לפני כל חגים, הם מחלקים חבילות עם מוצרים חיוניים לחג.
אנו מאחלים להם אריכות ימים ושנים וחיים מלאים בשפע, כדי שיוכלו להמשיך להיטיב עם הקהילה, ובפרט עם תושבי שדרות.
הרב הרצל שאובי
רבי אבשלום שאובי
Kollel Erev (Evening Kollel)
The Bnei Menashe in Sderot are profoundly grateful to the Almighty for endowing the community with the strength to establish the evening Kollel. Five years ago, the community initiated the foundation of the Kollel independently, yet they encountered numerous financial challenges. Subsequently, several Baalei Batim commenced studying Torah in the evenings after their work, thereby facilitating the community's establishment of a full-time Kollel Yom, inaugurated in July 2023.
Today, the community has approximately 13 participants in the evening Kollel, which commences after Arvith (evening prayer). They immerse themselves in their studies for an hour, with some receiving a stipend from Hertzl Saubi, a member of the Sderoth Municipality, and others from the community fund.Hertzl stated that he will provide stipends to the remainder in a few months. We express our gratitude to him and his son, Avshalom Saubi, who consistently assist our Avrekhim in times of need.
Their Chesed extends not only to Bnei Menashe but also to all Avrekhim in our city of Sderot; prior to each major festival, they distribute a parcel containing essential materials for the celebrations.We wish them a lengthy and prosperous life, enabling them to significantly benefit the community, particularly the residents of Sderot.
Rabbi Hertzl Shaubi
Rabbi Avshalom Shaubi
טיול
אנו שמחים שוב להביע את תודתנו הכנה למשרד העלייה והקליטה ולמשרד ההתיישבות על שאיפשרו לבני מנשה את ההזדמנות להכיר את ארץ ישראל.
קהילת בני מנשה בשדרות קבלו שלושה אוטובוסים לתוכנית סיור במהלך חול המועד פסח, בתיאום עם משרד העלייה והקליטה ומשרד ההתיישבות. במהלך הסיור התפללו המשתתפים בכותל המערבי ולאחר מכן ביקרו בשוק מחנה יהודה בירושלים.
אנו מביעים את הערכתנו לאגף הקהילות ומאחלים להם עתיד פורח להמשך העשייה הפילנתרופית למען הקהילות השונות.
הקהילה קבלו שלושה מדריכי טיולים: חפצי, יוסף, ומאיר. אנו מביעים את תודתנו על סיועם לקהילה.
מדריך טיולים חפצי עם בני מנשה שדרות
מדריך טיולים מאיר
מדריך הטיולים יוסף
Sighseeing
We are once again pleased to express our sincere gratitude to the Ministry of Aliyah and Absorption and the Ministry of Settlement for providing the Bnei Menashe the opportunity to explore the land of Israel.
The Sderot Bnei Menashe community procured three buses for a tour program during the intermediate festival of Pesach (Chol Ha Moed) through the Ministry of Absorption and Settlement, during which they prayed at the Western Wall (Kotel) and subsequently visited the Machaneh Yehudah market in Jerusalem.
We extend our appreciation to Agaf Hakehilot and wish them a flourishing future to continue their philanthropic endeavors in support of various communities.The community acquired three tour guides: Kheftzi, Yosef, and one Meir. We express our appreciation for their assistance to our community.
Tour guide kheftzi with Bnei Menashe Sderot
Tour guide Meir
Tour guide Yosef
Bnei Menashe boys with Shimon Luba
Visiting mount Carmel boys group with Shimon Luba
Touring Shimon Luba with bnei Menashe boys Sderoth
Nurith and Elior with girls group visiting mount Carmel famous for historic contest between Prophet Eliyahu and false prophets of Baal
Tokhnith Maale
The Bnei Menashe community of Sderot was relocated to various locations in Israel following the atrocity committed by the terrorist group Hamas on October 7, 2023. The community has since returned to their cherished city, and today in Sderot, we can once again hear the vibrant sounds of elders and children.
Once again, to enhance the morale of our youth, a Tokhnith Maale was organized by Misrad Aliyah ve Klitah in collaboration with the Shivtei Menashe organization. The program aims to provide opportunities for young individuals to secure a promising future, elevate their morale, and instill self-confidence in their daily lives.
We express our gratitude to Nurith, the overseer of Tokhnith Maaleh; Shimon Luba, the coordinator for young boys; and Elior, the coordinator for young girls.
The youths were taken to various locations to enhance their enjoyment and discover significance in their lives, including activities such as horseback riding, bowling, football, and climbing.
Digital training offered by Amutat Makhshava Tova and Ministry of Aliyah and Absorption
As Israel is a startup nation, technological advancements occur rapidly. Consequently, a significant challenge is digital literacy. To address this, the Ministry of Aliyah and Absorption with collaboration with Amutat Makhshava Tova extended their support to the Bnei Menashe community.
