Build the Playground

A playground is the cornerstone of young community life. Long before the shul is full on Shabbos morning and long before the school halls are buzzing, it is the playground where a community first comes alive. It is where toddlers take their first brave steps away from their parents, where children learn to share and take turns, and where lifelong friendships are forged in the simple joy of climbing, swinging, and playing together.

But a playground is not only for children. It is where parents meet each other — often for the first time. A mother pushing her daughter on the swings strikes up a conversation with the family who just moved in down the road. A father watching his son navigate the climbing wall exchanges a few words with his neighbor, and before long they are learning Torah together on Thursday nights. In a new settlement like Ohr Chabad, the playground becomes the natural gathering point where families connect, where bonds are built, and where the spirit of community takes root.

“The world endures only for the sake of the breath of schoolchildren.”

— Talmud, Shabbat 119b

In the very first neighborhood of the Ohr Chabad settlement, nestled among the rolling hills of the Yatir Forest, the plan is to start with a simple and fun playground — climbing equipment, slides, swings, and park benches where parents can sit and watch their children play. Nothing extravagant, but everything essential. A rubber safety surface will keep little ones protected, and a shade canopy will offer relief from the Negev desert sun, allowing families to enjoy the space throughout the long summer months.

The sounds of children laughing and playing are the surest sign that a community is thriving. As the Rebbe taught, simcha — joy — breaks through all boundaries. There is no purer joy than that of children at play, and there is no better investment in a community's future than creating the space where that joy can flourish. When you help build this playground, you are not just funding equipment — you are planting the seeds of friendship, unity, and shared purpose that will define Ohr Chabad for generations.

What Your Donation Provides

• Climbing structures and activity towers
• Slides and swing sets
• Park benches for parents
• Rubber safety surfacing
• Shade canopy for desert sun
• Landscaping and greenery

By contributing to the Ohr Chabad playground, you are helping build the heart of a young and growing community. Every child who climbs, every parent who connects, and every friendship that begins here will carry the merit of those who made it possible.