Menu

About Us

The Ohr Chabad Vision

Ohr Chabad is a Chabad community yishuv with a mission. We follow in the ways of Chabad Chassidus and our Rebbe’s guidance, always innovating, taking initiative, and sharing light.

Ohr Chabad will be a global tourist and entrepreneurial center from where Chassidic wisdom is shared and spread through a living example of Chassidic warmth, and love for a fellow Jew.

The unique local children’s education institutions will advocate raising the next generation with an enthusiasm for Chassidus through leadership development, creativity, academic excellence, and connection to nature.

The People Behind this

Who Are We?

We are young families and couples from around the world united around our adherence to the path of Chabad Chassidim and our love for the Land of Israel.

Together, in cooperation with the government authorities and with Agudat Chassidei Chabad, we are establishing a Yishuv based on the Rebbe’s request and guidance. We will uphold Chabad customs, be a living example of community-family warmth, and share our love of the Torah, the land, and the people.

Together we will create a place that will host diverse groups from all rhythms of the world, who will come to be inspired and reinvigorated in a place where Chassidic wisdom comes to life.
Read More
The Yishuv Location

Where will Ohr Chabad be?

Nestled in the Negev mountains, inside the Yatir forest, are the remains of an ancient city of Leviim, where once, centuries ago, the people of Israel gathered to study Torah, connect with the Creator of the world, and draw strength and inspiration for a life of meaning.

Here, we’ll bring this light back to its full fire.

Yatir Forest has an almost mythical beauty, ideal for the goals of our community. Its location offers many opportunities for joint initiatives with the existing communities, and integrative contribution to the development of the local social and economic fabric.
Read More
The Yishuv Impacted

How will Ohr Chabad contribute to Israel?

The Ohr Chabad community will be structured to bring up children who believe in giving back to our country and the Jewish people. Several programs and institutions will be run by the Yishuv members which will encourage this further, including:

  • Jewish learning resort for people from all over the world.
  • Learning programs for students from all over the world, with a program for students coming to Israel for a volunteer year.
  • An incubator for local entrepreneurship. Among the initiatives, training and employment of Charedim and Chabad followers in high-tech professions.
  • Steady absorption of many new immigrants.
  • Agricultural work and educational farms.
Read More
Joining the Yishuv

Who will join Ohr Chabad?

Ohr Chabad will be filled with a balance of Israeli families alongside immigrant families from around the world who strive to act in harmony as emissaries of the Rebbe, and to realize the Rebbe’s vision to found another Chabad village in the Holy Land.

We seek members who are peaceful folk devoted to a life of Chabad Chassidus; always striving to grow in a positive way, and with a healthy open-mindedness. We also require new families to be able to support themselves financially, and hold a strong work-ethic.

A significant percentage of the families are businessmen and entrepreneurs, who together will work to develop businesses and educational social enterprises in the fields of tourism, high-tech, and more.
Read More
Community Life

What will Ohr Chabad community life be like?

Our Yishuv will strive to apply original Chabad Chassidic values to modern needs, with a special emphasis on Shlichus, and communal involvement. This will be encouraged by our community programs:

  • Well-defined committees dedicated to the success of our community goals.
  • Weekly meetings for the entire community for personal and community growth.
  • Community guides to accompany the families and make sure that the community responds to the needs of the individual.
  • Leadership programs for children and youth to grow the next generation in social responsibility, and giving to society.
  • Opportunities for community action, and volunteering for each member of the yishuv.
  • An incubator for local entrepreneurship to accelerate and grow local initiatives and businesses for the economic development of the entire area.
Read More
Our Partners
Our Team
Sign Up For Our Newsletter

The Need

Due to its fast growth, the international Chabad community has long needed a new place for its young families to settle. The needs of the community are simple, yet scarcely accommodated to: community support, affordable housing, Chabad schooling, a Chabad environment, and quality leadership.

Many young Chabad families want to make aliyah to Israel, but are hesitant due to the distance from family, and cultural differences.

More importantly, Chabad families have a sense of mission and obligation to share the joys of Judaism with fellow Jews, and wish to live in a place where this is possible. The founding families of Ohr Chabad set out to create a place that meets all the needs of young Chabad families, while also utilizing their strengths to create a village where visitors of all kinds can experience chassidic wisdom come to life.

Agudas Chassidei Chabad - "Aguch"

Aguch is the institution established by the Previous Rebbe to direct Chabad activities in Israel. Throughout the establishment of this yishuv, Aguch has closely guided the founding families, and helped us at every step. Ohr Chabad will always operate under the framework of Aguch, with a deep respect for the institutions established by the Rebbe.

