The Center for Religious Affairs in the Diaspora

Rabbis on Shlichut
The Center has worked with support from the Chief Rabbinate of Israel to send Rabbinic Shlichim from Israel to serve as “Shlichei Tzion”. These shlichim are trained to strengthen religious services in their communities, play a strong role in the area of Jewish education, and engage in outreach activities.

Emissaries from Jerusalem
The Center has renewed the tradition of sending scholars from Jerusalem to strengthen Jewish communities in the Diaspora through short term visits as scholars-in-residence. These emissaries conduct learning programs designed to awaken and straighten commitment to Jewish study and practice.

Regional Training Programs
The Center has begun to establish programs in the Diaspora for the training of Rabbis, Teachers, and Madrichim. This past year, two such programs were established:

* Paris - A Beit Midrash was established by the Center in cooperation with Eretz Chemda for the purpose of granting smicha under the auspices of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel to promising young candidates. Currently, 40 students are participating in the program.

* Volozhin - The center was instrumental in reclaiming the building of the famed Volozhin Yeshiva for the use of the Jewish community. The building is now being used as a center for teachers and madrichim for the Jewish communities that remain in the area.

Electronic Responsa
In cooperation with Eretz Chemda, the Center has established an electronic responsa service designed to provide halachic guidance to Rabbis in small and distant communities. Questions are submitted by fax or e-mail and responses are returned in a timely fashion. Some of the responsa have been published in a volume entitled Shut Bemareh Habazak.

Ben Ami
As a parallel to the Bat Ami National Service (Sherut Leumi) program, the Center is developing a program for graduates of the Hesder Program to do a year or two of volunteer service in Diaspora communities as teachers, madrichim, and/or community workers.