Recognizing that some individuals struggle to learn in Hebrew, Amutat Makhshava Tova under Shaked with Agaf Haklita has appointed Daniel Mate, a member of the Bnei Menashe community with extensive expertise in digital technology, as their instructor. We wish all participants in this initiative a successful journey. This project was proposed by our Coordinator, Enosh Lhouvum.
We extend our profound gratitude to Rina Greenberg, Manager of Agaf Haklita Sderot, Victor Ibramov, who oversees Agaf HaKlita Sderot, and Shaked from Amutat Makhshava Tova for actualizing this project.
Encouragement from Shaked with her partner from Amutat Makhshava Tova
Deputy Mayor of Sderot Khava Nakhshonov encouraging the Digital course program
Daniel mate with his students
Daniel Mate teacher for digital course
Enosh Lhouvum Co-Ordinator Bnei Menashe Agaf Haklita Sderot
Victor Avramov Oversees Agaf Haklita Sderot
Encouragement from Rina Greenberg manager of bramch of Aliyah and absorption Sderot
Program for Bnei Menashe via the Ministry of Aliyah and Absorption.
Preparing Bnei Menashe children for grade one: The Community of Bnei Menashe wishes to express their gratitude to the Ministry of Aliyah and Absorption for their generous support of our community. The project for children registering for first grade has enabled them to learn reading and writing from their teacher, Natali.
Most parents, who are Olim Khadashim, have benefited from this initiative as they lack the resources to educate their children. We thank Natali for her efforts to enhance the education of the children of Bnei Menashe.
Tokhnith Pele for young girls: We extend our gratitude to Shaked, Coordinator of the Ministry of Aliyah and Absorption, for the Tokhnit Pele program, which allows young girls in grades 7-8 to attend the Bnei Menashe gallery museum to study and complete their homework three times a week from 16:30 to 19:00, assisted by their teacher, Avital.
This program brings immense joy to our young girls, who face challenges in completing their school assignments. In addition to academic support, the girls receive meals and learn to bake cookies and cakes. The program is made possible through the efforts of Rina Greenberg, Manager of Agaf Haklita, and coordinator Sarah Lhungdim.
Children learning and preparing for grade one with teacher Natali
High school girls learning with their teacher Avital.
Natalie teacher of children preparing for grade one.
Shaked Coordinator project Pele from Ministry of Aliyah and absorption
Avital teacher of high school for project Pele.
Baking cookies and cakes
Sarah Lhungdim projector Bnei Menashe Branch of Aliyah and absorption Sderot.
Rina Greenberg Manager of the branch of Aliyah and absorption Sderot
Victor Avramov Oversees Agaf Haklita Sderot.
Kehilat Yekhidati Initiatives for Bnei Menashe
Artistic engagement for senior women: The elderly women of Bnei Menashe primarily occupy themselves with delivering their grandchildren to kindergarten and childcare facilities. However, during midday, they often find themselves devoid of social engagement, leading to boredom.
In response, the community, with the assistance of Mili Khaute, the community coordinator for Yekhidat Kehilati, Manager Avner Khai, and social worker Safare Kehilatit Neviim, has successfully implemented a creative arts project for these elderly women.
This initiative provides them with immense joy and the opportunity to learn various creative arts, such as weaving and clay utensil crafting, which greatly benefit them.
We extend our profound gratitude to Avner Khai, Manager of Kehilat Yekhidati, and his team for their invaluable time and for providing the Bnei Menashe community's elderly ladies the opportunity to study essential creative skills.
Elderly women learning weaving during their free time
Creative arts by Bnei Menashe elderly women
Avner Khai
Manager
Kehilat Yekhidati
Safare
Social worker
Kehilatit Nevim
Mili Khaute
Coordinator
Bnei Menashe Kehilat Yekhidati
Course Shekhita
One of the basic principles of Jewish people in their day-to-day life is based on Kashrut (the dietary laws), for Kashrut gives the Jewish people to ascend spiritually and physically and it also distinguishes them from the nations of the world. By observing Kashrut the Jewish people add holiness, as it is said: “Be holy for the L-rd your G-d is holy.”
In Sderot, the Shivtei Menashe community merit studying a crash course on Shekhita (slaughtering of certain permitted mammals and birds for food according to Jewish dietary laws), with the help of Agaf Haklita and Misrad Haklita. The credit goes to Enosh Lhouvum, Projector of Bnei Menashe from Agaf HaKlita, and Vaad Kehilat Bnei Menashe member in Sderot. Enosh's untiring help and determination to uplift the community brought the community to learn the course. Over the years there has been a demand for Shokhtim (Shokhtim is plural of Shokhet, which means a person who performs Shekhita, a ritual slaughterer) in the community, but the community lacks to meet such demand. We hope that with his determination we soon have a Shokhtim in the community.
