The Ohr Chabad
Vision
Ohr Chabad is a Chabad community yishuv with a mission. We follow in the ways of Chabad Chassidus and our Rebbe's guidance, always innovating, taking initiative, and sharing light.
Ohr Chabad is a Chabad community yishuv with a mission. We follow in the ways of Chabad Chassidus and our Rebbe's guidance, always innovating, taking initiative, and sharing light.
The Vision
Ohr Chabad is a Chabad community yishuv with a mission. We follow in the ways of Chabad Chassidus and our Rebbe's guidance, always innovating, taking initiative, and sharing light.
Our vision is to establish a global tourist and entrepreneurial center from where Chassidic wisdom is shared and spread through a living example of Chassidic warmth, and love for a fellow Jew.
Our educational institutions will focus on raising the next generation with an enthusiasm for Chassidus through leadership development, creativity, academic excellence, and connection to nature.
We are young families and couples from around the world united around our adherence to the path of Chabad Chassidim and our love for the Land of Israel.
Working with government authorities and Agudat Chassidei Chabad, we aim to establish a yishuv based on the Rebbe's request. Our group commits to upholding Chabad customs, demonstrating community warmth, and sharing love of the Torah, the land, and the people.
We seek to create a place that will host diverse groups from all rhythms of the world, who will come to be inspired and reinvigorated in a place where Chassidic wisdom comes to life.
The fast-growing international Chabad community requires housing, education, and support for young families. Young Chabad families want to make aliyah but face distance from family, and cultural differences.
Community members have a sense of mission and obligation to share the joys of Judaism with fellow Jews, and wish to live in a place where this is possible.
Aguch, established by the Previous Rebbe, directs Chabad activities in Israel. The organization has closely guided the founding families, and helped us at every step.
The ideology stems from Chabad Chassidus, teaching that one must constantly strive to improve on oneself, and perfect the world through acts of goodness and kindness.
The yishuv is specifically for families who wish to live in the Chabad lifestyle.
Members must follow the Alter Rebbe's Shulchan Aruch, keep Chabad minhagim, and consult with a Chabad Rav. The community maintains strong Chassidic standards, while maintaining an open-mind and readiness to integrate the modern world.
The founding group demonstrates an extremely talented group full of diverse capabilities, pleasant character traits, and a growth mindset.
Members are peaceful and humble, while still strong and determined. All members are visionaries who appreciate their neighbor's success as their own.
Professions vary widely: businessmen, working class, and professionals with high level degrees. Many have portable work-from-home jobs.
Nestled in the Negev mountains, inside the Yatir forest, are the remains of an ancient city of Leviim. Historically, this area served as a place where the people of Israel gathered to study Torah, connect with the Creator of the world, and draw strength and inspiration for a life of meaning.
Here, we'll bring this light back to its full fire.
Yatir Forest offers aesthetic appeal and strategic advantages, providing many opportunities for joint initiatives with the existing communities, and integrative contribution to the development of the local social and economic fabric.
Israel faces overcrowding concentrated in the center. The Negev is left empty with vast spaces ideal for building towns and cities with a high quality of life.
Ohr Chabad in the Northern Negev will bring more tourism to the south, and expand the local economy.
Beer Sheva, 30 minutes away, is the fourth largest city in Israel, with all the amenities and more for a comfortable life, including a large hospital, the biggest mall in Israel, many large shopping centers, and high-tech offices.
Within 20 minutes are multiple medical clinics, large supermarkets, and other daily necessities.
The community sits fully immersed in nature with wildlife, including wild gazelle, tortoises, and red foxes.
The area contains acres of untouched archeology, dating back thousands of years. We hope to hire a team of archeologists to uncover the secrets of the caves, pillars, ancient buildings, and pottery.
The famous "Israel Trail," trekking from north to Eilat, passes through Ohr Chabad.
The location has historically been quiet and is constantly patrolled by IDF soldiers. Being on a hilltop creates defensive advantages against rockets or terrorism.
Full security measures will be implemented with a full time volunteer patrol run by community members with experience in security.
The community includes several trained medics, and will have a local first aid station and ambulance from the very beginning.
Residential Area Blueprint
The community will operate multiple impact programs including a Jewish learning resort, student programs, a high-tech incubator, immigration absorption initiatives, and agricultural work.
The community fosters an atmosphere of love for the Jewish State and people. People will want to contribute and give back to the country they love so much.
Worldwide Chabad centers serve diverse Jewish populations. The resort will provide a panoramic learning experience of all things Jewish with an upscale relaxing atmosphere perfect for learning and absorbing Jewish wisdom.
Learning options include Torah classes, one-on-one chavrusa learning, and hands-on experiences.
Chabad centers will organize group tours for seminars and retreats. These seminars will be open to the public and cover different themes in Jewish studies.
The resort aims to make visitors to love and support Israel, and understand the importance of the land of Israel. Some may continue to support Israel from a distance — with occasional visits, and others may ultimately choose to make aliyah.
With over 260 Chabad on Campus centers, many students seek gap year alternatives to full-time yeshiva. Ohr Chabad's program offers volunteering on the land, and a few Torah classes each day.
The program provides college credits towards environmental sustainability or agriculture. Students will walk away with not just a valuable diploma, but also a deep connection to their homeland.
