Ozar Hatorah
Encyclopedia
Ozar Hatorah is a society for the Jewish religious education. It focuses primarily on the Jewish youth in the Middle East
and North Africa
, as well as on the Sephardi communities in France
.
In 1940, Isaac Shalom formed the Committee for the Forgotten Millions, the aim of which was to improve the cultural and educational level of the Jews of Asia and Africa. In 1945, together with Joseph Shamah and Ezra Teubal, he founded Ozar Hatorah as a non-profit organization in Jerusalem under the chairmanship of Joseph Shamah. Life in the wake of the Holocaust, when the communities of Eastern Europe
were wiped out. They hoped to rectify this by establishing schools, teaching both religious and secular subjects. Ozar Hatorah began to fulfill its mission by opening 29 schools in the British Mandate of Palestine. After the establishment of the State of Israel
, its government assumed full responsibility for most primary school education with Chinuch Atzmai
taking care of the religious schooling. At this point, Ozar Hatorah ceased its operations in Israel and began opening schools throughout the Middle East and North Africa.
The first foreign country in which Ozar Hatorah set up schools was Iran
. The society established a network of 40 schools there in which 8,600 students were enrolled. An arrangement was also made with the Alliance Israélite Universelle
whereby Ozar Hatorah would provide ten hours per week of Jewish education in all Alliance primary schools and would be fully responsible for the religious part of the curriculum. In addition to teaching, the society offers free lunches and medical care provided by the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee
.
Subsequently, Ozar Hatorah made a move to Syria
. In Aleppo, it helped two existing Jewish schools which were experiencing difficulties, by providing them with funding and adding two advanced classes in one of them. In Damascus
, Ozar Hatorah opened up a school which soon had an enrollment of 350 students. In 1971, the Syrian government singled out the Damascus school as the one with the highest grades in the country.
The scope of Ozar Hatorah activities declined substantially alongside the size of the Jewish communities in the Arab
countries following the Jewish exodus from Arab lands
. In Libya
, the society had been active for only a few years, as the entire Libyan Jewish community emigrated to Israel in 1950-1951. In Morocco
, the enrollment of Ozar Hatorah schools reached 17,000 within a few years after the establishment of the first school, but the current number of students is only 500.
By 1970, Ozar Hatorah was running 23 schools and a summer camp in Morocco, 41 schools and a summer camp in Iran
, two elementary schools in Syria, and an elementary school in Lyon
, France, with a total enrollment of 13,610 students.
Because many Jews from North Africa emigrated to France, Ozar Hatorah extended its network to include France too. The society first moved in France in 1961, when it opened a school in Lyon. In 1971, Ozar Hatorah opened schools in two suburbs of Paris
— Creteil
and Sarcelles
. Now each of these schools has an enrollment of some 1,000 students and forced to turn away applicants for lack of space. Subsequently, schools were also set up in Antony
, Toulouse
, and Marseille
, bringing the total number of Ozar Hatorah schools in France to 20. Current plans include building a new school for 1,000 students.
The society has been financed by private individuals, local communities, and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee
.
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
and North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
, as well as on the Sephardi communities in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
In 1940, Isaac Shalom formed the Committee for the Forgotten Millions, the aim of which was to improve the cultural and educational level of the Jews of Asia and Africa. In 1945, together with Joseph Shamah and Ezra Teubal, he founded Ozar Hatorah as a non-profit organization in Jerusalem under the chairmanship of Joseph Shamah. Life in the wake of the Holocaust, when the communities of Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe is the eastern part of Europe. The term has widely disparate geopolitical, geographical, cultural and socioeconomic readings, which makes it highly context-dependent and even volatile, and there are "almost as many definitions of Eastern Europe as there are scholars of the region"...
were wiped out. They hoped to rectify this by establishing schools, teaching both religious and secular subjects. Ozar Hatorah began to fulfill its mission by opening 29 schools in the British Mandate of Palestine. After the establishment of the State of Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, its government assumed full responsibility for most primary school education with Chinuch Atzmai
Chinuch Atzmai
Chinuch Atzmai was founded in 1953 by the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah to serve as an alternate school system for Orthodox children in Israel. It was initially led by Rabbi Zalman Sorotzkin....
taking care of the religious schooling. At this point, Ozar Hatorah ceased its operations in Israel and began opening schools throughout the Middle East and North Africa.
