Migdal Ohr: The Magic of Caring:

Communal Service

Rabbi Grossman blesses a prisoner in the prison sanctuary during a holiday party

Yad le'Asir; the Migdal Ohr Prisoner Rehabilitation Program and Kollel

Over thirty years ago, Rabbi Yitzchak Dovid Grossman had the foresight to identify a critical social problem Israel. Young immigrants and others, who had the misfortune of being brought up in the poorest neighborhoods of Northern Israel, were turning to lives of crime. They were considered outcasts by society, sitting in prison with virtually no opportunities or drive to fulfill their potential. Rabbi Grossman understood that there was a lack of religion and education in these areas, so in 1968 he and his young wife and baby moved to Migdal Ha'Emek from their home town of Jerusalem, and set out to change the way Israeli civilization forever viewed these citizens. Rabbi Grossman sought out the most corrupt delinquents and found them in prisons and dilapidated discos and pubs. Like a flock to its shepherd, these wayward Israelis gravitated to the optimistic and charismatic young Rabbi. This was the beginning of the Migdal Ohr story and its Prisoner Rehabilitation Program. Decades later, Migdal Ha'Emek, which was once a shanty town filled with drug lords and crime, has been transformed into a hub of Torah learning, Jewish culture and spirituality.

Migdal Ohr is extremely proud of our Center for Prisoner Rehabilitation. With the sanction of prison authorities, Rabbi Grossman established this program which strives to improve the social and communal values of those incarcerated. In addition to vocational and practical job skills training, the inmates are taught ethics and wholesome lifestyle habits in order to fully prepare them for a life outside of prison. This program has proven to be phenomenally successful and thousands of former prisoners have been reintegrated into mainstream society, living honest and crime-free lives. Our program graduates have a 20 % recidivism rate, compared to the 86 % rate among the general prison population.

Rabbi Grossman teaches Torah to program participants

In three of the most brutal prisons in Israel; Shata Prison, in Beit Shaan, Megiddo Prison in Megiddo, and Jelemy Prison in Haifa, Rabbi Grossman has established spiritual safe havens for criminals to begin rehabilitation while still incarcerated. Rather than passing the time, stirring up trouble, lifting weights and playing basketball, many prisoners use this sanctuary for quiet meditation, prayer, philosophical discussion and learning Torah with a Migdal Ohr appointed chaplain or at lectures. During the Jewish holidays and on the first of every month the prisoners are invited to a party where they are taught the significance of the holidays.

After release from prison, select graduates - each of whom have served a minimum of ten years in prison - are released into Rabbi Grossman's "custody". They are given the opportunity to resettle with their families in Migdal Ha'Emek and enroll in Migdal Ohr's Kollel "Yad Le'Asir", which also serves as a guest house for prisoners currently attending the Prison Rehabilitation Program. They devote their days to studying all facets of Judaism, Gemara, Halacha, Mussar & Jewish philosophy and their evenings volunteering in the community. Currently over one hundred students are learning full time in the Kollel and many prisoners on furlough choose to spend time at the Kollel. Our Kollel students have proven to be very influential in outreach towards prisoners who are newly incarcerated and in need of strength.

The Kollel is run by Rabbi Chaim Golumbeck, who has over 30 years experience in the rehabilitation of prisoners and visits prisons daily to teach and inspire those still incarcerated. There is also a well trained team of professionals who mentor the Kollel students and guide them to maximize their potential within the community. Rabbi Grossman personally checks in on each student's progress and teaches a monthly class at the Kollel.

Medical Equipment

Migdal Ohr maintains medical equipment in Migdal Ha' Emek for use by the elderly and poor.

Soup Kitchen

Our soup kitchen provides free hot lunches to hundreds of deprived residents of Migdal Ha'Emek every day. Recipients of the program can either eat in the soup kitchen, pick up packaged lunches to take home, or arrange for home delivery.

Yad LeRav

As one of Israel's leading community Rabbis, and as a prestigious member of the Chief Rabbinate Council, Rabbi Grossman started this initiative to help local rabbis better serve their underprivileged communities. Using the transformation of Migdal Ha'Emek as a model, the ultimate goal is to provide spiritual and educational nourishment to peripheral towns and villages.

Through Yad LeRav, Rabbi Grossman sponsors trained assistants for fellow rabbis, to help expand community activities. Assistants educate the local community, prepare young adults for Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, implement dietary laws in kitchens, and provide other religious services as needed. One of their main activities is spending one-on-one time with families and children to help them deal with social and educational problems.