An international campus for Jewish education and experiential learning in the heart of Israel’s capital. The Center will be the foundation for building a new generation of leaders.
The lobby staircase in the main entrance area is now being constructed, installed, and reinforced. The upper floors are close to completion. Our team is now focused on completing the commercial kitchen, basement dining hall and rooftop garden.
We have really pushed forward this month with the renovations for the Mayanot World Center and it is our pleasure to show you the amazing things have come together.
The stairway, hallways and dorm rooms are all completed. Crown molding are in, light fixtures have all been installed, painting on upper floors are complete. The elevator is also in the process of being installed, as well as, the rooftop flooring.
As the Hebrew month of Tishrei begins and the Jewish New Year begins anew, the coming year should be a year of revealed goodness with many blessings of sweetness and joy for all.
The summer is upon us and we are enjoying the warm weather here in Israel. Our team is continuing to install the much needed air conditioners, on all floors, closing up the ceiling with dry wall, painting all dorm rooms, and even installing the hanging shelving in over 50 rooms. The safety room electric is being finished and the outlets have already been put in. It is amazing to see everything coming together.
Enjoy the July photos and videos below.
Electric outlets are connected
Dorm room with finished ceiling
Rooftop infrastructure installed
Building the rooftop floor
The dorm room pictured after the shelving has gone up and the trial pieces have been chosen.
Dorm room entry way
Washing station and closets
Dorm room shelving
Basement progress:
Prepping for the main stairs to be installed
Installing electric in the industrial kitchen area
Here are the updated photos and videos from our teams progress on the Mayanot World Center. The project is making real strides and we are happy to share the process.
Since all the electricity has been connected, our executive director, Rabbi Kasriel Shemtov, did the honors of turning on the lights for the first time. He shared, “Mazal Tov, we have electricity at the Mayanot World Center, and we can’t wait for all the students who will ignite their spiritual electricity, their Judaism.”
As well he shared, “the doors are on, and this is the place that will not only open up the doors to the dorm rooms, but to our hearts, and our souls. To bring thousands of Jews around the world and connect them to their heritage, to their people and to their Land.”
Door frames installed.
Upper floor progress shot.
Doors on all upper floors installed.
Entrance floor ceiling
Main floor classroom progress.
Where the main stairwell will be soon.
Organizing the electric boxes.
Working on the floor entrances and stairwell.
Outdoor space and new ceiling for the kitchen area.
Cleaning the area.
More then three tractors are currently at work in the building.
The back view of the building, before the windows are installed.
These are not easy times here in Israel, but we are optimistic for the future and are pushing forward with the construction of the building.
The importance for a Center like Mayanot to provide us with what we need most, young Jewish educated leaders who can stand up for Israel, the Jewish People and our Judaism.
As always thank you for supporting our efforts to nurture a love for Torah, the Jewish people, and the Land of Israel and make a lasting and sustainable impact.
We can’t wait to show you how the renovation of the New World Center is progressing, view the photos and video below.
Electric infrastructure units being delivered.
Drywall installation in the dorm rooms.
All Air conditioning units installed on upper floors.
All upper floors ceiling drywall completed.
The ceiling installation of the future Beit Midrash and classroom area on the entrance floor.
Electric installation happening, under the floor, on the entrance level.
All the large safety rooms are coming along, as well.
The concrete roof of the new kitchen area in the process of being constructed.
The view of the basement reconstruction from inside.
While the concrete is drying the beams hold up the ceiling.
The rooftop air conditioning units and plumbing being installed.
Our team is continuing to make major developments at the New Mayanot World Center this month. Checkout the video and images below.
The multiple balconies facing the Nachlaot neighborhood.
After the reconstruction.
Ceiling infrastructure being finished on all upper floors. Installation of the:
Lighting and electric;
Plumbing;
Cameras and internet;
Sprinkler system;
Air conditioning and heating system.
Piping installation happening.
Ceiling casings are installed.
Wiring being pulled through, by one of our electricians
Entrance floor ceiling infrastructure being worked on:
Our team, ensuring all the infrastructure is safely installed on the ceilings and the ‘geves’/ drywall can be easily attached to hide everything happening above.
Plastering the walls in preparation for the paint on all upper floors:
Getting ready to paint all dorm rooms, classrooms, offices and student lounges on all upper floors of the Mayanot World Center.
The basement, commercial kitchen space, moving to the next phase of construction from digging to reinforced concrete and waterproofing the walls.
Having dug out this new space from the original bedrock, our team installed the new pipes.
Smoothing and sealing the walls and floor.
Waterproofing the entire space, so no moisture is able to come in whatsoever.
We are looking forward to painting all the upper floors soon, covering up the ceiling wiring and pipes, installing the lights and working on the main floor entrance stairs!
As Jewish thought leaders tackle issues of assimilation disenfranchisement, BDS and the shrinking Jewish population, it is clear that one of the bright lights of engagement is the incredible success of Birthright Israel. It is our intention to leverage this success by providing creative educational programs and immersive Israel experiences to ensure the future of the Jewish people. Birthright is ‘life changing’; our goal is to ensure that this’ life changing’ experience continues to create a community of proud Jews, who are leaders at their University campuses and home communities, at the forefront of battling BDS and defending Israel.
Our goal is to provide a cutting-edge Jewish educational center that will serve all Birthright Israel alumni and young adults. Not just a building and dormitory area, this Center will be a content provider partnering with organizations like Masa and Onward Israel, to provide meaningful and transformational experiences in Israel. We will be offering programs such as: internships and volunteer opportunities, Jewish learning workshops, and Israel advocacy seminars.