Olim from North America face difficulties settling permanently. Many end up returning to America. Ohr Chabad is set up from the start to steadily absorb and retain English-speaking olim with ease.
The Negev contains a large empty plane of potential. Through technology and divine assistance, we can make the desert bloom.
The program aims for nutritional independence and profit for the yishuv.
The community will balance Israeli families alongside immigrant families from around the world who strive to act in harmony as emissaries of the Rebbe.
Prospective members should be peaceful folk devoted to a life of Chabad Chassidus; always striving to grow in a positive way, and with a healthy open-mindedness. Financial self-sufficiency and a strong work ethic are required.
A significant percentage of the families are businessmen and entrepreneurs, who together will work to develop businesses and educational social enterprises in the fields of tourism, high-tech, and more.
Ohr Chabad creates a community of doers who wish to constantly improve the yishuv's dynamics, and create change in the world.
Members join not just for an easier life, but for the ability to have a real effect on the world, and accomplish great things.
It's no secret that Chabad loves Israel. Two main challenges exist: cultural differences and family separation.
Sixty percent of members will be new olim or children of new olim.
With English-speaking members, cultural differences will be minor and easier to adapt to. Simultaneously, the fresh immigrants won't find themselves in an American bubble, and will have Israeli friends.
The community will provide a supportive family atmosphere and close friendships in the spirit of a village that raises the children together.
Standard communities have outgrown their location and leave the younger generations falling through the cracks.
Major attractions include:
Housing and education costs burden families. Ohr Chabad offers:
The yishuv applies original Chabad Chassidic values to modern needs, with a special emphasis on Shlichus, and communal involvement. Well-defined committees, weekly meetings, community guides, leadership programs, and volunteer opportunities form the backbone of daily life.
Chabad derives from Chochma, Bina, Daat — wisdom, comprehension, knowledge — alluding to the thought process that brings people to powerful action.
Lubavitch translates as "city of brotherly love," emphasizing unconditional love and care for every single Jew, no matter their background.
Teachings focus on how to love a fellow Jew, even when one's heart says otherwise.
Community life centers on these values, as was the historic village of Lubavitch. While the community will have a large focus on outreach, it will also have a strong core of education and love towards fellow yishuv members.
Happy communities need solid leadership.
The Rav will be someone in touch with both religious and secular aspects of the world, understands human struggle, and how to lead with powerful kindness.
Community leaders ensure no one falls through the cracks by watching for communal challenges and organize solutions to keep everything going in a positive direction.
It really does take a village to raise a child — especially in Israel, where the culture is dependent on everyone having a local family.
Many residents live far from biological family. The community features a family atmosphere, where everyone looks out for their friends and neighbors, and children look to other parents as adopted uncles, aunts, bubbies, and zeides.
An adopt-a-family program will pair more experienced families with those needing proactive guidance and care, judgment-free.
Initially, school children will commute to the Chabad schools in Be'er Sheva. These schools are known to be successful at education and catering to the individual child.
As growth occurs, schools will be built up starting from daycare within the successful Reshet Chinuch Chabad system established by the Rebbe Rayatz.
Teachers are of the highest caliber, fully accredited, and deeply respected by students and parents alike.
The system focuses on preparing the children for life with the leadership skills needed in this modern world. Classes will address the individual kid, and education shaped through hands-on experiences in nature, encouraging exploration and discovery.
A farbrengen is a time for a group of friends to gather together and inspire each other with heart-to-heart conversation. It gives a powerful recharge for people to continue moving in a positive direction, even through difficult times.
The community will host weekly farbrengens leading to positive individual and social growth.
Learning never ends, and definitely not in Ohr Chabad. There will always be classes covering all topics in Torah, Chassidut, Parenting, Health, and other topics practical to life.
Every member is strongly encouraged that every community member attend at least one weekly Torah session.
The youth are the driving inspiration behind Ohr Chabad, and the most worthy investment.
Children participate in well-planned Tzivos Hashem and Bat Melech youth groups. The youth groups are designed to instill strong leadership skills and kindness into every child.
Weekly meetings enable children to plan projects that train in different life skills. Teen graduates of youth groups will become the counsellors for the next generation.
Youth projects will often be ones that inspire and affect everyone around. Thus, children from Ohr Chabad will grow into adults who know how to take charge of a situation and bring positive change.
It's important that every member of Ohr Chabad feels like they are a contributing part of a bigger picture.
Each member receives the opportunity for at least one volunteer job around the yishuv. Volunteer opportunities come in a large variety so that everyone can pick something that utilizes a real talent.
Examples include gardening, partner learning with visitors, setting up classes, beautifying the yishuv, security, and hosting guests for meals.
From inception, Ohr Chabad will be very nature-oriented. There will be lots of outdoor play space for children, outdoor seating for adults, and efforts to keep the outdoors clean and beautiful.
Families are encouraged to keep gardens in front of their homes to help make the outdoor scene beautiful.
Activities include many outdoor events, including bonfires, community picnics, and Torah classes.
Build With Us
Be part of a community where Chassidic wisdom comes to life. Whether you want to pioneer, partner, volunteer, or support from afar, there is a place for you in the Ohr Chabad vision.
Become a Pioneer