The Ideology

Ohr Chabad is founded on a common ideology; one which unites the group for a higher cause. The ideology comes from Chabad Chassidus, which teaches that one must constantly strive to improve on oneself, and perfect the world through acts of goodness and kindness.

Religion

Ohr Chabad will be specifically for families who wish to live in the Chabad lifestyle. The majority will be new olim who are used to the culture of Chabad in North America. The yishuv will keep strong Chassidic standards, while maintaining an open-mind and readiness to integrate the modern world into the Chassidic lifestyle as the Chabad Rebbe encouraged.

Ohr Chabad members are expected to follow the Alter Rebbe’s Shulchan Aruch, keep Chabad minhagim, and consult with a Chabad Rav.

Characteristics

In order to prepare for a vibrant future, the Ohr Chabad group has chosen to start off with an extremely talented group full of diverse capabilities, pleasant character traits, and a growth mindset.

First and foremost, members are peaceful and humble, while still strong and determined. Members are all visionaries who appreciate their neighbor’s success as their own.

Careers of members cover a wide range, including businessmen, working class, and professionals with high level degrees. Many have portable work-from-home jobs. Everyone is fully employable and of a strong work ethic.

The Negev

The Negev is extremely important to Israel’s future. Today, Israel is on the verge of an over-crowding disaster with most of the population crammed into the country’s center. Meanwhile, the Negev is left empty with vast spaces ideal for building towns and cities with a high quality of life.

Ohr Chabad will be built in the Northern Negev, bringing more tourism to the south, and expanding the local economy.

The Area

A thirty minute drive from Ohr Chabad, Be’er Sheva is the fourth largest city in Israel, with all the amenities and more for a comfortable life, including a large hospital, the biggest mall in Israel, many large shopping centers, and high-tech offices.

Within a twenty minute drive from Ohr Chabad are multiple medical clinics, large supermarkets, and other daily necessities.

Nature and Archeology

Ohr Chabad will be nestled inside the Yatir forest, fully immersed in nature. The forest is full of wildlife, including wild gazelle, tortoises, and red foxes. Between the trees lies a hidden treasure; acres of untouched archeology, dating back thousands of years. We hope to hire a team of archeologists to uncover the secrets of the caves, pillars, ancient buildings, and pottery for us to learn from our past.

The famous “Israel Trail,” which treks from the northern tip of Israel and down to Eilat goes right through Ohr Chabad, for a scenic hike through the Yatir forest and archeology.

Residential Area

Ohr Chabad will have a spacious layout that will fit large families while keeping nature within the residential area. The blueprint includes the following:

  • Suburban housing for 500 families
  • Large playgrounds and parks
  • A luxurious resort with 200 rooms
  • 200 bed and breakfast cabins throughout the community
  • Dormitories and classroom space for a gap-year program
  • A large shul and mikveh
    Schools
  • Community center with rental work offices
  • Grocery and medical centers

Saftey and Security

The location of Ohr Chabad has historically been quiet. Due to its location right near the “green line” border leading to the Hebron Hills, it is constantly patrolled by IDF soldiers. Since it’s on the top of a hill, it is a difficult location for rockets or terrorism to access. Regardless, full security measures will be implemented, and the community will have a full time volunteer patrol run by community members with experience in security.

The Ohr Chabad community includes several trained medics, and will have a local first aid station and ambulance from the very beginning.

Give Back

Ohr Chabad will foster an atmosphere of love for the Jewish State and people. People will want to contribute and give back to the country they love so much. Everyone will be encouraged to do their part to make this country even greater.

Jewish Learning Resort

There are 3,600 Chabad centers worldwide, serving Jewry of all backgrounds. Very often an attendee of a Chabad center wishes to learn more about Judaism in depth – beyond the weekly Torah classes. These people are past the yeshiva age, and often would like to go learn with their spouse, or family. This phenomena isn’t only true to Chabad centers – there are people of all kinds who wish to take a break to go and discover Judaism in all its wisdom.


Ohr Chabad will house a Jewish Learning Resort that provides a panoramic learning experience of all things Jewish. The resort will provide an upscale relaxing atmosphere perfect for learning and absorbing Jewish wisdom at its finest. A plethora of learning possibilities such as Torah classes, one-on-one chavrusa learning, and hands-on experiences will be provided for all resort guests.


Chabad centers will also be bringing in group tours for seminars and retreats. These seminars will be open to the public and cover different themes in Jewish studies.


The resort will not just bring in tourists, it will bring its visitors to love and support Israel, and understand the importance of the land of Israel. Some may continue to support Israel from a distance – with occasional visits, and others may ultimately choose to make aliyah.

