Tiferet Ohel Moshe- Beit Shemesh
Founded by the Righteous Rabbi Moshe Zeev Katz of Blessed Memory
The Institutions and their Founders
It all started, when Rabbi Katz, of Blessed Memory, moved to Israel in 1969. When the Rabbi arrived, ready to connect to the very soil of the Holy Land, he searched for a place he could focus on the holy work of awakening Jews to revere God and love Israel.
At the same time, the small town of Beit Shemesh, had become a stop after the transit camps, for the dear immigrants who made Aliyah from Eastern Sephardic countries. Because of the terribly dire spiritual situation, that started to prevail among the youth, the people of Beit Shemesh were desperate for a spiritual leader… for guidance. And Rabbi Katz found in them exactly what his soul was thirsty for… searching for… a community of hearts, open to accept and absorb the Torah and the precious values it offers so generously.
And so it came to pass. In spite of the chasm of differences between mentor and students, both mentally and culturally, the Rabbi very quickly became beloved by the residents of the town, thanks to a steady and constant abundance of affection… the power of love. In spite of his advanced age, the Rabbi found the strength to establish the holy institution of Tiferet Ohel Moshe.
He started with Torah activities for the teenagers, to whet the appetites of the youth, with the sweetness of the Torah; to instill within them the magnitude of the love of Israel. In addition, the Rabbi's office became an open door to the residents of Beit Shemesh… a place they were able to come and pour out their hearts and get solutions for their problems.
As the Rabbi became a symbol and model of a powerful love of Israel, he devoted days and nights to those who reached out to him… with a dedication that knew no boundary. Exactly like the way a father worries for his son… or even more. It is no exaggeration to say that thousands of the residents of Beit Shemesh and nearby areas, owe their physical and spiritual lives to Rabbi Katz, of Blessed Memory.
At that time, there was a man who became close to Rabbi Katz. Rabbi Shlomo Gottfried, of Blessed Memory, the Rabbi's esteemed student and a man of many talents, became his right hand man, always at his side. Soon he became a pillar of support for all the holy operations of TIferet Moshe. Rabbi Gottfried stood alongside Rabbi Katz, offering emotional and even financial aid, to help preserve the programs of Torah and good deeds.
Rabbi Katz stood as leader and director of the institutions, with exalted dedication and devotion, until he was called up to Heaven too soon, on that bitter bitter day…
Tiferet Moshe Today:
The Talmud states that the Righteous, even after their death, continue living. Today, many years after Rabbi Katz's passing from this world, Tiferet Moshe's institutions continue to achieve, to influence, to grow. The leadership of the institution continues to follow in his holy ways which teaches that first and foremost, the priority is to love the people of Israel… to love every Jew, whoever he is.
Following is a small selection of the diverse activities at Tiferet Moshe:
Teen Organization, "Spark of Light".
This organization provides a true and necessary response for the suffering of hundreds of teenagers, from all over town. It's no secret that the challenges of today are numerous and complex. Unfortunately, many teens who can't deal with difficult challenges, end up dropping out of school.
Many of them, are often teens who are homeless, and they roam the streets, days and night, with absolutely nothing to occupy their time, leading them directly and sadly into the ways and dangers of crime. For those, "Spark of Light" offers individual specialized care.
The five branches of the organization are scattered across the streets of Beit Shemesh. It is amazing and heartwarming to read, that the directors of these branches of Spark of Light are none others than those teens who were themselves drop-outs! Through the help of Spark of Light they were rehabilitated, and have since established their own homes and family, with the organization's guidance. Who, more than they, know what these young teens need. And that's exactly what they provide. They envelop these teens with boundless love, offering them positive, exciting substitutes for roaming the streets at night. They challenge them with fascinating, hands-on learning experiences and entertaining sport activities. In addition, and maybe most important, each teenager has a personal counselor, who is available 24 hours a day to talk, to guide, to provide help with difficult decisions or help him through hard times.
Women's Organization, "Women for the Love of Israel".
This organization, as its title claims, is purely all about the love for the women of Israel, who are dealing with crisis in their lives.
The main activity involves providing aid in dealing with day to day hardship, by distributing substantial assistance for Shabbat and holidays. The organization is managed magnanimously, with the open heart and sensitive ear of Mrs. Adela Mushkato, director of the Department of Absorption in Beit Shemesh.
The Good Deeds Fund, "Love of Israel". The fund provides loans for the needy, with no interest rates and a convenient generous payment plan. Through the years, hundreds and thousands of families from the original residents of Beit Shemesh, were helped.
Kollel of Yeshiva Students
Tiferet Ohel Moshe's Kollel is a new innovative idea. This unique Kollel was started with the purpose of providing an answer for our fellow Jews at the beginning of their search for Judaism. As we all know, one of the greatest difficulties for a person returning to his roots… searching for the right path, is the hardship of trying to acclimate and adapt to a Torah community life. This remarkable change that they made in their lives is a blessed and desirable one, but they don't necessarily have the tools to integrate fully in this very special community life they have chosen.
And so, Tiferet Ohel Moshe enlisted the help of 70 young Yeshiva students who devote many long hours every day to guide and direct our dear brothers in the way of learning and behavior until they can successfully become a natural part of Jewish community life. And the results speak for themselves. Thanks to these very special activities, dozens of families, who are taking their first steps into the world of Torah and its commandments, are able to join the world they so waited to be part of.
Educational framework for young children
(Day Care and kindergarten). Tiferet Ohel Moshe provides a solution for the mothers of the older section of Beit Shemesh who want to help with the support of their families by going out to work. They therefore need an educational framework for their children… one that they can trust so they can leave them without any worries.
For these mothers, for these very young children, Tiferet Ohel Moshe established the very finest chain of Day Care and kindergartens. Tremendous resources and efforts were invested in order to provide the very best conditions for the development and education of the children, with good deeds and Torah values at the forefront.
The administrators of the Day Care Centers and kindergartens are the finest and most professional. The proof is in the impressive progress. Every year, more and more families come to register their children and become part of the success story. Today, around 150 sweet young children from the older section of Beit Shemesh are part of the Tiferet Ohel Moshe family.
We Need More:
After reading all that is written here, it is clear that all this great work is costly, the expense astronomical. As the Talmud says, "A handful is not sufficient to satisfy the lion". Which in our case means, that even with whatever subsidies are collected, even with the generous donations of kind-hearted souls, at the head of which stands the family of Rabbi Shlomo Gottfried, of Blessed Memory, it is not enough. Not nearly enough. More is needed; new resources must be found in order to achieve our goals.
And so, because of the wonderful growth and holy accomplishments of Tiferet Ohel Moshe, there comes a great desire to add new success to old, to increase the great works, in the ways and the doctrines of Rabbi Katz, May His memory be Blessed. The decision was made to reach out in a massive recruitment. Funds are needed to establish a strong solid base for subsidizing the maintenance costs of our institutions. And just as important, to build a foundation for new promising programs to enrich and inspire.
As one man with one heart, we will join hands with resolve and strength, to continue the legacy of Rabbi Katz. Together we will raise the heavy burden, lightened by our unified efforts; together we will continue to act, assisting suffering families from all parts of the population; together we will reach out to the teenagers and help them deal with the challenges and hardships of our day, to guide and teach them, until they will merit building their own homes of value and glory.
And of course, Rabbi Katz, from up in the Heavens, will shower those who donate and give aid, with an abundance of blessing, and may they be blessed with salvation and comfort, and a year of sweetness and success.