In our day and age, there are so many people young and old
walking around with one unfortunate common denominator:
Strained relationships. For example, divorce and painful
family feuds are all too common. The Jewish community, once
enjoyed a semi-immunity to these social maladies — but
no longer. The cause? There are many, but one problem is a
loss of the art of communication, and with it the undermining
of healthy bein odom lechavero relations.
Now, imagine a world free of loshon hora and
machlokes, where hatred and quarrels have no entry and
only ahavas Yisroel and unity prevail. Divorce is
again a rare phenomenon, and family relationships are open
and understanding. Sounds like a dream? But sometimes, with
hard work, tefilloh and siyata deShmaya —
dreams can come true!
Mishmeres Hasholom is determined to restore the art of proper
communication to every home in Klal Yisroel. As an
international organization reaching out to 12 countries
around the world, Mishmeres Hasholom has adopted a number of
ambitious goals, among them: To create entire neighborhoods
which are free of loshon hora and machlokes by
encouraging the daily learning of two halochos of Shemiras
Haloshon and to encourage work on middos development
and positive communication habits within every Jewish family,
community and institution.
And the dream is already beginning to take shape! In Israel
alone there are already 20,000 families participating in the
project, bringing the Shechinah into their homes and
spreading the light of kedushoh, achdus, peace and
love. Every woman who joins becomes a golden link in the
chain of the Jewish people.
Mishmeres Hasholom's women's program now has some 1400
representatives tirelessly working on its behalf. A
neighborhood coordinator is responsible for street
representatives who are in turn in charge of about ten
building representatives. These building representatives
encourage each of their neighbors to join in actualizing the
dream of Mishmeres Hasholom. The learning in the building is
often done in the zchus of someone in need, by a
neighbor's request — for a refuah shleima, a
shidduch, etc.
The organization is now in high gear spreading the message of
Shemiras Haloshon en masse by distributing written material,
hanging up posters, and making phone calls for encouragement.
Building representatives were recently asked to hang posters
in two additional buildings so as to potentially triple the
number of participants. Just imagine 60,000 families working
to actualize the dream — on a family, community , and
world- wide scale!
The impact of Mishmeres Hasholom has been felt on all fronts -
- based on reactions from participants, volunteers, and
supporters. Here are just a few examples:
"I am a kindergarten teacher in Beit Shemesh, and I must tell
you how inspired I was by those of my young students who have
joined the Mishmeres Hasholom Mothers and Children learning
program. I noticed how careful they were when speaking to
each other and how they were working on their middos.
I decided to start the learning program in Gan so that
all the children could join. Our Gan has been transformed.
There is no fighting — the kids play beautifully with
each other. Thank you, Mishmeres Hasholom!"
"I am an avid volunteer in the Mishmeres Hasholom network.
Some time ago, I came into Yerushalayim from Beit Shemesh
with the intention of taking the No. 14 bus to Talpiot.
However, I could not resist and decided to stop at the
Mishmeres Hasholom office first to take care of a few
matters. You can imagine my horror and gratitude when I heard
that the bus I had been planning to board exploded, leaving
many casualties. My involvement in this great project
literally saved my life."
"My grandfather is a very old man and not well. His mind was
not clear and he needed an operation. Though we have little
financial means, we so much wanted to do something for his
merit. We heard that providing the prizes for the children
who have joined the Mishmeres Hasholom Mothers and Children
learning program would be a tremendous zchus for him.
Somehow, my father, who himself is not a well man, was able
to come up with the money for the prizes. My grandfather woke
up after the operation with a clear mind and his condition is
steadily improving. We hope to be able to provide next
month's prizes as well."
Never one to sit on its laurels, Mishmeres Hasholom is busy
with a number of new projects. A program for the learning of
Hilchos Shemiras Haloshon on a daily basis has been
instituted in six girls' high schools, and several others
have expressed interest. The elementary schools have also
been calling to join the program. To date we have six girls'
schools and five boys' school participating.
Another exciting new project with be launched after Pesach.
Every Rosh Chodesh, get-togethers will take place in 200
locations, where the women will hear a special message from a
rov by phone hookup or tape on a particular middoh,
with encouragement in Shemiras Haloshon. The women will
then receive sheets with points to ponder on the subject of
the month and interesting questions. Stories that happened
through Mishmeres Hasholom will be shared.
The achdus created by such gatherings, the enthusiasm
they will engender, the new "era of communication" that it
ushers in — surely the dream is about to come true . .
. Can't you hear the footsteps of Moshiach and the echoes of
the sweet song of geulah just over the horizon?
If you too would like to take a part in actualizing the
dream, as a volunteer, participant or supporter, please call
Mishmeres Hasholom at 02-537-9160.