The first foreign country in which Ozar Hatorah set up schools was Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
. The society established a network of 40 schools there in which 8,600 students were enrolled. An arrangement was also made with the Alliance Israélite Universelle
Alliance Israélite Universelle
The Alliance Israélite Universelle is a Paris-based international Jewish organization founded in 1860 by the French statesman Adolphe Crémieux to safeguard the human rights of Jews around the world...
whereby Ozar Hatorah would provide ten hours per week of Jewish education in all Alliance primary schools and would be fully responsible for the religious part of the curriculum. In addition to teaching, the society offers free lunches and medical care provided by the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee
American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee
The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee is a worldwide Jewish relief organization headquartered in New York. It was established in 1914 and is active in more than 70 countries....
.
Subsequently, Ozar Hatorah made a move to Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
. In Aleppo, it helped two existing Jewish schools which were experiencing difficulties, by providing them with funding and adding two advanced classes in one of them. In Damascus
Damascus
Damascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...
, Ozar Hatorah opened up a school which soon had an enrollment of 350 students. In 1971, the Syrian government singled out the Damascus school as the one with the highest grades in the country.
The scope of Ozar Hatorah activities declined substantially alongside the size of the Jewish communities in the Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
countries following the Jewish exodus from Arab lands
Jewish exodus from Arab lands
The Jewish exodus from Arab and Muslim countries was a mass departure, flight and expulsion of Jews, primarily of Sephardi and Mizrahi background, from Arab and Muslim countries, from 1948 until the early 1970s...
. In Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
, the society had been active for only a few years, as the entire Libyan Jewish community emigrated to Israel in 1950-1951. In Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
, the enrollment of Ozar Hatorah schools reached 17,000 within a few years after the establishment of the first school, but the current number of students is only 500.
By 1970, Ozar Hatorah was running 23 schools and a summer camp in Morocco, 41 schools and a summer camp in Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, two elementary schools in Syria, and an elementary school in Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
, France, with a total enrollment of 13,610 students.
Because many Jews from North Africa emigrated to France, Ozar Hatorah extended its network to include France too. The society first moved in France in 1961, when it opened a school in Lyon. In 1971, Ozar Hatorah opened schools in two suburbs of Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
— Creteil
Créteil
-Health:As of 1 January 2006, 27 pharmacies, about 60 dentists, about 60 general practitioners, 10 pediatricians, and a half-dozen ophthalmologists and dermatologists constitute the general medical staff of the city.Health facilities include:...
and Sarcelles
Sarcelles
Sarcelles is a commune in the northern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris. Sarcelles is a sub-prefecture of the Val-d'Oise department and the seat of the Arrondissement of Sarcelles....
. Now each of these schools has an enrollment of some 1,000 students and forced to turn away applicants for lack of space. Subsequently, schools were also set up in Antony
Antony
Antony is an English language variant of Anthony. It can refer to:People* Mark Antony, Roman politician and general* Antony Flew, a contemporary British philosopher* Antony Gormley, a contemporary British sculptor...
, Toulouse
Toulouse
Toulouse is a city in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern FranceIt lies on the banks of the River Garonne, 590 km away from Paris and half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea...
, and Marseille
Marseille
Marseille , known in antiquity as Massalia , is the second largest city in France, after Paris, with a population of 852,395 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Marseille extends beyond the city limits with a population of over 1,420,000 on an area of...
, bringing the total number of Ozar Hatorah schools in France to 20. Current plans include building a new school for 1,000 students.
The society has been financed by private individuals, local communities, and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee
American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee
The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee is a worldwide Jewish relief organization headquartered in New York. It was established in 1914 and is active in more than 70 countries....
.