Ido Shwartz
The Community Model: A New Partnership between the New York Federation and Kiah
"The student's world isn't complicated only because of what happens at school, but also due to what he or she encounters at home and in the community," says Liora Efergan, principal of the 'Abir Yaakov' School in Ofakim, and former coordinator of the Morasha - Kol Israel Haverim' Program for Judaism and Social Action. "One way in which we apply this at the Abir Yaakov School is by learning poetry and music, using the communal-educational model which creates a connection between the school and the traditions of the home...A meaningful change is created, first of all, by using existing strengths – therefore most of the teachers and staff took part in instilling the values of Morasha at the school. As a principal who was once a pupil at the school, it's a great privilege to return it to its former glory."
"You need a whole village in order to educate a child" – therefore the 'Morasha' program in the 'Abir Yaakov' School doesn't belong to Kiah only. Kiah has already been working for more than three years in the town, in partnership with the Education Administration, the MetroWest Federation and other partners. Starting this year, and for the next three years, Kiah (in partnership with the New York Federation) will be implementing a holistic model, which has been developed in order to significantly change education in the town. The model is based on the assumption that the combined impact of a number of coordinated programs will be greater than the sum of the individual programs. Together, we will provide the town with over a million ILS a year, all of it dedicated to promoting multi-dimensional education, ultimately benefits all the town's residents.
In order to realize this goal, we operate a large number of programs in Ofakim: In formal education, the Morasha program in one high school and three elementary schools; 'Shaar' – the 'Gateway to Matriculation' program, which aims to increase the percentage of matriculating students; the Memizrach Shemesh Beit Midrash runs the Netuim program at the youth center, aiming to develop young local leadership; the Merhav program for young rabbis, dealing with cultural issues; a 'Faithful to Education' group made up of parents and leading social activists in the city; and the Beit Midrash for teachers, in partnership with the Merhavim Regional Council, Ofakim Municipality, and the MetroWest Federation.
Over the years, our programs have proven themselves successful in creating meaningful and long-term change. At the same time, we have always aspired for synergy between the programs and the idea of the community model which is a pilot which the federation has encouraged us to run in Ofakim. The model isn't a road map; rather, it creates a space to form connections, partnerships, joint thinking and learning based on local forces. We are working to create a change which includes the creation of a shared Jewish-social language, building a tradition of social responsibility, mutual involvement, connecting people to their identity, and creating a feeling of pride based on a connection to one's roots and the place where one was brought up and was nurtured.
At the heart of our work method is the principle of partnership. Together, we have established a steering committee led by representatives of the authority and including the existing forces in the city who will assist in implementing and leading the model. Members of the committee include: school principals, the head of the youth center, the municipality's education branch, the head of the community center, MetroWest Federation, representatives of the New York Federation, and other important figures in the city.
In October a delegation from the New York Federation visited Ofakim. City Mayor Mr. Itzik Danino gave them an overview of the current situation regarding the city's education system; Kiah representatives presented the unique model which has been developed and at the end of the day there was joint learning sessionwith the students at the Netuim Beit Midrash.
Itzik Danino, Ofakim Mayor: "From the beginning of my term I have seen great importance in restoring faith in the education system in Ofakim and in encouraging local young people to stay in Ofakim and build their home here. In light of this, cooperation with the Kiah programs, which strengthens belonging to traditional Jewish values and the connection to the city among local pupils and students, is in my eyes both natural and blessed."
Avi Hering, representative of the New York Federation, said: "Kiah is a leading organization in the field of building Jewish identity in Israel. We are excited that Kiah – via the special partnership between Morasha and Memizrach Shemesh – will bring its expertise in formal and informal education and have a holistic influence on the city. We hope that this trial will constitute a holistic model for building a Jewish community in Israel."
In December, there will be a special round table city event involving local students, school principals, and people from the city's development team, with the goal of creating a collaborative city-systemic dialogue. This dialogue will advance the partnership between the programs, the different educational bodies opreating in town and the leading figures in these fields. The meetings will empower the process and strengthen the feeling of the town's residents that something big is happening in Ofakim.
"One of the clearest things you discover when you arrive in Ofakim is the great number of initiatives, activities and people who care and are active and involved – in the municipality, in formal and informal education, and in a variety of fields. We are excited to be part of this interesting pilot and thank everyone who is a partner to the process. I am sure that with this kind of unity, wonderful processes will take place here," Efrat Riger Bouhris, head of Kiah in Ofakim, summed up her thoughts and hopes for the project.
