Jerusalem Volunteers Travel to Papua

Have you ever heard of a Jewish community in Papua, Indonesia? Jerusalem volunteers Rabbi Keith and Nili Salem B’Simcha were not familiar with it until they traveled there for three weeks this summer, with help from Kulanu and from Ohr Torah Stone Institutions’, Nidchei Israel Project.

While living within the community, they taught about Judaism, sang Jewish songs and led the Shabbat experience in an especially joyous way. In an article for The Jerusalem Post, Salem B’Simcha wrote of the “unbelievable financial sacrifice, faith and dedication” that community members exhibit for the sake of their wish to be active Jews.

“I am so grateful to the people in these communities, for though we were sent to teach Judaism to them, what happened is that we ended up learning so much from them,” she wrote. Learn more about Kulanu’s work with the Indonesian Jewish community here.