The SAVI project includes an inspirational handicraft learning center, as well as operating a handicraft workshop run by the aged and learning impaired who cut and pack handicraft raw material and kits to be sold to a national craft distributor. SAVI aims to become a sustainable in-house industry based on reinvestment of profits to cover expenses of the project and fund future community philanthropic causes.

Through Savi’s extension efforts various arts and crafts programs, including a program designed for mothers and daughters will be operating throughout the summer.  One mother describes the experience, “A wonderful group was formed and both my daughter and myself – I wait anxiously for our special quality time together every Friday morning.  When we arrive, Yael Nechushtan, the group coordinator and some of the elderly members of the center greet us with light refreshments.  We each work on individual projects, help each other and share our progress along the way. The atmosphere is fun and creative.”

Additional programs are expected to open soon, including a program for grandparents and grandchildren, and a program just for women.  The common denominator between these programs is in SAVIs motto “Every One Can”, since no prior knowledge or expertise is required.   In the program, basic and simple techniques are taught that lead to surprising results and reinforces the belief that everyone has hidden creative talents.   The added advantage of the program is the focus on inter-generational activities providing real quality time between parents, children and grandparents.

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.

The last lecture to be held in the series will be on December 24^th, 2009 and will examine the distribution of resources to women at the municipal level.  For more information contact the Social Economic Academy.

Last year she was presented with the Presidential Award of Excellence at the annual Independence Day ceremony at Beit Hanassi by Israeli President Shimon Peres, former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defence Minister Ehud Barak.

Natasha entered her military service as one of 35 young religious women participating in Midreshet Ein Hanatziv’s 3-year Maayan Program which combines intensive Judaic studies in the Beit Midrash with full service in the Educational branch of IDF.

Upon completing their high school education, many young religious Israeli women seek ways to explore their Jewish identity so that they may learn to deal with the complexity of their lives as religious women who are active in Israeli society and in the modern world of today. Midreshet Ein Hanatziv provides a unique answer to these women by providing a wide range of challenging Jewish studies encouraging them to conduct a meaningful dialogue between the texts they study in the Beit Midrash and their daily life issues.

Each student at Midreshet Ein Hanatziv is guided to discover and listen to her own unique voice within the broader fabric of the Jewish people. The Midrasha prepares its students towards their life as committed Jewish women who will go on to assume contemporary leadership roles in Jewish society based on a profound understanding of Jewish sources, ethics and values.

Each year, among the 70 students of the Midrasha, 35 young women choose to combine their studies with full service in the army.

The Ma’ayan Program engages participants in intensive Jewish studies and places them in key positions in the Educational Branch of the IDF.  While participants are active in their military service, their relationship with the Midrasha remains close through frequent trips back to Ein Hanatziv and twice weekly classes on their army base taught by visiting Midrasha staff.

Maayan soldiers mainly teach soldiers from underprivileged backgrounds helping them to complete 11 years of formal education. A sub-group of Ma’ayan Program participants teach Judaic content and culture to new immigrants. in preparation for their conversion to Judaism.  These recent immigrants come from countries where they had very little exposure to Judaism.  The army’s Nativ Program provides them with a comprehensive understanding of Jewish life and an enriched Jewish identity and facilitates their integration into Israeli society.

“I am fortunate to have joined the Midrasha at Ein Hanatziv”, says Natasha, “and to have had this wonderful opportunity of serving in the army and getting to know Am Yisrael. I feel totally at home here”.

Israel’s State Comptroller report from 2004 revealed that although every child is entitled to the national dental health basket, only 25% of school students in grades 1 to 9 receive state-sponsored dental checkups. The reason for this is that Health Ministry regulations stipulate that local authorities be the providers of dental treatment. As this decision is left in their hands, only affluent local authorities have take on this mission, while more than half (58%) do not provide any such services.

Bolstered by this victory, ACRI intends to continue our struggle to ensure equal access to healthcare for all members of Israeli society.

From the 1st to 8th of May 2009, the Social Economic Academy and Cinemateque Haifa held their second annual Workers’ Film Festival. The Festival combined films and lectures about worker struggles and status. The panels and lectures which were held each evening included speakers who are active in the field. i.e. worker organizers alongside academics, creating a successful cross between theory and current practices.
The success of the first festival held during July of last year, was a natural precursor to this year’s festival, and this year there were a number of significant enhancements; the festival was two days longer, the number of participants doubled, and an event supporting workers’ rights was held as part of the festival. The event, held on the 5th night of the festival, opened with an acoustical performance by Amir Lev and Yeheli Sobol and was followed by a performance of Noam Rotem, and concluded with the singer, Asaf Avidan and the cellist Hadas Kleinmen.
The idea behind the festival is the SEA experience; combining film and a lecture raises identity with a cause and greater involvement than just watching a movie. The festival raises awareness to the messages of SEA among new audiences and this year’s event was a chance to add a celebration to SEA’s ongoing activities.
SEA believes that the Workers’ Film Festival, which opened symbolically on the 1st of May will become a tradition and that it will become a brand name for young people symbolizing the struggle for worker rights and status. Next year, the plan is to have an international festival.