Gap Year

Worldwide there are over 260 Chabad on Campus centers. Each year, Rabbis and Rebbetzins come across many students who wish to take a gap year in Israel, but are not yet ready for one of the available full-time yeshiva programs. Ohr Chabad’s gap-year program will provide an attractive alternative with volunteering on the land, and a few Torah classes each day.

The program will also offer college credits towards environmental sustainability or agriculture. Students will walk away with not just a valuable diploma, but also a deep connection to their homeland.

Absorption of Olim

While there are no solid statistics, it’s widely known that olim from North America have a very hard time settling in Israel, and many end up returning to America. Ohr Chabad will be set up from the start to steadily absorb and retain English-speaking olim with ease.

Agriculture

The Negev contains a large empty plane of potential. With the great technological advances, and God’s help, we can make the desert bloom. Ohr Chabad will have an agricultural program with the aim of nutritional independence and profit for the yishuv.

Additional Projects

As the Ohr Chabad community grows, the amount of projects to benefit the country and Jews as a whole will grow too. Some of the plans for the future include:

  • Lone soldier hospitality
  • Model city for creating energy independence
  • Winery with a cultural twist
  • Hands-on Torah learning model
  • Facilitate resort for special need group tours, such as The Friendship Circle

Doers

Ohr Chabad aims to create a community of doers who wish to constantly improve the yishuv’s dynamics, and create change in the world. People coming to the yishuv will be coming not just for an easier life, but for the ability to have a real effect on the world, and accomplish great things.

Aliyah

It’s no secret that Chabad loves Israel. Many young Chabad families want to make aliyah, but are faced with two main challenges. One challenge stems from a cultural difference. The Chabad culture in Israel has large differences from that of abroad. Thus, families that move from a diaspora Chabad community to an Israeli one, end up feeling isolated and confused. The other is a distance from family and friends. While Chabadnikim are no strangers to travel and distance, it’s still hard to bring up a family without a strong support system. Ohr Chabad provides solutions to these two issues, creating a smooth path for the hundreds who wish to settle in the Holy Land.

Aliyah is a huge part of Ohr Chabad. Sixty percent of members will be new olim or children of new olim.

With many members being from English-speaking countries, cultural differences will be minor and easier to adapt to. At the same time, the fresh immigrants won’t find themselves in an American bubble, and will have Israeli friends to show them through the ropes of Israeli life, and practice the language with. Combined, the community will provide a supportive family atmosphere and close friendships in the spirit of a village that raises the children together.

Young Families

Young Chabad couples and families are looking for a new place to settle. Most standard communities have outgrown their location and leave the younger generations falling through the cracks. Many of this young generation will come to Ohr Chabad seeking a community built to their needs, with leadership that understands the modern world. Major attractions for these new families include:

  • A community system built by people who understand the challenges of fusing a modern world with a Chabad Chassidic lifestyle.
  • The ability to use their given talents to contribute to the community, and help the worldwide Jewish community.
  • A strong sense of community where everyone is cared for and has support from their neighbors.
  • A schooling system that is created from the ground up to teach the children kindness, and empower them with the tools they need for the fast-changing world.
  • A safe location for women and children to walk around without fear.

Affordability

Housing costs in major cities are sky-high, and only continue to get more expensive. Many families who work hard and earn a good salary, would be doing very well financially if not for the high cost of housing and schooling. These families would do very well in Ohr Chabad. Huge financial savings for these families include:

  • Affordable housing. Ohr Chabad families will be able to build their own home at base cost.
  • Affordable schooling. Our school system will receive government funding, putting tuition to a negligible fraction of the cost of tuition in North America.
  • Jobs committee. There will be a committee of successful businessmen dedicated to creating jobs within the yishuv, and providing incentives to yishuv members who hire from within the yishuv.
  • Affordable living committee – a committee dedicated to keeping the costs of living low for the community.

Chabad-Lubavitch Values

The name Chabad comes from the three words “Chochma, Bina, Daat – wisdom, comprehension, knowledge.” These allude to the thought process that brings people to powerful action. The teachings of Chabad are all about using wisdom and comprehension to come to a proper understanding of life, and ultimately impact life choices for the better.

At the start of the Chabad movement, it was centered in the city of Lubavitch, which translates as “city of brotherly love.” The movement has a huge focus on the unconditional love and care for every single Jew, no matter their background. Many of its teachings focus solely on how to love a fellow Jew, even when one’s heart says otherwise.

Community life in Ohr Chabad will be centered around Chabad-Lubavitch values, as was the historic village of Lubavitch. While the community will have a large focus on outreach, it will also have a strong core of education and love towards fellow yishuv members.

