Published in Women's Magazine

Making Neighborhood | Sarit Levi Ashkenazi

Avraham and Aviya Sabag were looking for a house with a garden and found a community that is home. Despite the challenges posed by living in a mixed community, they love their neighbors, believe in the value of shared life and feel rewarded to live together

The Sabag Family

Avraham (34) and Aviya (34) Sabag, he works in the field of construction in northern Samaria and she is an educational counselor at Ulpanat Harish.

Status: Nine years of marriage + four children (Tamar aged eight, Ori aged five, Neta aged two and Lavi aged 11 months).

Address in Waze: Mevo Dotan.

Where did we come from?

"Avraham grew up in Beit El and I in Rosh HaAyin", says Aviya. "When we got married we moved to live in Rosh HaAyin, close to my family, and we always thought about moving to a community place. After three years we moved to Leshem, but we continued to dream of a house with a garden and a small and intimate community".

Why here?

"We were looking for a diverse community with people in different styles, and it was also important to us that as part of the diversity there would be a significant Torah circle that would respond to our spiritual aspirations as a family. We came to a special tour day for young families in Mevo Dotan and something in the human warmth here won us over. In addition, there is an amazing primeval landscape here and good air", they smile and Aviya adds: "Beyond that it was important to me to live in a place that is not disconnected from the center and from my family. Our location is excellent and we reach within an hour anywhere we need".

Shared life

Mevo Dotan began its way as a secular community and over the years opened its gates to religious families. In recent years many young families from all sectors have joined, who expanded and renewed the face of the community. "The line that guides the residents in Mevo Dotan is that everyone will feel that they respect and accept their desires and needs. Even if in the test of results this doesn't always happen, there is sensitivity and a desire that everyone will feel 'at home' here and that they have a place to be who they are. The cultural events calendar is full and there is a real attempt to create a program that sees everyone. Shabbat atmosphere is maintained on the street, but it happens that a car passes by. The pool is also open on Shabbat out of a desire to allow everyone to maintain the character of Shabbat, each according to their conception".

Microcosm

Speaking of the pool, they also share the differences of opinion. "The pool is a conflict point that comes up for discussion every year, because naturally there is a population that wants to expand the separated swimming hours and there is a population that wants to expand the mixed swimming hours. Not everything is perfect, there are conflicts and discussions – even sharp ones, but everything is done from a position of 'not breaking the vessels'. They find a way to talk and in the end good neighborly relations are maintained. The starting point is that everyone compromises so that everyone will be well. Our goal is togetherness, and to reach it each one gives up a little so that everyone comes out rewarded".

The gain

"We gain friendships, breadth of thought, ability to respect the different without experiencing a sense of threat, and the children learn what resilience is and how to build a backbone". Aviya adds that in her view this is a healthier way to live. "Each one brings their color, it's like a microcosm of the state".

Vibrant social life

"In Mevo Dotan there is an amazing community coordinator, every community evening is accompanied by an elaborate refreshment that she prepares in the community club kitchen whose kashrut is accepted by everyone. Recently we had a community trip, there are bonding evenings for women, 'around the fire' evenings for men, 'art track' activity for children and community camping that included 'kololam' and dinner, 'treasure hunt' for children, film screening for youth and singing evening for adults. In addition, the pool serves as a central meeting place. Gymboree for the little ones is another space for interaction, and recently a social pub was established without profit motives with the aim of creating a meeting and conversation place for adults".

Where does the youth go

In Mevo Dotan there is an especially active Bnei Akiva branch, and the youth take part in volunteering. "We have quality youth. In the first days of the war the youth lifted the community. They divided into teams, went through houses and really helped in every area. Recently they built a pergola for the soldiers at the warm corner operated by a person in charge from the community, and there they distribute cakes and drinks to soldiers. They also built a charm corner with benches and swings for the residents, and mobilize for every task".

A place of kindness

"There is kindness here at the highest levels and it's contagious and creates a movement of giving. Like in most communities, also in Mevo Dotan there is a committee that takes care of meals for new mothers and this expanded to a group called 'hugging meals', out of a desire to support anyone who needs help – from a woman in pregnancy bed rest to a kidney donor who is in recovery. There is a WhatsApp group called 'mobilizing to help iron women' whose purpose is to take care of the wives of the enlisted in all the small details – from help with meals, through picking up a child from kindergarten to hanging a shelf. Every request is answered with utmost speed".

A place to pray in

In Mevo Dotan there is a Sephardic synagogue and a central synagogue whose custom varies. "On Shabbat children's prayer takes place and the synagogue courtyard is full of seesaws and life. In addition, women's classes and regular halacha classes are held, and during the week a Talmud Torah class for children takes place. Many soldiers from the military base at the entrance to the community also come to the synagogue".

Main grocery and entertainment

"The developing city of Harish has upgraded our quality of life", says Avraham. "At a distance of a quarter hour drive it is possible to reach shopping centers, a mall, clinics, a bank and everywhere. The large supermarkets are in Pardes Hanna and in Hadera, a distance of about 35-40 minutes drive". Aviya adds that in Pardes Hanna there are many great restaurants. "We really enjoy going out there and to all kinds of coffee carts in the area".

Education system

In Mevo Dotan there is a daycare and three kindergartens whose character is religious and in Tel Menashe, 20 minutes drive away, there is a state elementary school and a Torah state-religious elementary school. "At middle and high school age the girls study at ulpanot in Harish, in Hadera or in Kfar Pines, and the boys at yeshivot in Harish, in Afula, in Or Akiva or at boarding schools. In addition there is a secular high school in Afula".

Community WhatsApp

"There is a group called 'Women of Dotan' where all the women are and everything happens there. There are men's groups and the group we like the most is 'gardening group', because many of the residents have gardens and tips are shared there for growing trees, medicinal plants and garden care".

The home

About three years ago the couple moved to a rented house in Mevo Dotan, and after a year they moved to their permanent residence in a project managed by "Harei Zahav" company. "We moved into the project together with about thirty young families, and after a year all 44 houses were populated. We have a stunning house and a huge garden with a view of the mountains, exactly as we dreamed, but we always say that we came because of the house and gained an amazing, warm and embracing community. This is the most central and important thing".