Kehilas Tehila Revitalization
Location: Border of Arzei Habira and Ma'alot Dafna, Jerusalem.
The Arzei HaBira/Ma'alot Dafna neighborhood, located in the heart of Jerusalem, is home to a dynamic community of American and Israeli families. While the area boasts a rich history and optimal location, there is a substantial deficiency for residents of the area, namely a shul that tailors to the needs and comforts of young American yungerleit who have made this beautiful neighborhood their home. Being able to live in Eretz Yisroel is a tremendous opportunity and meaningful experience for those able to do it and many are willing to give up the physical comforts of America to do so. The one thing, however, that everyone has back home in America and which is creating a big hole in the heart of our community, is the absence of a shul to call their own. This proposal aims to revitalize the existing Tehila Shul to cater toward our young American families and provide a vibrant, welcoming space for davening, learning, and community engagement.
The Tehila Shul, located on the corner of Shimon Hatzadik and Arzei Habira, was once the place to be and was a vibrant community hub that community members could call home. Over time the shul has slowly faded away into the background of the community and has fallen into a state of disrepair. Until recently, there was scarcely a weekday minyan, and the shul had attracted a less than desirable crowd. Within the last two years we have been gradually rebuilding the presence of the shul and have been aiming to create the widely sought after American atmosphere.
Our vision will imbue a new breath of life into Tehila and into the American community as a whole and create an invigorated warm and inclusive atmosphere for the American families in the area to call home.
Every functioning shul needs a Rav, and we are fortunate to merit someone who is wise beyond his years, with boundless energy, and a desire to grow together with the community. Rabbi Yehoshua Dovid Teller, son of the famed author Rabbi Hanoch Teller, grew up in the Arzei HaBira neighborhood and understands the needs of the community well. Rabbi Teller graduated from Rabbi Leib Kelemen’s renowned Center for Kehila Development program. Upon graduation, he was asked to help direct the kollel, training the future leaders of Klal Israel. He has Semicha from the Chief Rabbinate of Israel and has the full endorsment and encouragment from the former Rav of the Shul, the famed Rav Yitzchok Ralbag Shlita.
Along with the support of Maran Harav Asher Weiss Shlita, of whom he is a close talmid and Gabbai, Rabbi Shmuel Weiner Shlita, prominent American Posek and Rav of Zichron Nosson Zvi, and Rabbi Chaim Zvi Senters Shlita, Rosh Yeshivah of Aderes HaTorah, we are confident Rabbi Teller will guide and inspire our community for many years to come.
Already boasting the most popular morning kollel of the neighborhood, Tehila is primed for great things. Monthly events for the wives of the community, a community night seder, these are just some of the things in store for the future of our Shul.
Donner