SHUVU "BAR MITZVAH" MISSION
A TIME FOR REVELATIONS, REFLECTIONS AND CELEBRATIONS
November 2003

A VISIT TO THE KOSEL is almost always the high-light of anyone's visit to Eretz Yisroel, but this time. it was more than just uplifting and inspiring. It was a celebration of the success of Shuvu Charon Avrohom and its 13 years of providing an authentic Torah education to thousands of immigrants from the former Soviet Union.

As mission participants from the US arrived at the Kosel plaza, they were greeted by more than a thousand enthusiastic Shuvu students, who formed a giant reception line for their visitors to walk through. The children smiled and cheered, holding up banners from their respective Shuvu schools. In the back-ground, Shloime Dachs and the children could be heard singing, along with the melodious clapping of hands.

The mission guests, many of whom are longstanding Shuvu supporters, smiled broadly, shaking hands with the children and hearing 'thank you' over and over again. The hakoras hatov they received from the students was worth more than anyone could imagine as they shepped nachas from seeing that their efforts and support were indeed beating beautiful luscious fruit.
Mission Co-Chairman, Mr. Yossi Hoch looked out at the crowd of children and blessed Shuvu for bringing them hack to yiddishkeit. "All of you children are revealed miracles," he told the enormous audience. "And we have seen so many miracles in the past few days." Yes. in truth, the past few days revealed many miracles.

IT ALL BEGINS IN KINDERGARTEN

More than 50 supporters of Shuvu came from the US to Eretz Yisroel for the three-day mission, which included visits to several Shuvu schools including Rebbetzin Pam and two of her sons, Horav Aron Pam, shlita and Horav Dovid Pam, shlita as well as Mission Chairmen Yosef Davis of Chicago and Yossi Hoch of New York and Shuvu Chairman, Abraham Biderman.

The missions first day began with a dedication ceremony at Shuvu's Yerushalayim boys school, which recently moved to the Schocken Villa, unique clue to its location next door to the Prime Minister's official residence in Rechavia. The school houses sever-al of Shuvu's schools that were located throughout the city
Rabbi Elias Schwartz, a longtime Shuvu supporter, presided over the ceremony held in a kindergarten classroom, where the students eagerly awaited the arrival of the mission. As the group entered the class, the excited kindergarteners sang Jewish songs they had learned especially for the dedication and handed each of the participants a flower as they entered the room. The participants greeted each child warmly and were visibly impressed by the youngsters' enthusiasm.

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