Communities Believe in Education (Kemach) at Memizrach Shemesh
(קהילות מאמינות בחינוך – קמ”ח)
“If there is no flour there is no Torah; if there is no Torah, there is no flour.”
-Pirke Avot 3:21What is the Communities Believe in Education Program?
The Communities Believe in Education Program (Kemach- literally flour in Hebrew) is a community development program aimed at reinforcing the parental role in education within the family and vis à vis community educational institutions, through a group process of empowerment and exploration of Jewish tradition. The program operates primarily in communities in Israel’s social and geographic periphery. Participants meet on a weekly basis to study Jewish texts that deal with societal issues and how they relate to education. Participants learn about the structural inequalities apparent in Israeli society and they debate how these disparities effect the education of their children. Finally, parents acquire tools for involvement in their local PTAs and community organizations so that they may have a positive influence on their children’s education.
What do we stand for?
We believe that the connection between Jewish tradition, Social justice and solidarity can empower parents to serve as agents of social change for their schools and for their communities.
We utilize the Beit Midrash (House of Study) method of Jewish learning, as it provides participants with a safe platform to share their personal experiences, learn from Jewish texts, and increase their knowledge about the education policy in Israel.
We encourage a group process that allows for personal growth and promotes parental involvement in education and in the community.
Our Groups:
In 2002, Memizrach Shemesh along with the UJA –New York Jewish Federation initiated our first parent leadership group in the Katamonim neighborhood of Jerusalem. Since then, we have run Kemach parent leadership groups throughout the country; in Sderot, Kiryat Malachi, Beit Shemesh, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
Currently we have 5 groups:
*3 community based groups: in Jerusalem at the Musrara Community Center, in Jerusalem at the Stern Community Center in Kiryat Yovel and in Tel Aviv in the Kiryat Shalom Neighborhood.
*2 school based groups: in Hod Hasharon at the Shilo state religious school and in Gan Yavneh at the Ben Gurion School.
Participant Feedback:
“Something changed in my family after I started studying in the group. After we learned the Book of Ruth, I sat with my father-in-law and we learned together. I felt that I had a voice.”
-Communities Believe in Education Participant, Jerusalem
“The program influenced how I see education and how I deal with my child’s school on a day to day basis. It gave me self confidence, when meeting with teachers, to advocate for my children.
- Communities Believe in Education Participant, Tel Aviv
Funding:
The Communities Believe in Education – KEMACH program has an annual budget of $191,583 and benefits from the support of the Avi Chai Foundation, the New Israel Fund and private donors. A sum of $13,324 is needed annually to complete the budget.