Project "Safra VeSayfa" - literally, book and sword, or study and warfare - was formed for the express purpose of linking individual yeshiva students with specific IDF soldiers. The student "adopts" the soldier by studying Torah in his name and praying for his safety.
"By connecting the soldier to Torah study and prayer," says Maayan Ohr of Tekoa, who founded the project, "the yeshiva student lends strength to the soldier on the battlefield, who then transforms this force into defending and saving our homeland."
Maayan Ohr, whose Hebrew names mean "wellspring" and "light," says one of the goals of the project is to enhance the bonds within the different sectors of the Jewish People: "We hope to increase the sense of mutual responsibility, build a deeper connection and encourage a spirit of cooperation within our people. Unifying their strengths will bring redemption to the world at large."
The participating yeshivot include, thus far, Machon Meir, Ateret Cohanim, Yeshivat Beit El, and former Chief Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu's Kollel. Feelers have been sent out to hareidi-religious yeshivot as well. Each yeshiva is given a set of designer bookmarks, each with the name of a soldier and his mother. Each student chooses a bookmark, and thus begins the spiritual connection.
Why designer bookmarks? The answer is fascinating. "I was taking a graphics course," Maayan said, "and for our final project, the teacher told us we could do anything we wanted - as long as it had nothing to do with religion or politics. But my son was in the army at the time, and I felt very much that I wanted to do something to help the soldiers. So I told my teacher that I wanted to do this project - and even though it had both religion and politics, and even though the teacher was a left-winger, she thought it was a great idea, and she approved it!"
Soldiers and students who wish to participate can sign up by email. "Just yesterday," Maayan said, "a student called me and said he wanted to take part; the yeshiva is now on its official 3-week summer break, but he is continuing to study on his own. I told him I had just received the names of seven soldiers, and asked if he could find some friends to pair them up with. Within a few hours, he called me back with the names of six others - and now we have seven new pairs!"
Soldiers who are interested in having yeshiva students study and pray for them and their families, and students in Israel or around the world who wish to dedicate their studies to this purpose, are invited to send their names to: safravesayfa@email.com.
"By connecting the soldier to Torah study and prayer," says Maayan Ohr of Tekoa, who founded the project, "the yeshiva student lends strength to the soldier on the battlefield, who then transforms this force into defending and saving our homeland."
Maayan Ohr, whose Hebrew names mean "wellspring" and "light," says one of the goals of the project is to enhance the bonds within the different sectors of the Jewish People: "We hope to increase the sense of mutual responsibility, build a deeper connection and encourage a spirit of cooperation within our people. Unifying their strengths will bring redemption to the world at large."
The participating yeshivot include, thus far, Machon Meir, Ateret Cohanim, Yeshivat Beit El, and former Chief Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu's Kollel. Feelers have been sent out to hareidi-religious yeshivot as well. Each yeshiva is given a set of designer bookmarks, each with the name of a soldier and his mother. Each student chooses a bookmark, and thus begins the spiritual connection.
Why designer bookmarks? The answer is fascinating. "I was taking a graphics course," Maayan said, "and for our final project, the teacher told us we could do anything we wanted - as long as it had nothing to do with religion or politics. But my son was in the army at the time, and I felt very much that I wanted to do something to help the soldiers. So I told my teacher that I wanted to do this project - and even though it had both religion and politics, and even though the teacher was a left-winger, she thought it was a great idea, and she approved it!"
Soldiers and students who wish to participate can sign up by email. "Just yesterday," Maayan said, "a student called me and said he wanted to take part; the yeshiva is now on its official 3-week summer break, but he is continuing to study on his own. I told him I had just received the names of seven soldiers, and asked if he could find some friends to pair them up with. Within a few hours, he called me back with the names of six others - and now we have seven new pairs!"
Soldiers who are interested in having yeshiva students study and pray for them and their families, and students in Israel or around the world who wish to dedicate their studies to this purpose, are invited to send their names to: safravesayfa@email.com.