Click here to view the embedded video.

In the last several years there has been a growing trend to separate boys and girls in religious elementary schools; sometimes as early as kindergarten.  This trend is another expression of religious Zionist education’s break with the modern world.  Gender segregation is becoming more and more common in religious educational settings; the process is currently occurring in many youth groups and is already complete in settings such as high schools, colleges, etc.

This segregation has educational, psychological and social implications which will be discussed during the conference.  Segregation is seen as a means of forcing conservative and modern orthodox families out of the religious education system.  Those in favor of segregation will point to the many studies showing its benefits, however, most of the studies relate only to older children and one cannot compare what is happening with second graders or pre-schoolers to tenth graders.  Nor do trends in other developed countries reflect the need or desire for gender segregation from such a young age.

In addition, the evening will look at how Jewish religious law views the need for gender segregation in education.

The conference in Hebrew will be held in Givat Shmuel

For more information: http://toravoda.org.il/he/node/2509

Affiliated with Limmud International, Limmud-Negev boasted more than 70 presenters, who gave workshops, lectures, and performances. There was a mind-boggling spectrum of topics in Hebrew, Russian and Yiddish, ranging from dance midrash and Jewish identity in films to solar energy in the Negev, and from halakhic rulings of North African rabbis to changing interpretations of Hannukah as reflected in songs through the ages. After a hot soup and couscous supper that warmed heart and body, more than 300 participants from the Negev, Arava, and well beyond, gathered together to light the third candle of Hannukah. The full program ended with a panel on culture in the Negev, highlighted by Kobi Oz singing some of his new songs. All participants cited the incredibly energizing and welcoming atmosphere.

To see additional photos and write-ups about this amazing event, go to the Limmud-Negev websitewww.limmudnegev.org.il or to Facebook.

ICAR has initiated a Study Day throughout Israel on the subject of agunot and mesuravot get, on and there about International Agunah Day that is marked on the Fast of Esther every year. ICAR sees great importance in exposing the public to the halakhic sources that refer to the problem of the agunah and the mesurevet get and to the varied solutions that appear within these sources to this difficult problem.

In this booklet the halakhic sources are organized by topic. Within each topic the sources are cited chronologically reflecting their precedence according to the halakhic era of each source.

In addition, at the end of the booklet a is sample lesson plan, which is useful for study groups that covers a number of sources that relate to the problem of the agunah from the large variety of sources  included in the booklet, as well as the various solutions that appear in the halakhic sources.

The booklet can be downloaded directly from the following link

The exchange, funded by Partnership 2000 and the UJA-Federation of New York, is a three-semester joint program through the Bronfman Center at New York University, Memizrach Shemesh-The Center for Jewish Leadership in Israel and Marom Budapest.

Using traditional texts as their basis, participants spent their first semester understanding what poverty is, how it is measured, and why it is important to break down related stereotypes. At the end of the semester each group is intended to spend time learning specifically about poverty at the partner city of the exchange.

When asked what the greatest social problem facing each country was, Israeli participants were united on one issue: the working poor. “People work a lot,” said Israeli participant Sara Levinger, “and they still don’t make enough money to survive.”

Through the course of the year, the groups will focus on issues related to education and leadership and rejoin in Budapest and New York to familiarize themselves with how these communities are individually affected by these issues.

For the full text written by Memizrach Shemesh volunteer Lauren Wilner, please see the article published on eJewish Philanthropy.

The Einat Project involves not only 25 members of Kehillat Ramot Zion, but also volunteers from the Nechama Branch of Hadassah Women, Haverot and Hadassah Hospital.

Volunteers run activities at the hospital for rehabilitation patients and their families on a weekly basis, including music, games, discussions, study groups and more.

In preparation for this activity, volunteers participated in four intensive workshops led by members of Haverot and the hospital staff.  The sessions covered issues such as interpersonal communication, how to communicate with rehabilitation patients and the rehabilitation process.  Volunteers continue to receive guidance on a monthly basis.

Ramot Zion’s activities in the Rehabilitation Unit have now expanded to include young children from the kehilla preparing Hanukah decorations for the Unit, NOAM (Masorti’s youth movement) members providing other decorations and the Ramot Zion choir singing in the unit on Fridays.

Kehillat Ramot Zion is a member of the Masorti Movement in Israel.  Kehillat Tzedek is a joint project of the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism and the Masorti Movement.

For more information about this and other Mavoi Satum’s legal precedents, contact Gitit Nachliel.

The stories are not so easy to watch. They are not so easy for our clients either.

The 5 YouTube clips tell 5 different stories. The following clip is in English and describes how a woman spent 9 years in the rabbinic courts—a never ending rabbinic court story….

Click here to view the embedded video.

The other clips are in Hebrew but with English subtitles:

Other YouTubes: From the Beginning — how marital property issues are reopened in the rabbinic courts at the request of the husband, leaving both the wife’s personal status and property at the mercy of the husband and court. (Hebrew with English subtitles) http://sites.google.com/site/cwjhebrew/savta-bekorta

Taking Testimony in the Rabbinic Courts — how the rabbinic courts are clueless when it comes to evaluating the weight of evidence, and the near impossibility of proving domestic violence. (Hebrew with English subtitles)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkesLzoq6yg&feature=related

Oops, You’re not a Jew — how the rabbinic court can undo a conversion of many years with sleight of hand, and when you’re not even expecting it and thought you were just going for a get. (Hebrew with English subtitles) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqp-3CoyuQI&feature=related

No Fault — how no fault of the husband is grounds for divorce. Even when a husband has molested his own child, the rabbinic courts do not view this as ground for divorce. (Hebrew with English subtitles) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NJi9S4zOCc&feature=related

In Ethiopia, the Sigd was marked with a half-day fast and a pilgrimage to the top of the nearest high mountain. There, the community’s religious leaders would chant from the Torah and lead the community in prayer, praying for the restoration of Jerusalem and the reconstruction of the Holy Temple and for their dream of making aliyah to Israel to come true.  The day would end with a festive meal.

Since 2009 the Sigd has been incorporated into the Israeli calendar as a National Holiday for the Ethiopian community, many of whom travel to Jerusalem where they gather on the Talpiot Promenade, overlooking the Old City of Jerusalem for a day of prayer and festivities.

The Ethiopian pupils of the MAKSAM Network of After School Study and Enrichment Centers in Hadera celebrated the Sigd with a modest ceremony, including readings, songs and dancing, in the delighted presence of their parents and invited guests.

The pupils were excited by their awesome task, and their parents were overjoyed to watch their Israeli born “Ethiopian Sabras” celebrating the Ethiopian community’s most holy day with such reverance.