About Home Campus

Conceived and built by the generous donation of

Elissa and Michael Greenberg

Boca Raton, Florida, USA

Michael, born in Ottawa Canada, is an alumnus of the first Ulpan class at Sde Eliyahu. 

His special connection with Israel began in 1968, aged 18, when he came by himself, looking for a religious kibbutz do deepen his Jewish and Zionist identity.

After completing the Ulpan and making friends with his peers from the kibbutz, 

Michael volunteered for the paratroopers` brigade of the IDF, serving a full term, 

and then returned to Canada to study business management.

When the Yom Kippur war broke out Michael left everything behind and traveled to New York, to join the American airlift to the Israeli army, finding himself on the Egyptian front, where he fought and took part in the capture of the third division of the Egyptian army.

After the war, in 1974, he returned to the U.S., living in South Florida, and developed 

many housing neighborhoods and public buildings, as part of the family business.

Sde Eliyahu became Michael and his family’s second home, with his siblings all 

visiting at various times, in his footsteps.

Campus Habayta began to operate in Summer 2018 with the goal of being a warm and

comforting home to religious young men and women who came to Israel from all over the world.

The Campus is situated in Kibbutz Sde Eliyahu (in Emek Beit Shean), which provides an

environment of a religious agricultural kibbutz.

The Campus is meant for Lone Soldiers (Chayalim Bodedim) as well as for young adults

who make their way to Israel to learn Hebrew in Ulpan. Overall, there are about 80

rambunctious youth living here, in their first home in Israel, and upon leaving are well-equipped

for their foray into Israeli society.

During the week, the Ulpan cooks up scrumptious family meals for dinner, which are

often followed by a campfire or barbeque. A quieter night consists of a movie around the large

TV, or any of a bunch of other myriad activities. After the meal on Shabbatot and chagim

(festivals), we take out board games, or a book from the library- or we just sit around as a group

and enjoy sharing our experiences from the week. Occasionally we have a “Tish” on Friday

nights led by a member of the Kibbutz or by an alumnus of the Campus who came back for a

visit.

We pride ourselves on our role as a meeting ground for youth to find their “better half”,

and since we have opened, five couples who met here have gotten married and established a

life in Israel.

The Campus team is made up of Kibbutz members and of two Bnot Sherut (Israeli girls

doing national service instead of the army). The team invests great efforts to assist in any way

possible the endeavors of each Lone Soldier and Ulpan member, so that he feels at home and

succeeds in finding his unique place in Israel.

We do this by worrying for the physical and emotional needs of the people here, and by

putting emphasis on the interpersonal relationship between us and the Lone Soldiers/Ulpan

members. Despite the efforts we put in, we always feel that everyone here deserves more for

the brave step that people here have made to contribute to the Jewish people by serving in the

IDF- by leaving their family, their home, and their friends- everything that is familiar- and coming

to Israel filled with idealism and commitment.

The Campus is funded by various sources throughout Israel, which cover the basic costs

of food and lodging.

Things that we lack include:

● Funding for enriching activities: speakers, workshops, etc…

● Funding for personal gifts on birthdays and festivals

● Funding for scholarships for soldiers who finish the army to help them start out in

the challenging task of living in Israel

● Funding for continued upkeep of the campus to ensure that our high standards of

cleanliness and living are met

We entreat and would be ever-grateful if anyone who could assist us to

continue this most important endeavor, be in contact with us.

Meir: 972-5-640502

habayta@sde1.org.il

When his first born daughter, Rachel, reached her Bat Mitzvah in 1999, Michael brought his whole family to Masada, a deeply moving trip that set the atmosphere for following Bar and Bat Mitzvah celebrations to come in his family around Israel in following years.

Michael’s heart is deeply connected to the Land of Israel. He, with his family, have 

donated and are donating to many worthy causes for Israel’s military, municipal, educational and ethical needs, making an important contribution in these, and other fields.

In recent years Michael has seen his quest continue, with nephews enlisting to the IDF.

 

The Habayta Campus is a unique peak for Michael and the Greenberg family, which will be a first home in the homeland for young people from around the world, who will begin their journey like him, at eighteen, far from their families, but with strong motivation and passion. The campus will host two flagship programs: a Hebrew Ulpan and a Zabar Garin for lone soldiers.

The dream has been realized. The Habayta campus has been completed!