Current AYEKI Projects in Brooklyn
1. Community Services and Events
Organizing Shabbat and holiday celebrations, including prayers, services, and communal meals.
2. Educational Initiatives
Offering classes on general Jewish history, with a focus on the heritage of Mountain Jews, using historical texts and documents.
3. Jewish Studies
Teaching core Jewish texts such as the Pentateuch, Mishnah, Talmud, Zohar, Beit Yosef, Shulchan Arukh, Midrash, and works of the Ramak. Additionally, there is a focus on restoring and preserving the customs and traditions of Mountain Jews.
4. Women’s Education
Conducting classes on contemporary issues and Jewish law specifically tailored for women.
5. Golden Age Club
A social and educational club designed for elderly members of the community.
6. Bar Mitzvah Preparation
Assisting boys approaching their 13th birthday with Hebrew reading, recitation of the Shma Yisrael, learning how to put on tefillin, and helping families with the purchase of tefillin.
Projects in Need of Sponsorship
1. Publication of “Rinat Kavkaz
This comprehensive siddur (prayer book) is a unique compilation based on the laws and customs of the Mountain Jews, the result of years of research aimed at restoring ancestral prayers and traditions.
2. Training for Sofrim (Scribes)
We are launching a six-month program to train individuals in the sacred art of writing Torah scrolls, tefillin, and mezuzot (STAM). The cost per trainee is $1,000 per month, with an additional $3,000 monthly needed for the instructor.
3. Rabbinical Certification Program
This four-year course prepares future community leaders and rabbis among Mountain Jews. For a group of five students, the monthly cost is $14,000 ($2,000 per student, $4,000 for the instructor).
4. Jewish School in Brooklyn
We are working to open a Jewish school, which will require funding for building rental and staffing.
5. Jewish Kindergarten in Brooklyn
Similarly, we are looking to establish a kindergarten with an investment in both facilities and female educators.
6. Mountain Jewish Cultural Center
Plans are underway to build a cultural center for the Mountain Jewish community in Brooklyn. You can view our detailed blueprint and help bring this vision to life.
Global Initiatives
1. Codifying Mountain Jewish Laws and Traditions
We are compiling a unified code of laws, customs, and traditions specific to Mountain Jews. If you possess ancient manuscripts or family records, we welcome your contributions to this important project.
2. Establishment of a Rabbinical Court
This court will address all matters related to marriage, divorce, and conversion, as well as other religious matters. The court will be composed of qualified judges and rabbis certified by the Chief Rabbinate of Israel.
