About Us
A home for Jewish cultural renewal
The Shitim Institute is an Israeli nonprofit based at Kibbutz Beit Hashita in the Gilboa region. We preserve and renew Jewish-Zionist-humanist culture through the Jewish calendar, holidays, and life-cycle ceremonies.
Our story
The Institute grew from the Kibbutz Holiday Archive established in the 1950s by educator Aryeh Ben-Gurion. What began in a small hut beside his home developed into a nationally recognized archive of Haggadot, ceremonies, publications, photographs, and original cultural works.
Today, that archive remains at the heart of our educational work. We connect historical sources with contemporary questions, enabling people and communities to understand their heritage and create traditions that speak to their own lives.
Who we serve
- School principals and teachers
- Community cultural leaders
- Informal educators and youth leaders
- Military education officers
- Families and communities across Israel