A new and unusual kindergarten opening up this school year is the common ground for the efforts of idealistic pioneers in Judea and a former Ukranian legislator.
With the help of former Ukranian parliament member Alexander Feldman, a young husband-and-wife couple in Tekoa, in eastern Gush Etzion, is opening a state-of-the-art educational nursery for toddlers.
The new nursery is loftily named Malkhut David (the Kingdom of David), and founders Yehoshua and Tehila Malinski in fact hope to imbue their young students with King David's special qualities.
"The Talmud tells us that King David possessed six special traits," Yehoshua explained, "namely, beauty, physical strength, courage, wisdom, musical ear and spirituality. Our youngsters will have teachers who will teach them the basics of Judaism, music, literature, and even math and sports. We will have nurses trained in reflexology, and more."
The Malinskis are both from the former Soviet Union, but they met and married here in Israel. Both are highly-qualified licensed teachers, and long dreamed to open a kindergarten. They encountered many obstacles, but now are on the verge of seeing the realization of the dream.
Some ten children are already signed up, and more are expected from both Tekoa and neighboring communities. Tekoa is home to some 4,000 Zionist-oriented Jews, both religious and non-religious, and both Sabras (born in Israel) and newcomers from the former USSR and other countries.
The cost is, according to Yehoshua, significantly less than a normal day care program. "We will be charging only 1,100 shekels a month," he said, "compared with 1,600 and even 1,800 shekels in other programs."
How is this possible? Thanks to the help of Alexander Feldman, a former Ukrainian parliament member - he plans to run again for office - who seeks out philanthropic causes to support in Judea and Samaria (Yesha). Feldman has said that he sees the Jewish population in Yesha as Israel's avant-garde.
Strong Support for Yesha
"Without Alexander Feldman's support," the Malinskis say, "it is doubtful whether we could have been able to open Malkhut David. We view his support as of utmost importance not only to us, but to the entire people of Israel, as the future of any country lies in its growing generation."
Feldman is known as a defender of civil rights in and out of the Ukraine, of both Jews and non-Jews. The chairman of a subcommittee for civil rights, serving both Jews and other minorities, he recently made headlines with his warning against "certain politicians and journalists” not to encourage “anti-Semitic hysteria.” His warnings followed racist slurs after a poisonous chemical spill in western Ukraine alleged to be by a Jewish-owned company.
With the help of former Ukranian parliament member Alexander Feldman, a young husband-and-wife couple in Tekoa, in eastern Gush Etzion, is opening a state-of-the-art educational nursery for toddlers.
The new nursery is loftily named Malkhut David (the Kingdom of David), and founders Yehoshua and Tehila Malinski in fact hope to imbue their young students with King David's special qualities.
"The Talmud tells us that King David possessed six special traits," Yehoshua explained, "namely, beauty, physical strength, courage, wisdom, musical ear and spirituality. Our youngsters will have teachers who will teach them the basics of Judaism, music, literature, and even math and sports. We will have nurses trained in reflexology, and more."
The Malinskis are both from the former Soviet Union, but they met and married here in Israel. Both are highly-qualified licensed teachers, and long dreamed to open a kindergarten. They encountered many obstacles, but now are on the verge of seeing the realization of the dream.
Some ten children are already signed up, and more are expected from both Tekoa and neighboring communities. Tekoa is home to some 4,000 Zionist-oriented Jews, both religious and non-religious, and both Sabras (born in Israel) and newcomers from the former USSR and other countries.
The cost is, according to Yehoshua, significantly less than a normal day care program. "We will be charging only 1,100 shekels a month," he said, "compared with 1,600 and even 1,800 shekels in other programs."
How is this possible? Thanks to the help of Alexander Feldman, a former Ukrainian parliament member - he plans to run again for office - who seeks out philanthropic causes to support in Judea and Samaria (Yesha). Feldman has said that he sees the Jewish population in Yesha as Israel's avant-garde.
Strong Support for Yesha
"Without Alexander Feldman's support," the Malinskis say, "it is doubtful whether we could have been able to open Malkhut David. We view his support as of utmost importance not only to us, but to the entire people of Israel, as the future of any country lies in its growing generation."
Feldman is known as a defender of civil rights in and out of the Ukraine, of both Jews and non-Jews. The chairman of a subcommittee for civil rights, serving both Jews and other minorities, he recently made headlines with his warning against "certain politicians and journalists” not to encourage “anti-Semitic hysteria.” His warnings followed racist slurs after a poisonous chemical spill in western Ukraine alleged to be by a Jewish-owned company.