In Israel, Judaism is viewed as a divisive issue, splitting the public into religiously observant and secular Jews. At the same time, growing socio-economic gaps call for social activism and change. By placing the Jewish values of communal responsibility and tikkun olam (repairing the world) at the center of Jewish identity we have a means of mitigating social gaps and at the same time reducing the polarization within Israeli society.
Since 2000, Memizrach Shemesh has nurtured the language of Jewish social responsibility. The Center, inspired by Mizrachi and Sephardi Jewish experience, philosophy and commentaries, trains social activists and fosters leadership, who are committed to the Jewish values of solidarity and justice. From Kiryat Shemona in the north to Kibbutz Ketura in the south, 500 people annually attend the Center’s ongoing activities. These join the hundreds of other people spreading the word: Jewish commitment means social responsibility. Memizrach Shemesh was established with the help of the Avi Chai Foundation and Alliance (Kol Yisrael Chaverim).
Our Programs
Expanding the Boundaries is a two-year training program for Jewish educators and professionals from pluralistic Jewish organizations known in Israel as Batei Midrash (literally, Houses of Study). Currently, these organizations cater to a mostly wealthy, older Ashkenazi crowd. The aim of Expanding the Boundaries is to train staff in these Jewish organizations, giving them tools to help incorporate diverse populations into their learning circles. Participants study Jewish texts about social justice with a special emphasis on Sephardic Jewish experience.
The Rabbinic Social Leadership program (MERHAV) trains a select group of community rabbis, dayyanim and novice rabbis. This two-year program integrates the study of Israeli social issues with the philosophy and methods of Sephardi Rabbis. MERHAV emphasizes the social tolerance of these rabbis, stressing their historically fruitful encounter with modernity – a legacy that can facilitate solutions when grappling with Israel’s current societal challenges and inequalities.
The National Service Year Leadership program develops Jewish-social leadership in pre-army national service year volunteers. The aim of the program is to give volunteers a space to learn about and contemplate their Jewish and social activist identities while volunteering in underserved communities. Volunteers participate in weekly group learning sessions where they discuss issues that challenge volunteers, and learn about social problems through a Jewish and social change prism.
The Student Leadership program develops Jewish student leadership by encouraging and preparing students for community work. The program also aims to help students clarify their connection to Jewish and social values. The annual course of study focuses on various topics – poverty, education, leadership and Jewish holidays – through which an ethical worldview committed to tikkun ‘olam [world-healing] is stressed.
Communities Believe in Education is an adult group study program designed to reinforce the parental role in education within the family and vis à vis educational institutions, through a group process of empowerment and exploration of tradition. The program operates primarily in communities in Israel’s social and geographic periphery.
Our annual budget is $993,716. We hope to expand our influence by bringing the language of Jewish social leadership to as many Israelis as possible. We need to raise $164,014 to complete this budget. Help us succeed in this important endeavor by sponsoring one of our many inspiring projects.