Hundreds of Meir Institute students and dozens of rabbis, led by Rabbi Dov Bigon, visited Nof HaGalil for the institute’s annual Shabbat gathering, held each year in a different Israeli city. The event was meant to strengthen the local community, but organizers said the participants themselves left feeling uplifted.
A large Friday night prayer service was held in Rasco Square in the city center, joined by the institute’s students, local hesder yeshiva students, and many residents. The singing drew Mayor Ronen Plot, who joined the prayer and thanked the rabbis and students, while urging graduates to move to Nof HaGalil and help build the city’s spiritual and demographic future.
The city’s newly elected rabbi, Rabbi Menachem Nachshon, praised Meir Institute for its work bringing people closer to Judaism with warmth. On Saturday morning, the rabbis and students visited synagogues across the city, giving Torah talks and bringing what the report described as an elevated atmosphere. Later, they toured the city with Tzachi Weiss, director-general of the local hesder yeshiva.
Weiss said he was moved by the rabbis’ friendliness, joy, and deep interest in the city and its challenges. City council member Menachem Gandel thanked the institute for the special Shabbat and said the holiness shared there would strengthen Judaism in Nof HaGalil. The city’s community engagement coordinator, Matanal Ben Gigi, stressed the importance of settlement in the city.
The Shabbat ended with Rabbi Bigon praising local residents for their dedication and resilience, calling them “true pioneers,” and concluding with an emotional priestly blessing for the hundreds present. Meir Institute CEO Eyal Pins said he admired the city’s community and religious outpost, and again called on alumni to join the effort to strengthen the Galilee.
