Rescuing Jewish Women
The Lehava organization – to prevent assimilation in the Holy Land - set a goal to save girls from Israel that were lured into relationships with non- Jews* Assimilation is not a phenomenon in the Diaspora only - it occurs here right under our noses * Do you know someone who is involved in such a relationship? You can save Jewish lives! Get in touch with Lehava and rescue her, or set up a branch of the organization in your hometown * It is a great mitzvah!
Love of one's fellow Jew, which is basis of the Torah, requires Jews to save the life of each and every one of Israel in danger.
Rabbis taught us this: "How do know that if one sees his friend drowning in the river or being dragged by an animal that he must save him? It says in the Torah, ' neither shalt thou stand idly by the blood of thy neighbour "(Sanhedrin 73, 1). And it is even a mitzvah to desecrate the Sabbath to save the soul of a Jew, as the Mechaber of the Shulchan Aruch, (Orach Chaim chapter 306, 14), "One who was notified that his daughter was removed from his home on Shabbos to be taken out of Klal Yisroel, must go out and try to save her, even to a distance of 11 k"m, and if he doesn't want to, the Court forces him to go out."
The problem of relations between Jewish girls and Arabs, Gentiles and foreign workers manifests itself in all sectors of the public all over the country, on a huge scale. Unfortunately, we encounter this in secular, religious, and ultra-Orthodox families. This phenomenon has hit the homes of girls in distress and normative houses, all over the country.
In light of the recent deterioration of the assimilation situation, several organizations that have been active for many years rescuing daughters of Israel, have united, in cooperation with SOS- Israel, to establish an umbrella organization – to fight the war against assimilation in the Holy Land. The new organization is called Lehava- an acronym of the Hebrew words: preventing assimilation in the Holy Land (Limnoa Hitbolelut b'Eretz HaKodesh.
After a meeting of the leading and experienced staff of Lehava, we have targeted to reach the girls before they reach the villages.
One Step Ahead- An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure
The best way to treat the problem of assimilation is by bringing forward the cure and early treatment by getting to the root of the problem. In mental health, like physical health, there is great importance in early identification, and it can be created by enhancing the awareness of the phenomenon, and individual treatment of the girls.
We do not judge these girls, but show them, warmth and love, and the way back to the Jewish people.
Ahavas Yisroel is the slogan of dozens of Lehava volunteers, working 24 hours a day to save lives.
Lehava is not satisfied with the rescue of daughters of Israel, while putting themselves on the line, but also provide a warm home for those girls, and are involved in the establishment of hundreds of homes in Israel while they rehabilitate the lives of those girls.
Browsing the pages of the appointment calendar of the Lehava activists gives one a sense that he is perusing documents of a Front Command room. Every hour brings new requests that are examined, authenticated, and a team is dispatched pronto to the scene.
The requests are varied and diversified, and each is touching. Sometimes it is the family, or someone in the family, who decided to fan another flicker of hope and not break the tie with a daughter who decided to tie her fate to the young Arab man she knew.
At times it is the girl herself, who managed to muster up courage for the few minutes to call on the phone, whispering, telling the story briefly, hoping that someone is listening to the story, will try to pull strings, and bring an end to the ongoing suffering that she is experiencing.
Chazal said "he, who rescues one soul in Israel, is as if he sustained an entire world." In Lehava this is not only an abstract teaching, but a daily reality. This holy teaching is our guide in our day to day operation.
A Plea to our Readers: We ask you to open your eyes, be alert and be our messengers wherever you are. Please, if you know or think a girl is in contact with a male from the minority population, please update us immediately via our hotline: 052-3003557.
We turn to you to participate with us in saving Jewish girls, by establishing Lehava branches in your area.
Contact us by fax: 02-5323041 or e-mail: o.leava@gmail.com |