Leadership

Happy communities need solid leadership. Ohr Chabad will have respected leaders to guide the community towards the right goals.

The Rav of Ohr Chabad will be someone who is in touch with both religious and secular aspects of the world, understands human struggle, and how to lead with powerful kindness.

There will also be community leaders whose job is to look out for the needs of individual community members and ensure that no one falls through the cracks. They will keep an eye out for communal challenges and organize solutions to keep everything going in a positive direction.

Close-Knit Community

It really does take a village to raise a child–especially in Israel, where the culture is dependent on everyone having a local family. In Ohr Chabad, many residents will be living far away from family, having made aliyah on their own. The Ohr Chabad community already has a family atmosphere, where everyone looks out of their friends and neighbors, and children look to other parents as adopted uncles, aunts, bubbies, and zeides.

To make it easier for the newest immigrants and youngest families, an adopt-a-family program will pair more experienced families with those needing proactive guidance and care, judgment-free.

Schooling

At the start of Ohr Chabad, most school children will commute to the Chabad schools in Be’er Sheva. The Chabad schools in Be’er Sheva are known to be successful at education and catering to the individual child.

As the yishuv grows, schools will be built up starting from daycare. The schools will be part of the successful Reshet Chinuch Chabad system established by the Rebbe Rayatz, and following the Rebbe Rayatz’s education ideology as explained in “Klalei HaChinuch VeHadracha.”

Teachers in the schools will be of the highest caliber, fully accredited, and deeply respected by students and parents alike.

The schooling system in Ohr Chabad will focus from the start on preparing the children for life with the leadership skills needed in this modern world. Classes will address the individual kid, and education shaped through hands-on experiences in nature, encouraging exploration and discovery.

Farbrengens

A farbrengen is a time for a group of friends to gather together and inspire each other with heart-to-heart conversation. It gives a powerful recharge for people to continue moving in a positive direction, even through difficult times. The community will have weekly farbrengens leading to positive individual and social growth.

Learning

Learning never ends, and definitely not in Ohr Chabad. There will always be classes covering all topics in Torah, Chassidut, Parenting, Health, and other topics practical to life. It will be strongly encouraged that every community member attend at least one weekly Torah session.

Youth Programs

The youth are the driving inspiration behind Ohr Chabad, and the most worthy investment. Children will all be enrolled in well-planned Tzivos Hashem and Bat Melech youth groups. The youth groups are designed to instill strong leadership skills and kindness into every child. The children will have weekly meetings to plan projects that train in different life skills. Teen graduates of youth groups will become the counsellors for the next generation of the club.

While the youth groups are meant for children, the program will also bring real life influence to the Yishuv as a whole. The projects of the children will often be ones that inspire and affect everyone around. Thus, children from Ohr Chabad will grow into adults who know how to take charge of a situation and bring positive change.

Volunteering

It’s important that every member of Ohr Chabad feels like they are a contributing part of a bigger picture. Every member, no matter how affluent, will have the opportunity for at least one volunteer job around the yishuv. Volunteer opportunities come in a large variety so that everyone can pick something that utilizes a real talent. Some examples include gardening, partner learning with visitors, setting up classes, beautifying the yishuv, security, and hosting guests for meals.

Outdoorsy

From the setup, Ohr Chabad will be very nature-oriented. There will be lots of outdoor play space for children, outdoor seating for adults, and efforts to keep the outdoors clean and beautiful. Families will be encouraged to keep gardens in front of their homes to help make the outdoor scene beautiful.

There will also be many outdoor events, including bonfires, community picnics, and Torah classes.

Committees

There are many small aspects of community life that are important, but often get overlooked in the face of larger projects. In order to ensure that important details are taken care of, Ohr Chabad has many committees entrusted with long-term missions. Below are some of the many committees for community life, more can be found on the “Our Team” page:

  • Community – to keep an overall lookout on the needs and peace of the community, and address any challenges that may arise.
  • Welcoming – to make sure that every new Yishuv member receives a smooth welcome, including a guide booklet, basic house-warming kit, and whatever else it takes to settle in well.
  • Jobs – while it’s a prerequisite to have a profession in order to join the yishuv, employment is never a guarantee in life. The job committee will be there to help people find jobs, create jobs on the yishuv, and encourage the hiring of yishuv members. They will also be there to give guidance to yishuv small businesses.
  • Nshei Chabad – often women, especially busy mothers, push their own needs to the back. This committee makes sure that the women get their share of inspiration as well as times to relax with friends.
  • Children’s – in charge of the kids youth programs, and in general ensuring that the children have adequate guidance and growth opportunities.
Menu
Ohr Chabad

Chassidic Wisdom Comes to Life