The Mashav Ruach program was established by Aluma – Young Adults for Change, with the support of the Sapir Center for Jewish Education and Culture, to address the growing need for a learning, spiritual, and social framework for soldiers in non-combat roles in central Israel.
As part of the Safra Beit Midrash, Mashav Ruach brings together religious and secular soldiers serving in technological and intelligence positions for study and discussion on topics of spirituality and culture. The sessions are led by three facilitators: Rabbanit Dr. Chana Friedman, Lior Tal, and Rabbi Dr. Momi Faluch.
The program is founded on the belief that engagement with Jewish texts and the beit midrash style of study can enrich and deepen participants’ perspectives, support their personal and ethical development, and provide a social and emotional anchor for those who feel its absence in their military service.
Objectives:
- To provide social, emotional, and value-based support to servicemembers stationed in the central region.
- To introduce graduates of both state secular and state-religious educational systems to Jewish sources and content, equipping them with tools for a meaningful reengagement with Judaism that benefits Israeli society as a whole.
- To bridge divides between different sectors of Israeli society through shared cultural and spiritual experiences.
The beit midrash meets weekly throughout the year, featuring chavruta study, a light dinner, a concluding lesson, and a personal segment presented by one of the participants.
The program also features tours, workshops, and guest lectures coinciding with significant dates in the Hebrew calendar and to mark the completion of study units.
The panel participants:
Approximately eighty soldiers (fifty regular attendees) from both religious and secular backgrounds.