Irgun Shalom la-ʻam

Irgun Shalom la-ʻam (Hebrew: שלום לעם, 'Peace to the People') is an Israeli Jewish outreach organization founded in 1994 (Hebrew year 5754) by Rabbi Yaakov Moshe Hillel, head of the Ahavat Shalom institutions. It is currently led by his son, Rabbi Chaim Hillel. The organization began as a small seminary for 20 youths in Ma'ale Adumim and has since expanded to approximately 150 branches of 'Shalom la-ʻam' midrashot (study centers) across Israel. Its name is derived from the biblical verse 'The mountains shall bring peace to the people' (Psalms 72:3). The organization's activities target secular, traditional, and religious children and teenagers, offering summer camps, Shabbat hospitality, conferences, lectures, and study halls. It also assists in directing youth to Haredi educational institutions. Shalom la-ʻam hosts youth from abroad, organizing heritage tours, and welcomes soldiers for lectures and other activities. It also provides classes for adults. A weekly pamphlet, also called 'Shalom la-ʻam', has been published since 2002 (Hebrew year 5762) and was distributed in synagogues in 60,000 copies. It is also available on the organization's website and sent to thousands of email subscribers. As of Purim 2025, the pamphlet is distributed to subscribers only and no longer in synagogues. The pamphlet is a pocket-sized accordion-folded publication featuring regular columns such as 'A Look at Life' (realistic stories with educational messages), 'A Story for Shabbat' (parables on the weekly Torah portion), 'Young Story', and 'Beit Midrash' (halachic questions). Rotating columns include 'Journey to the Past', 'Do You Have an Idea?', 'Oops, Things Missed', and 'Ask the Rabbi'. Shalom la-ʻam operates a publishing house that, according to the National Library of Israel, has published 50 books, including works by Rabbi Yaakov Moshe Hillel and Rabbi Yehonatan Salem. The organization also runs several projects: 'Mahapecha shel Simcha' (Revolution of Joy), which sends volunteers to hospital wards to cheer patients; Yeshivat Etz Chaim, a high school yeshiva in Jerusalem with around 100 students and 630 alumni; and a kollel for dayanut with about 40 fellows. In the past, it operated Yeshivat Ahavat Torah, a small yeshiva for ages 14–17, which has closed. It also runs the Nachla Center in Modi'in Illit, in partnership with JDC Israel, for Haredi youth at risk, and a therapeutic farm and youth village at Mitzpe Yericho, which opened a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center in 2019. Additionally, the 'Derech HaMelech' project offers weekly Judaism programs in about 27 pre-military academies, with over 1,000 participants to date.

Irgun Shalom la-ʻam was founded in 1994 (Hebrew year 5754) by Rabbi Yaakov Moshe Hillel, head of the Ahavat Shalom institutions. It began as a midrasha (seminary) for 20 youths in Ma'ale Adumim, combining social activities with Torah study and Jewish worldview lectures by rabbis and educators. The organization's name is taken from Psalms 72:3: 'The mountains shall bring peace to the people.' A second branch was opened in Mevasseret Zion, and additional locations followed. Today, there are approximately 150 Shalom la-ʻam midrasha branches. The organization has expanded its activities to include summer camps, Shabbat hospitality, conferences, lectures, and study halls for children and teenagers from secular, traditional, and religious backgrounds. It also assists in guiding youth to Haredi educational institutions and hosts youth from abroad for heritage tours, as well as soldiers for lectures and activities. Adult education classes are also offered. In 2002 (Hebrew year 5762), the organization began publishing a weekly pamphlet, also called 'Shalom la-ʻam', distributed in synagogues in 60,000 copies. The pamphlet is also available on the website and via email. As of Purim 2025, it is distributed to subscribers only. The pamphlet features regular columns such as 'A Look at Life', 'A Story for Shabbat', 'Young Story', and 'Beit Midrash', along with rotating columns. Shalom la-ʻam operates a publishing house that has released 50 books, including works by Rabbi Yaakov Moshe Hillel and Rabbi Yehonatan Salem. The organization also runs various projects: 'Mahapecha shel Simcha' (Revolution of Joy), which as of 2023 has 13 volunteer points and about 1,000 volunteers; Yeshivat Etz Chaim, a high school yeshiva in Jerusalem with around 100 students and 630 alumni, plus a kollel for dayanut with about 40 fellows; the Nachla Center in Modi'in Illit, in partnership with JDC Israel, for Haredi youth at risk; a therapeutic farm and youth village at Mitzpe Yericho, which opened a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center in 2019; and the 'Derech HaMelech' project, offering weekly Judaism programs in about 27 pre-military academies with over 1,000 participants. In the past, it operated Yeshivat Ahavat Torah, a small yeshiva for ages 14–17, which has closed.

• 2025

  Weekly pamphlet becomes subscriber-only, no longer distributed in synagogues.

• 2023

  Mahapecha shel Simcha operates 13 volunteer points with about 1,000 volunteers.

• 2019

  Drug and alcohol rehabilitation center opens at the Mitzpe Yericho farm.

• 2002

  Weekly pamphlet 'Shalom la-ʻam' begins publication.

• 1994

  Founded as a midrasha for 20 youths in Ma'ale Adumim.

Jewish outreach and education for secular, traditional, and religious youth and adults in Israel.

• Weekly pamphlet 'Shalom la-ʻam'

  Pocket-sized accordion-folded pamphlet with Torah stories and columns.

• Books published by Shalom la-ʻam

  50 books published, including works by Rabbi Yaakov Moshe Hillel and Rabbi Yehonatan Salem.

1. 1Irgun Shalom la-ʻam - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2שלום לעם - Wikipedia (Hebrew)he.wikipedia.org