The Sapir Center and ‘HaMidrasha at Oranim‘ have developed a model of an “Israeli ecosystem” aimed at creating local community cultural and spiritual life that generate a sense of belonging and meaning inspired by Jewish -Israeli culture.
The model includes two possible means of implementation:
- An Urban Model – in which a core group of young people, graduates of different education programs of ‘HaMidrasha at Oranim’, settle together in an urban location and create a Jewish-Israeli community life that is also aimed at the surrounding neighbors and community.
- A Rural Model – in which Jewish culture and community life are derived from local resources.
The challenge is to create new and diverse Jewish-Israeli centers, with the community at their center, offering individuals a focus of identity, belonging, and commitment. The next challenge is to create a network of Israeli communities that share common values and a sense of belonging.
Goals
- To renew the idea of community and create organic-social frameworks in which individuals and families can express their talents, realize their values, give and receive, create and belong.
- To encourage young people to create community life that influences its surroundings.
- To develop Jewish-Israeli cultural life in a pluralistic, diverse, and inclusive manner.
- To train activists and a leadership that will lead the Jewish-Israeli cultural life in the education systems, communities, and municipal domain.
Target Audience
- Young graduates of the educational frameworks of the Midrasha in Oranim
- Urban and rural communities
- Israeli Jews seeking community life
Expected Results
The project seeks to create active community life that influences its surroundings and creates circles of belonging. Two models were developed – urban and rural – that are intended to be replicated and used in other places in Israel.
Work Processes
Haifa
The ecosystem idea evolved from a community of young people (the Carmel Community), graduates of HaMidrasha youth programs, who settled in Haifa’s Hadar neighborhood, and began working there to strengthen the local area, , both out of a concern for municipal and national resources and out of a sense of belonging, by celebrating the Jewish holidays, shabbat ceremonies, Batei Midrash, and others.
Mateh Asher Regional Council
In this local authority, the model combines educational programs of HaMidrasha (e.g. a preparatory program prior to IDF service) with educational-community programs (a Beit Midrash facilitators program, Jewish-Israeli leadership programs, programs for the Council’s professional personnel). Additional programs developed include Beit Midrash programs, holidays, shabbat celebrations, bar- and bat-mitzva year programs and ceremonies. The combination of all these strengthens pluralistic Jewish-Israeli community culture and discourse.