For the benefit of my fellow CR friends, I’ll try to translate as much as I can. I’m not a professional though. It’s only one part of an extended topic on Jews and Kiruv world-wide. For the full picture you’ll need to get your hands on the complete spread, and read Yiddish.
“The Children Belong to All of Klal Yisroel
A discussion with Rabbi Avraham Newman Shlita, menahel of the Kalev branch in Modiin-Illit who coordinates activities in EY and France.
Can you give us an inkling regarding the number of immigrants you work with?
You have to realize that the Kalver Rebbe met with close to 75,000 Jews in France over the years. The Rebbe has maintained a connection with all of them!
How does that work?
In order to obtain a bracha from the Rebbe Shlita, one must complete a contact info. card. The Rebbe is in contact with every person 6-8 times a year, more often with the youth.
Where is more emphasis placed regarding the French Jews, in EY or France?
Until two years ago the French branch was active almost exclusively in France, to help Jews and strengthen their Yiddishkeit. However in the past two years we work hard in EY, mainly to ensure a Jewish education for the young children.
We have developed a program to help kids adapt in ehrliche mosdos and the goal is that their ascending to EY should not be an “Aliya” for the sake of yerida.
To be continued…