Yishai Fleisher - Kumah

Kumah

Kumah (Arise in Hebrew) was established in 1999 as a force to "strengthen the national character of the State of Israel, solidify its independence, and aid it in reaching its potential to be a home for the Jewish people, a canvas for a cultural rebirth, and positive catalyst for Middle East regional and global harmony". Fleisher argues that "Israel is the most exciting project of Jewish people in two-thousand years, and we should not miss the opportunity to be part of it." Kumah uses radio and TV, social media, music, articles, events, and advocacy to promote "a fruitful and flourishing Jewish state."

Through Kumah, Fleisher wrote and produced a popular internet-based film which was a spoof of the popular Matrix series. The film, called "Free Your Mind", features the protagonist Neo who is haunted by the question of "What is the Exile?" Finally, to the initial chagrin of his mother and co-workers, Neo comes to the conclusion that immigration to Israel is for him and he calls upon others to follow. The movie won critical acclaim and was reviewed in Israel's Maariv Hebrew daily and in the Jerusalem Post.

Under Fleisher's direction, Kumah produced "The Aliyah Revolution Album". The CD is a collection of Aliyah-related songs by well-known artists, and all artists donated the rights to the music for the purpose of promoting Aliyah. Fleisher created the CD with the hope that it will play a role in motivating young Jews, especially on college campuses, to consider making immigration to Israel. Artists ranging from well-established performers The Moshav Band, Chaim David, Neshama Carlebach, Reva L’Sheva, Aaron Razel and Shlock Rock, to relative newcomers like Aharit Hayamim Hai and The Footsteps.

Fleisher is also a strong advocate for renewing the centrality of Israel's ancient heritage sites, including the Tomb of the Patriarchs, the Tomb of Joseph, and the Tomb of Rachel. Fleisher was married in Hebron and continues to support efforts reconstitute Jewish life there. In preparation for the festival of Shavuot in 2009, Fleisher organized a group of Kumah volunteers to clean and renovate the Tomb of Ruth and Jesse in Hebron. The extensive clean-up and renovation involved the installation of top-quality furnishings, painting, light and water fixtures, cleaning, and arrangement of a stone courtyard outside the holy site.

Fleisher has written and lobbied a bill in Knesset calling for a new civic/educational holiday called "Aliyah Day" and presented it at a Knesset conference about Aliyah. Kumah's lobbying activities for the Aliyah Day law continue. The law, was submitted by MK Yaakov Katz (National Union) and MK Robert Tiviaev (Kadima), cleared the Minister's Committee for Legislation and now makes its way to the Committee on Signs and Ceremonies. In the bill’s introductory passage, Fleisher wrote, “Aliyah stands at the foundation of the State of Israel... and Israel strives to continue the process of immigration and the Ingathering of the Exiles. Public awareness is critical to this end… It is hereby proposed to establish Aliyah Day, designed to strengthen public awareness, especially among the young, as to the centrality of this value, via educational activities, public broadcasts, and public ceremonies. On this day, Aliyah will be discussed, commemorated and celebrated in schools, the Knesset and in the public arena. The State will thus commemorate the importance of past and future Aliyah, the elements that help it along, and of course the Olim themselves.”