Hidabroot

Hidabroot (Hebrew: הידברות) is an Israeli Jewish outreach organization and media brand founded in 2002. According to its own publications, its mission is to engage in Jewish explanation and outreach ("kiruv") and to provide rich, strengthening and interesting Jewish content. The organization is chaired by Rabbi Zamir Cohen. It operates the Hidabroot TV channel on Israeli multi-channel television and an internet website available in six languages. The organization began by organizing conferences and distributing Jewish content. Rabbi Pinchas Reuven, a printing-house owner, began printing and distributing booklets by Rabbi Zamir Cohen, who was not yet well known. Activity later expanded to distributing audio cassettes; the first recorded lecture by Rabbi Zamir was distributed in tens of thousands of copies. Hidabroot's flagship digital property is its website, described as "the world's largest Judaism website." It contains all Hidabroot channel content in a sophisticated VOD section, plus diverse sections: daily news, Judaism, women, spirituality, Torah and science, family, culture, and children. The site averages about 6 million visits per month and about 10,000,000 page views per month. Content is also available via Android and iOS apps and a mobile-adapted version. The website was established in 2007 and became a portal in 2013; its editor is Dudu Cohen. The VOD archive holds about 20,000 programs from the Hidabroot channel, films, Torah lessons and more. The "Ask the Rabbi" section contains about 65,000 questions and answers from the organization's rabbis, plus a daily page (Daf Yomi) section. In parallel, the organization runs "Olam HaYeladim" (World of Children), a dedicated children's site with hundreds of full-length films and original programs. The Hidabroot TV channel broadcasts on channel 97 on HOT and yes, 24 hours a day (except Shabbat and holidays), with Torah lessons, ethics, halacha, relationships and education, alongside current affairs, culture, women's and other programs. In a Geocartography survey conducted in 2011, it was determined to be the leading niche channel in the country. Programs have included "Leaving the Comfort Zone" with Rabbi Yitzhak Fanger, "In Eden's Kitchen" with Eden Harel, "The Filmed Rabbinical Court," "Open" with Efrat Barzel, "In Amiran's Living Room" with Amiran Dvir, "Now Close," and "Sechel" (5 seasons). The organization also publishes the weekly Shabbat pamphlet "Oneg Shabbat," distributed in more than 300,000 copies each week — described as the most widespread and popular Shabbat pamphlet in Israel. Its editor is Dudu Cohen. Social media pages have more than 1,200,000 followers in aggregate across YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, WhatsApp and Spotify. The organization holds weekly conferences around the country with its rabbis and runs strengthening vacations in hotels. It also operates a Judaica shop called "Hidabroot Shops" and a newsletter. Hidabroot operates the AMA ("Ema Matzila Oti" / "Mother Saves Me") organization, which assists, counsels and guides women to prevent pregnancy termination and abortion on ideological and religious grounds using various pressure and persuasion levers. The organization operates a hotline and received confidential information from clinics to reach women; two employees (Liza Drumer and Kalina Schwartz) were convicted of multiple privacy offenses. In 2016 the organization launched "Tzofiya," a converter through which one can watch only the organization's TV content or content adapted and edited by the organization. The system works via screen or dedicated converter. According to the organization's announcement, the system is not intended for the ultra-Orthodox. According to Rabbi Zamir Cohen, the converter received the support of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, Rabbi Shalom Cohen and Rabbi Aharon Yehuda Leib Shteinman, but encountered opposition from Rabbi Amnon Yitzhak and Rabbi Ben-Zion Mutzafi.

