About the "Ohr Hashalom" Institutions
About the "Ohr Hashalom" Institutions About the "Ohr Hashalom" Institutions About the "Ohr Hashalom" Institutions
The “Ohr Hashalom” and “Ohr Shraga” Institutions in Jerusalem were founded in 1979 by Moshe Bar Shalom. They constitute a beacon that radiates the light of Torah and Jewish tradition. Their establishment was dedicated to the perpetuation of the legacy of Rabbi Mullah Ohr Shraga Yazdi ztz”l, who was known for his devotion to Torah and moral values, and for his efforts to reinforce and uplift the commitment to Jewish tradition within the local community.
The founder of our Institutions, Rabbi Moshe Bar Shalom, was born in the city of Yazd, Iran, and immigrated to Israel with his family in 1962. They lived first in Kfar Gvirol near Rehovot, and moved to Jerusalem in 1965. Out of a deep sense of mission and the vision of perpetuating the legacy of his ancestor, the Kabbalist Rabbi Mullah Ohr Shraga Yazdi ztz”l, he founded the “Ohr Hashalom” and “Ohr Shraga” Institutions in Jerusalem. His father, realizing the importance of this enterprise, gave Rabbi Moshe not only the inspiration and motivation to bring the vision to fruition but was also the first donor. Rabbi Moshe opened a special bank account dedicated to the interests of the new Institutions where donations, including tithes from the profits of the carpentry workshop he owned, would be deposited.
As the project expanded, Rabbi Moshe Bar Shalom left the carpentry business in order to devote all his energies to the success of the Institutions. With endless devotion to his ongoing project, he mobilized resources and support from local and international communities by means of which he established synagogues, educational Institutions, including a Talmud Torah and a high school, as well as community centers, all of which proudly bear the name of Rabbi Mullah Ohr Shraga Yazdi ztz”l.
The Institutions include a comprehensive educational system: kindergartens, an elementary school (Talmud Torah), a high school (Yeshiva), and a Kollel for married men, all operating out of a commitment to educating the younger generation in the values of Torah and Jewish tradition. The curriculum combines in-depth religious studies with the cultivation of nationalistic values and fine character traits. Alongside professional studies, the achievements of the graduates are impressive: over 400 students have completed their studies at the Kollel and ordained as rabbis by the Chief Rabbinate of Israel. Many of them serve in key positions as rabbis, dayanim, shochetim and military rabbinical instructors in Israel and in Jewish communities around the world.
Apart from education, the Ohr Hashalom Institutions carry out extensive charitable activities, which include assistance to needy families and support for the underprivileged, support for IDF widows, distribution of Torah-oriented publications and prayerbooks for soldiers, with the intention of preserving the honor of the recipients and granting them hope for a better future.
Today, the “Ohr Hashalom” Institutions in Jerusalem constitute prominent spiritual and community focal centers. They operate in several areas within the city, preserving the Persian Jewish heritage and strengthening Jewish identity among the younger generation. Thanks to the dream of Rabbi Moshe Bar Shalom, his dedication to his goal and the widespread support from his community, the Institutions continue to grow, expand and be a magnet for all who seek to learn, to preserve and to pass on the heritage to coming generations.
The Institutions are conducted by the founder, Rabbi Moshe Bar Shalom, in collaboration with his son and right-hand man, Rabbi Yehuda Israel, who was chosen for this mission under the guidance of Jewish greats and visionaries from communities in Israel and around the world.
Rabbi Moshe Bar Shalom - Founder
A message from Rabbi Moshe Bar Shalom - Founder and Spiritual Leader of the “Ohr Hashalom” and “Ohr Shraga” Institutions
Rabbi Yehuda Israel Bar Shalom - CEO
A message from Rabbi Yehuda Israel Bar Shalom – CEO of the "Ohr Hashalom" and "Ohr Shraga" Institutions
Our Vision Our Vision Our Vision
At the “Ohr Hashalom” Institutions, we believe that every Jewish child deserves the right to a spiritual and moral education at the highest level. Our vision is to provide every student with direct and meaningful access to Jewish tradition, religious doctrines and spirituality, along with professional studies in a supportive, warm and embracing environment. We see every boy as a whole, and invest great efforts to provide him with the spiritual, educational and personal tools that will allow him to grow and develop.
Our Institutions do not operate out of business considerations. For us, education is a sacred mission. We spare no resources – every investment is directed to the benefit of the students. We make sure to recruit the best and most experienced teachers and instructors, who are inspired with dedication and blessed with the ability to provide students with an enriching and meaningful learning experience. We do not compromise on the quality of teaching, even if this means increased expenses – because the future of our children is important to us above all else.
Through a combination of professionalism, values, and love for our students, we strive to raise a strong, ethical, and spiritual younger generation that will continue the legacy of Israel for their future descendants.
