Over the past few years Rav Grossman has completed two major new projects for Israel’s youth. The Zoharim Agricultural Educational Youth Village was set up specifically for religious boys in Israel who don’t succeed in traditional school frameworks and have dropped out – in more ways than one. As anyone familiar with the phenomenon knows, these situations are heartbreaking for the boy and his family, and can also be dangerous. Not fitting in, not being accepted, is a breeding ground for many bad things and, unfortunately, all too often boys like these end up in trouble. Zoharim gives these boys a home, caring authority figures, healthy relationships, studies and activities, all of which help rebuild their self-esteem and give them concrete tools to overcome their problems and become wholesome, productive members of society.
At Zoharim the boys learn religious and also secular studies in the morning, giving them a spiritual framework, knowledge and insight which will help them understand themselves and their challenges, and enable them to actualize their potential, using their minds and abilities in good ways. In the afternoons, the boys learn agriculture, carpentry and other skills and trades which instills in them a sense of mastery and accomplishment, and also prepares them for adult life.
There is also horse therapy, which is another tool to help them emotionally and socially, and horseback riding, an exhilarating activity which enables them to expend a lot of excess energy in a positive way. The boys are also in charge of the horses and the stables and this responsibility builds their personality even more.
With all these factors working together, the students at Zoharim grow, mature and become more understanding and grounded. Their family relationships improve tremendously and they are even looked up to by other kids who are still lost. “It’s changed my life,” says one of the boys. “Who knows where I would have ended up if I hadn’t come here. This has turned me around completely. Or maybe I should say, it’s picked me up. I was down, really down, and now I feel that I’m a good person, that I’m important even if I’m not some people’s ideal, and that I can make a real contribution. That didn’t happen by chance; it happened here.” He finished his sentence and turned around to leave so that the tears in his eyes and voice wouldn’t be noticed.
And there’s more. Even good kids in good schools, whatever that might mean today, are at risk during their free time outside of school. To meet this challenge Rav Grossman set up Ohr Yisraeli (Israeli Light), a youth movement with a hundred and fifty centers throughout Israel. Here both boys and girls come to meet, enjoy activities, trips and even learn some new things. Recently, during the week before Yom Kippur, boys and girls from Ohr Yisraeli groups across Israel came to Meron where on Wednesday night, just two days before the holiest day of the year, they said the Selichot prayers together with Rav Grossman, begging Hashem for forgiveness for past sins and imploring Him for a year of life, good life – for themselves and for all Am Yisrael. “If it weren’t for Ohr Yisraeli, who knows where I would be and what I would be doing,” said one of the boys, candidly referring to the temptations and difficult challenges of today’s world. “I really appreciate it – it’s fun, it’s interesting, and what’s most important, the truth is that it’s good. It’s not always easy to be good when you’re on your own. This program is terrific.” Ohr Yisraeli is truly a tremendous gift for the thousands of boys and girls who participate in it.