Or HaGanuz
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Or HaGanuz (Hebrew: אור הגנוז) is a Jewish village in the eastern upper Galilee, about six kilometres northwest of the town of Safed. The Orthodox settlement was founded in 1989 within the Merom HaGalil Regional Council by a group of newly-baal teshuva Jews. The yishuv was initiated with the help of Amana, the settlement arm of Gush Emunim, even though the village is not located over the Green Line. The name, translated from Hebrew, means Hidden Light, and is derived from the kabbalah which refers to the original light described in the Bible that was the first act of creation (see Genesis 1:2).
A notable pilgrimage/tourist site in the vicinity is the tomb of Rabbi Shimeon bar Yochai adjacent to Meron.
The motto of the community is, "love thy neighbor as thyself" and all members must abide by the philosophy that the importance of the community is at the forefront, rather than the individual. Membership and residency includes the voluntary choice to abide by the rules set by community that is centred around the Torah. Potential candidates and new members are gradually taught how to overcome inherent individualist feelings and to accept the communal lifestyle with a heavy emphasis on volunteering, selflessness, and the study of Torah.
Current population is about fifty families, including 300 people and the current municipal development plan allows for 250 homes. The rabbi and spiritual leader of the community is Rabbi Mordechai Sheinberger
[edit] Education
Several formal educational institutions operate in the village including a nursery, a kindergarten, the Ginzei-Shimon Talmud Torah, the Elima college of Chinese medicine & treatment, and a women's midrasha.
[edit] Local industry
The original founders decided to concentrate on employment that does not necessitate being close to the main population areas. The village offers a range of holiday bed and breakfast guest houses operated by individual families, the Or Da'at publishing firm, the Da'at Printing firm, a matza factory, and tours to graves of tzaddikim.
[edit] External links
- Ginzei-Shimon Talmud Torah and short description of community in English
- Main website (Hebrew)
- Photo from main website
- Local holiday/vacation guest houses
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