Aharon Botzer, founder of Livnot U’Lehibanot, once trod his own path of self-discovery towards Jewish identity, before discovering a unique way to help unaffiliated Jewish youths find theirs
IGNITE THE LIGHT Whether it’s digging through ancient ruins restoring bomb shelters or fixing up the homes of the poor Aharon Botzer learned the secret – there’s nothing like building Eretz Yisrael to ignite that Jewish spark (Photos: Menachem Kalish)
F
inding Aharon Botzer is not easy. Livnot U’Lehibanot the Jewish experience organization of which he is founder and director sits right in the middle of the maze of intriguing alleyways ancient synagogues and artists’ galleries that is Tzfas’sOldCity. And the campus of Livnot U’Lehibanot is itself even more of a sprawling maze of ancient stone staircases arched entrances and curiously shaped rooms.
Aharon is finally unearthed buried in one of Livnot’s semi-subterranean offices. But the interview — at least at first — takes place on the top floor of Livnot’s three-story main building on Simtat Alkabetz in a spacious airy room aesthetically dotted with arched nooks and exotic cushions — perfect for the seminars and workshops held here — and facing the panoramic windows with their breathtaking view across to Mount Meron.
To understand who Aharon Botzer is and the life journey he has taken one first needs to take a look at the organization that he has created from scratch of which he is the driving force and inspiration. In 1980 Livnot U’Lehibanot (Hebrew for “To Build and Be Built ”) was founded and it’s a perfect name for an organization that does just that — building and rebuilding both Jewish souls and Jewish history. One ofIsrael’s top ten nonprofit organizations Livnot runs a range of innovative Jewish experience programs exploringIsraeland Jewish heritage through a blend of hiking community service seminars and learning serving young Jewish adults aged 21 to 30 with little Jewish background.
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