At Migdal Ohr, Rosh Hashanah preparations begin not only with apples and honey, but with a reminder of our broader mission - to become a source of light and blessing in the world. 

At Migdal Ohr's many schools, and the Machshava School in particular, children from low-income and immigrant families got to experience the holiday in an especially memorable way. They didn’t just learn about the shofar—they made their own! In a hands-on workshop, students saw the process from start to finish and even got to blow the shofar themselves.

At Migdal Ohr, children receive so much more than an education. They get three nourishing meals a day, a loving community, and a real, meaningful connection to their Jewish heritage that fills their lives with purpose. There is no doubt that these early memories will stay with them until they have their own families and are able to teach the traditions to their children.

As part of the preparations for Rosh Hashanah night, Rabbi Grossman gave out jars of honey and sweets to the children at Migdal Ohr, blessing each child, looking into their eyes, and wishing them success and blessing in the new year.

Our teens also started the year on a high note by volunteering in their communities. As families across Israel prepared for Rosh Hashanah, Migdal Ohr’s youth branches were hard at work ensuring that no one would go hungry during the chag.

Hundreds of teens from our Ohr Yisraeli programs rolled up their sleeves to join Chag Saveah - Migdal Ohr's bi-annual food drive that provides essentials and food items to over 25,000 families in need. The teens gathered in our warehouses to pack food boxes, load delivery trucks, and visit neighbors in need. Together, they brought light, dignity, and relief to families who might otherwise faced empty pantries and gloomy tables.

These teens aren’t just learning about kindness—they’re living it. Each evening of volunteering helps them grow into compassionate, socially responsible young adults who see themselves as contributors to Israeli society.

Guided by their mentors, they are becoming the values-driven leaders our nation so deeply needs.

Thanks to your partnership, Migdal Ohr can keep nurturing this generation of givers—young people who understand that the greatest joy of the holidays is in ensuring that everyone has the means to celebrate.