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The synagogue at Eshel Hanassi, an agricultural school near Beer Sheva, may not have many regular congregants, but its unique hobbit hole/igloo shape holds fascinating stories of kiruv and serendipity, also known as hashgacha pratit.
Effi Eisenbach and his wife Ronit oversee the religious life and hospitality at Eshel. Effi, acting as the resident rabbi, gabbai, and general handyman, takes on the responsibility of cleaning the synagogue, even though it should be included in the regular cleaning of all public areas of the school, which it often isn’t. Every erev Shabbat and holiday, Effi can be found diligently sweeping, washing, and tidying up the shul, ensuring everything is in order.
Although cleaning the shul was not his favorite task, one erev Yom Kippur, Effi was surprised to find the synagogue already spotless, cleaner than he had ever managed to make it. After some investigation, he discovered that Sarah, one of the school’s cooks, had taken it upon herself to clean the shul. Sarah explained that back in Morocco, her family had a tradition of cleaning the synagogue, and she felt compelled to continue this tradition as a way to honor the holiest day of the year.
This act not only gave the shul a fresh look but also gave Effi a new perspective on the importance and holiness of maintaining a clean synagogue. From then on, he no longer resented the task but saw it as a form of sacred work.
It goes to show that even the seemingly mundane tasks can hold deep meaning and significance when done with the right intention and dedication.