Hidabroot was founded in 2002 as an Israeli non-profit association (amuta) dedicated to Jewish outreach and explanation. Its founding figure and chairman is Rabbi Zamir Cohen. The organization began by organizing conferences and distributing Jewish content. Rabbi Pinchas Reuven, a printing-house owner, began printing and distributing booklets by Rabbi Zamir Cohen, who was not yet well known. Activity later expanded to distributing audio cassettes; the first recorded lecture by Rabbi Zamir was distributed in tens of thousands of copies. The organization's media operations grew significantly over the years. The Hidabroot website was established in 2007 and became a portal in 2013. It is described as the world's largest Judaism website, with about 6 million visits and 10 million page views per month. The site includes a VOD archive of about 20,000 programs, an internet magazine, an 'Ask the Rabbi' section with about 65,000 Q&As, and a Daf Yomi section. The organization also runs the 'Olam HaYeladim' children's website with hundreds of full-length films and original programs. The Hidabroot TV channel broadcasts on channel 97 on HOT and yes, 24 hours a day except Shabbat and holidays. In a 2011 Geocartography survey, it was determined to be the leading niche channel in Israel. Programs have included 'Leaving the Comfort Zone' with Rabbi Yitzhak Fanger, 'In Eden's Kitchen' with Eden Harel, 'The Filmed Rabbinical Court,' 'Open' with Efrat Barzel, 'In Amiran's Living Room' with Amiran Dvir, 'Now Close,' and 'Sechel' (5 seasons). The organization publishes the weekly Shabbat pamphlet 'Oneg Shabbat,' distributed in more than 300,000 copies each week, described as the most widespread and popular Shabbat pamphlet in Israel. Its editor is Dudu Cohen. Social media pages have more than 1,200,000 followers in aggregate across YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, WhatsApp and Spotify. The organization holds weekly conferences around the country with its rabbis and runs strengthening vacations in hotels. It also operates a Judaica shop called 'Hidabroot Shops' and a newsletter. Hidabroot operates the AMA ('Ema Matzila Oti' / 'Mother Saves Me') organization, which assists, counsels and guides women to prevent pregnancy termination and abortion on ideological and religious grounds using various pressure and persuasion levers. The organization operates a hotline and received confidential information from clinics to reach women; two employees (Liza Drumer and Kalina Schwartz) were convicted of multiple privacy offenses. In 2016 the organization launched 'Tzofiya,' a converter through which one can watch only the organization's TV content or content adapted and edited by the organization. The system works via screen or dedicated converter. According to the organization's announcement, the system is not intended for the ultra-Orthodox. According to Rabbi Zamir Cohen, the converter received the support of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, Rabbi Shalom Cohen and Rabbi Aharon Yehuda Leib Shteinman, but encountered opposition from Rabbi Amnon Yitzhak and Rabbi Ben-Zion Mutzafi. Most of the organization's funding comes from donations from Israel. In 2023 the organization's total income was about 119 million shekels, of which about 900,000 shekels was government funding. In 2020, with the release of the fourth season of the series 'HaYehudim Ba'im' ('The Jews Are Coming'), Zamir Cohen and Hidabroot initiated a call to remove the program and began a sharp protest against the Public Broadcasting Corporation. On August 17 they initiated a protest demonstration outside the Kan offices in Jerusalem, with Knesset members and public figures from right-wing parties. They also initiated a protest outside the Ministry of Education, where clips from the program had been incorporated, and Education Minister Yoav Gallant ordered the videos removed from the ministry's website.

• 2023

  Organization's total income about 119 million shekels.

• 2020

  Protests against 'HaYehudim Ba'im' TV series.

• 2016

  Launch of Tzofiya TV converter.

• 2013

  Website becomes a portal.

• 2011

  Geocartography survey determines Hidabroot channel is the leading niche channel in Israel.

• 2007

  Hidabroot website established.

• 2002

  Hidabroot founded as an Israeli non-profit association.

Jewish outreach and media brand providing Torah content, news, and educational programming across TV, web, print, and social media.

• Hidabroot TV channel

  Broadcasts on channel 97 on HOT and yes, 24 hours a day except Shabbat and holidays.

• Hidabroot.org website

  World's largest Judaism website with VOD, magazine, Ask the Rabbi, and Daf Yomi sections.

• Oneg Shabbat pamphlet

  Weekly Shabbat pamphlet distributed in more than 300,000 copies.

• Olam HaYeladim

  Children's website with hundreds of full-length films and original programs.

• Hidabroot Shops

  Judaica store.

• Tzofiya

  TV converter allowing viewing only of Hidabroot or edited content.

1. 1Hidabroot official websitehidabroot.org
2. 2About Hidabroothidabroot.org
3. 3Hidabroot on Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4הידברות (ארגון) - Wikipediahe.wikipedia.org