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We need a good surgeon.

One who can perform a serious operation on the Jewish People.

We need someone who can extract the warmth and camaraderie of the Jewish community in America and transplant it into the intense and uplifting Jewish body in Eretz Yisroel. Transplants are never easy. Who is ready to tackle such a risky procedure?

Beis Kenesses HaGra is trying. Beis Kenesses HaGra of Ramat Beit Shemesh is a new Kehilla that was started in the fall of 5760, by English-speaking Bnei Torah. Both professionals and Kollel Avreichim have joined together to create this Kehilla in the new neighborhood of Ramat Beit Shemesh, Israel, located half an hour south-west of Yerushalayim.

We use the term “kehilla” as opposed to “shul” or “Beis Medrash” to describe our organization. The essence of what we are striving for is to create a framework for growth in Avodas Hashem for English-speaking Bnei Torah living in Eretz Yisroel. That framework includes a shul and many Torah learning programs, but the overriding vision is to create a close-knit, growth oriented community.

Making aliyah from English-speaking countries is not simple. 50% of American immigrants to Israel end up going back. One of the key difficulties is the challenge associated with being a "working Ben Torah" in Eretz Yisroel. Jewish communal life here is generally "kollel oriented", and it is difficult to find a positive spiritual environment outside of the kollel -- there aren't many "community shuls" as there are in the US. Thus finding guidance, structure and a supportive environment for growth is a much greater challenge. Finally, there are significant cultural differences between Israelis and Americans which create confusion and difficulty for new immigrants. Our objective is to create a comfortable, supportive and uplifting environment for people that have moved here, while at the same time enabling them to integrate into the Israeli Torah society and appreciate its sensitivities.

With Hashem’s help, we’ve taken the first steps – and the reaction has been overwhelming. We’ve tapped in to something people really need and can genuinely benefit from. The shul has grown from a living room minyan to one of the leading Kehillas in Ramat Beit Shemesh. Our small “apartment shul” is packed on Shabbos, and has been expanded to its limits. Our unique Torah programs have swelled with participants from across the community, and will continue to grow as long as we can provide high quality Magidei Shiur. With the hiring of our new Rav, Moreinu HaRav Elimelech Kornfeld, we have solidified our vision and completed the foundation of our new community.