The progress we are making is amazing, we are in the process of completing:
Adding a protective stain and grouting the tiles on all upper floors;
The excavation of a 6m deep hole, through rock, for a large oil canister, as stipulated by the Health Department for the kitchen waste to drain separately;
The plumbing on the ground floor was completed and checked successfully;
Ventilation fans and infrastructure are being installed to improve air ventilation;
The sprinkler systems has been installed according to the Fire Department regulations, to ensure fire safety;
Three sample rooms are in the process of being painted;
Air conditioning units are being installed in every room on the four upper floors.
Check out the video and photos below:
(From Left: Project manager, Igal Kaptsan, head architect, Zvi Weinberger, general manager, Shlomo Chaimson) in the newly painted dorm room.
The fire extinguishers are installed
The air conditioners are up in each room
Prepping the bathrooms for tiling
Installing tiles in the bathroom and shower
Adding protective stain and grout to the floor tiles
Before the painting is completed
After color is added to the walls in the dorm area
Before and After the walls go up in the basement
Removing the existing paint from the walls in the stairway
Excavation of the 6m hole in the basement
Walls going up in the excavation area
Spraying the basement with concrete
Walls going up in the commercial kitchen and dining room area
The Mayanot World Center Building project is finishing the stage in which the mechanical bones of the renovation are complete. The walls are up, the plumbing, electric, and air ducts are all installed, the ceiling is ready and now we are beginning to install the flooring.
The team has been working, the last few weeks, cutting, laying and setting the tiles, as the area is quite large. The finished product will not only look wonderful, it will literally lay the ‘ground’ work for thousands of students to experience Israel, and connect with their heritage.
See below for the most recent video update and photos.
Before the tiles have been laid.
After the tiles have all been installed and set.
Finishing the process of cutting the pipes and organizing the plumbing.
The Four stages of the flooring process include: First ensuring the base is cleaned off. Second, adding compressed sand. Third, adding gravel. Fourth, installing the tiles themselves. The tiles throughout the upper floors of the Mayanot World Center are cost-efficient, long lasting and very durable. They look like wood grain parquet, but they are actually tiles made out of strong porcelain ceramic, perfect for thousands of young feet walking all over them.
Here you can see the sand, gravel and tiles used for the flooring.
Waiting for the tiles and adhesive to set and fully dry.
Our team, working diligently to ensure our timeline is met.
When we at Mayanot, think about all that our team has accomplished this past year, we feel unbelievably grateful. Grateful to have such an amazing and supportive community behind us, propelling us forward. Generously pushing us ahead and ensuring the mission of Mayanot, to empower young Jews through education and build a new generation of leaders, is thriving.
This past year of 2020 has been challenging, no doubt about that, but Thanks to G-d’s help and the outpouring of love from our Mayanot family and thousands of supporters, the Mayanot World Center project has not only continued building throughout the year, but we have also successfully managed to keep to our target opening date of Fall 2021.
Take a look at how far our team has come this year and what an amazing transformation has taken place. Thank you for sticking with us and being active participants in the process. We look forward to what 2021 will bring.
Check out the video and photos below.
Feel inclined to tell the world about the amazing work Mayanot is doing? Feel free to share and tag us, @mayanotmen @mayanotwomen
Mayanot was honored to welcome Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem, on November 12th, 2020 for a special tour of the new Mayanot World Center. Hassan-Nahoum currently serves as Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem, in charge of foreign relations, international economic development and tourism and brings even more opportunities for growth, and partnership with the Holy City.
She was joined by the Exigent Capital Group, partner and longtime friend of Mayanot Elie Brender, Eric Davis, and Kory Baldash.
Hassan-Nahoum expressed her excitement with the educational center at the gateway to Jerusalem. She stated, “I am really impressed by the vision for this building. I’m excited that Jerusalem will be hosting such an innovative educational center which will help train young people to defend Israel all over the world, against the scourges of anti-Semitism and BDS.”
In attendance from Mayanot were Executives R’ Kasriel Shemtov, and R’ Shlomo Gestetner, Director of Birthright Israel: Mayanot, Levi Margolin, Creative Director, Susie Muller and Building Manager, Shlomo Chaimson.
Rabbi Gestetner, Dean, shared, “This educational center will change the educational landscape of Jerusalem, providing a foundation for building a new generation of leaders, empowering them with the knowledge and values to face the challenges of the future. Our goal is to empower the leaders of tomorrow by offering students a chance to stay in Israel, long term. Giving our youth diverse opportunities for studying and interning, offering a Lone Soldier safe haven and a myriad of other academic and experiential programs that will enrich the lives of Jews around the globe.”
Rabbi Shemtov, Executive Director, stated, “The new Center is geographically situated at the gateway to Jerusalem, and will be the gateway to Judaism, engaging every Jewish student at their own level and turning a short visit into a lifelong experience of engagement and connection.”
We look forward to inviting the Deputy Mayor and Exigent Capital Group to the ribbon cutting, for the opening of this incredible center, when we can together greet thousands more students and young adults in Jerusalem.
(From Right: Kory Baldash, Eric Davis, Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, R’ Shlomo Gestetner, Elie Brender, R’ Kasriel Shemtov, Shlomo Chaimson, and Susie Muller, photo taken by R’Levi Margolin)
Building Updates: The Mayanot World Center 