For the first time, the Bnei Menashe in Israel will take this Kashrut course in Hebrew and Kuki language (their common mother tongue), and will undergo oral examinations for elders in the Kuki language. This course is offered with the help of Machon Keter Halakha under the supervision of the renowned Tzadik Harav Shelomo Makhfud, Shlita. The course will hold classes every Tuesday in the Bnei Menashe Community synagogue “Alfei Menashe” in Natan Elbaz 23.
The course does include a comprehensive section on Ofoth (birds), Behemoth (animal, such as sheep, goat, cow, etc.), and Nikkur, the process of removing khelev (forbidden fats) and the gid hanasheh (sciatic nerve). Until now, there are 14 Baalei Batim and Avrekhim who enrolled in the course. The Ministry of Aliyah and Absorption will grant a concession (a reduction of 70 %) of course fees.
Our kind appreciation to Agaf Ha Klita in Sderot, and we sincerely applaud the help of our Mayor Alon Davidi; Deputy Mayor Khava Nakhshanov; Manager of Agaf Ha Klita Renata Shelomov, and Yiga Baniuk from Mishrad Ha Klita Sderot, and Polina Yoetzet Mishrad Ha Klita of Southern district in Israel.
The Shivtei Menashe Community in Sderot expresses our gratitude to the Ministry of Mishrad Ha Aliyah ve Klita (Ministry of Immigration and Absorption), for it is through their generous assistance that the community members have the opportunity to learn this course.
Summer Activities - Bnei Menashe - Sderot
Art classes for Children
The art teacher Khanokh Lhungdim gives painting lessons to children
Bnei Menashe children in Sderot enjoy their vocational art session
The world is full of amazing things, especially when one learns the arts of painting, one discovers the inner depth and mystery of the magical world.
In Sderot, we witness such events, in late November 2021.
With the help of the municipality of Sderot, Mayor of Sderot city Alon Davidi, Deputy Mayor of Sderot Khava Nakhshonov and Renata Shlomo, Manager of Agaf haKlita (department of Aliyah and absorption), the children of Bnei Menashe were able to learn the art of painting. One interesting fact was about their teacher, Khanokh Lhungdim, who himself is from the Bnei Menashe community. His talent gave many children the will to learn the art of painting, and of course were dreaming one day to draw portraits of their family pictures.
We hope we will again reorganize vocational painting class for the children of Bnei Menashe in Sderot.
The children after their day of school came to learn about the painting where the Bnei Menashe gallery museum was located in Brith Arim 16. They enjoyed their learning and also received refreshments from Agaf haKlita in Sderot. We very much appreciate our projector Sarah Lhungdim who took her extra time to take care of the children and buy them refreshments from the budget of Klita when they learned painting.
The art classes offer opportunities for art lovers who wish to explore their own creativity, acquire tools and express themselves in the language of art. The classes enable participants to realize their abilities to the fullest and the connection to their inner world.
Personal empowerment and career development for high school girls
Pic: Deputy Mayor Khava Nakhshonov gave a motivational speech to the high school girls
The Shivtei MenasheOrganization with help from various departments of Municipality in Sderot, such as Agaf HaKlita (branch of Absorption Ministry), Merkaz Tzairim (Center for Youth), and Khinukh (Education) organized personal empowerment and development program for the future of youngster. The inspirational program is designed to broaden the horizons of the youth and give them access to opportunities to build a bright future.
The high school girls were taken to AMDOCS Company by Sarah Lhungdim, Projector of Bnei Menashe Sderot (Agaf HaKlita), Maayan bar Yokhai from the Educational Department, and Bithya from the Youth center department. The Honorable Chairman Mrs. Khofit speaks with the youth and encourages them to pursue higher education so that they can get the opportunity to enter AMDOCS Company. Her speech enlightens the spirit of the youth to pursue their dream, and the students departed captivated with a higher spirit.
Bnei Menashe high school students attending a lecture at AMDOCS Company in Sderot
The girls also went to meet the Deputy Mayor of Sderot Khava Nakhshonov at her office. They were escorted by Sarah Lhungdim and Renata Shlomov, Manager of the branch of the Absorption ministry in Sderot. There they heard how to have ambitions for the future by setting the right goals and steps to achieve the aspirations from the Deputy Mayor. She expresses her willingness to help them to achieve their ambition and shares her experiences of many difficulties and obstacles she encountered as a new immigrant. She also encourages them that the youth need to change history and that they should not work as their parents as mere laborers. She further said that they too were in the same boat as the Bnei Menashe community, but with higher education and higher ambitions today they change their history.
Indeed the Bnei Menashe community needs to change its history. They will achieve this through the youth of the generation. The career advice is typically aimed at getting students and youngsters equipped with the practical skills and knowledge for what happens next in their future. All of this can help individuals to become more confident as they seek to open more potential career paths.
