Ruach Nachon
“Making space for the spirit”

If there is anything that we have learned from recent times it is just how much all of us —from all streams, sectors, opinions, around the world — are dependent one on another.

For the past seven years, all of us — graduates, staff members, and participants — at the Ruach Nachon Pre-Army Program (Mechina) in memory of Rabbi Menachem Fruman, have been working to renew the spirit (ethos): “…renew a steadfast spirit within me.” (Psalms, 51, 12). Primarily, the spirit of connecting between society’s various sectors; social responsibility; loving our fellow human; our Judaism; the worlds of culture and spirit; and the love of Israel.

Focusing on the tikkun (the Jewish concept of fixing that which is spiritually broken) that we cultivate from within, each and everyone of us, which then spreads out to influence the society in which we live, and then, ever increasing, to wider circles.

Anyone acquainted with Ruach Nachon is fully aware that what we have here is utterly unique.

Let us all connect to the greater spirit that we experienced or met with at Ruach Nachon, allowing it to expand into the future.
Together, we will make it even bigger and more significant – creating space for this spirit.

What we have created so far:

Creating space for the spirit in society

*Preparation for meaningful military service: fitness training, pre-army training, leadership training.

*Hundreds of graduates performing meaningful army service throughout all IDF units, including in leadership and command positions.

*Agricultural programs; hiking trips up North and through the desert; and cultivating an abundance of love for our country.

*The country’s spirit: a cross-sectional program on Israeli society, for army graduates, in Abu Gosh and Tekoa.

*A training course for social entrepreneurs in Jerusalem.

*Tour guide/hiking guide training program, including in-depth trips throughout the country.

*Midreshet Ruach Nachon in Tekoa: a seminary for the spirit, environment, and society, which also conducts community and environmental programs.

*Tolerance and discourse events for the public, in conjunction with the Jerusalem municipality.

* “Social travels” – a hiking program in the desert aimed at connecting students from various colleges throughout Israel.

Creating space for the spirit in the community

*Delivering food packages for the needy.

*Establishing a COVID-19 situation room; assisting those in quarantine, farmers, and medical teams during the pandemic.

*Working with at-risk youth.

*Assisting in nursery schools and special education settings.

*Accompanying the elderly as needed and conducting home visits.

*Running study centers and helping children make up missed school material.

*Developing green spaces in neighborhoods, ecological sustainability projects, community gardens, and green construction.

Creating space for the spirit in learning

*Multi-disciplinary arts’ workshops: photography, music, film, plastic arts, and strengthening the world of creativity and spirit.

*Over 600 teaching hours a year to create a wider humanistic awareness, focusing on spirit, philosophy, and society.

*Three-hundred study hours in Torah, Bible, Talmud, Chassidut, and Jewish philosophy.

And now — we need your help to continue:

Our amuta (non-profit organization) has grown and developed significantly these past few years, with a huge investment of effort and funds. We need your help to continue making a home for the mechina’s various activities and serve as a meeting place for our graduates. A home that will enable us to expand our social projects and activities, our volunteering in the community, our studying, and our pre-army preparations.

Be a part of something bigger and help us create a home for the spirit.
Let us walk this path together — and create a home for a renewed spirit and ethos.

Ruach Nachon
“Making space for the spirit”