Over 80: Distributing Hidabroot Newsletters at 8 Different Places

Over the past seven years, Shimon Hadari has distributed the Hidabroot newsletter at six synagogues and two nursing homes in Herzliya Pituach, where he resides. Being over 80 hasn't stopped him from doing it. "I'm a traditional Jew," he explains. "I'm well versed in the Tanach, Judaism, and the holidays, and I regularly attend synagogue and fight for every Jewish symbol. You don't have to be religious to distribute the Hidabroot newsletters; for me, they contain a lot of Jewish heritage, and that's what's important. If I ever missed a distribution, people would ask me what happened. They really look forward to reading the newsletter, and it has become a part of their weekend."

According to Shimon, the content of the newsletter isn't aimed only at one specific sector. "The Hidabroot newsletter is full of Jewish wisdom, and it doesn't solely focus on religious matters. The articles and stories touch on various subjects that interest people from all walks of the Israeli society. As small as the newsletter might appear, its ideas are significant, influencing the thought processes of different individuals, even those who are not observant. Over the years, one can see how people's views have transformed. For instance, the writer Nathan Alterman, who was a staunch leftist, discovered the concept of Greater Israel towards the end of his life and shifted right. Similarly, the secretary-general of the kibbutz movement admitted that if he could change something throughout his tenure, he would have added more Judaism to the kibbutz. He also realized his error along the way."

From Kibbutz to Judaism

What connected you to Judaism?

"I was born in 1939 and grew up in Jerusalem to parents who separated. Our household was quite unstable, and I didn't absorb much. However, I do remember the brief time I studied Torah with Rabbi Kabaso and the instances when I accompanied my father to the synagogue. We celebrated the holidays, which instilled some tradition in me. At 13, I moved to the kibbutz Givat Brenner, where I was quite removed from Judaism, and they even raised pigs there. Despite spending my youth there, I didn't forget what I absorbed in my childhood, and after getting married, we maintained basic observances at home, such as Kiddush, holidays, and eating kosher food."

Surprisingly (or perhaps not), all five of Shimon's children returned to observance. "I have a daughter who studied at Columbia University, the most prestigious university in the U.S., and today she is observant. Three of my other children became part of the Chabad movement, and another daughter married Tom Franz, a Master Chef winner who came from Germany and converted to Judaism. When my children were little, I used to take them to the synagogue. The way there was long, and sometimes we arrived so late that the prayers were almost over. The children would get disappointed, saying we came for nothing, but I would tell them, 'It wasn't for nothing. Just arriving and kissing the mezuzah is something significant. Besides, there are places worldwide where Shabbat is only just starting, and by us praying, we're connecting with all those Jews reciting the same prayers around the world.' I'm sure this warm connection to Judaism led them to choose it as a way of life in their adulthood." 

Shimon regrets the current state of young people who know almost nothing about Judaism. "When I studied Tanach in school, at least we wore a kippah. We had something to hold on to, and today, there's almost nothing. That's why it's important for me that my children and grandchildren see how crucial Jewish heritage is to me and know their grandfather distributed Hidabroot newsletters to spread this way of life."

Call us at 073-222-1-388, and we'll send you a package of copies for distribution. Not sure if you can distribute them? The first month is on us. Whether it's for matchmaking, health, or the elevation of the soul, the merit of spreading the word will stand for you forever in all your needs.

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