Page 106 - issue
P. 106
CHANGING learning how to get the most out of
LIVES self-employment.
Wby Rochelle C. Eisenberg
hen Dovid Kaniel decided it Beliba Choma, recent research indicates These programs are making an
was time to leave his yeshi- that poor instruction in subjects such as impact. According to Beliba Choma, in
va in Israel, he hoped to English and math has left many chareidi recent years, the number of chareidi men
pursue a secular degree in students experiencing difficulties in their and women participating in its higher
order to provide for his fam- academic studies. As a result, about 50% education or vocational training pro-
ily. Yet he worried that gaps of them drop out of college before com- grams has more than doubled, and the
in his education would pleting their degrees. majority of those who graduate from uni-
make it difficult to navigate versity are employed.
higher education’s secular course work “Chareidi employment is a topic that
and wondered how he would master the fits very nicely with many of our grant- This year, in Ashkelon, The Baltimore-
skills needed to succeed in the Israeli making goals,” says Neuberger. “It helps a Ashkelon Partnership funded Tikvat
workforce. clearly vulnerable population, enhances Acheinu, a pilot program created by
the economy of Israel, and provides man- Shlavim, an Israeli nonprofit founded to
It was around this time that Kaniel ifold opportunities for interaction among help the chareidi community become
learned about Beliba Choma, an organi- segments of society that don’t often come economically self-sufficient. Designed for
zation providing academic support for together.” boy and girl students, it helps them
chareidi men and women. The program receive the education necessary to be
matches a non-chareidi and chareidi stu- This past year, thanks to the accepted to and succeed in matricula-
dent for two hours of secular tutoring Baltimore Jewish community’s contribu- tion-track high schools.
and an hour of chavrusa learning led by tions to The Associated’s Annual
the chareidi student each week. With the Campaign, The Associated funded a The pilot offers sixth to eighth graders
help of the program, Kaniel thrived, ulti- number of programs specifically targeting in Ashkelon’s low income, low-achieving
mately receiving a paid internship with this community in Israel. Projects includ- chareidi schools with tutoring, mentoring,
the Ministry of Justice. ed Mesila, which empowers chareidi and interventions emphasizing math and
youth to be fiscally responsible, and English skills. Ultimately, these skills will
Beliba Choma (A Wall in its Midst) is Tikvat Acheinu in Ashkelon, Baltimore’s help them qualify for higher education or
just one of a number of organizations sister city, which seeks to improve the vocational training, allowing them to bet-
reaching Israel’s chareidi community and education of chareidi children. (Mesila ter provide for their families.
assisting community members with tools also has a branch in Baltimore that pro-
for success. As The Associated: Jewish vides family financial counseling and The project began at the beginning of
Community Federation of Baltimore adult education programs.) the school year, and Rabbi Avichai
looks at how it can support vulnerable Cohen, who is the administrator and
populations in Israel, it is looking at sup- For Chana, who resides in Jerusalem, supervisor of the program in Ashkelon,
porting organizations that ensure aca- Mesila has played a huge role in her has seen positive feedback. He has also
demic and financial success within the path to financial security. Self- noted rising attendance at a monthly
chareidi community. employed, this young woman works in parental workshop that offers student
Bnei Brak as a metapelet (caregiver) for progress reports and tools for helping
“I am a believer that this enhanced young children. Concerned about her them cope with emotional problems their
social interaction and the heightened future financial security, she recalled a children may experience.
mutual respect that this initiative gener- Mesila course on financial manage-
ates will help Israeli society as it grapples ment she took before she married. “The Associated and Baltimore-
with some fundamentally complex Realizing that she needed a pension Ashkelon Partnership are proud to sup-
issues,” says Yehuda Neuberger, chair of plan, she turned to the organization for port programs such as Tikvat Achienu, a
The Associated’s Israel and Overseas help. Mesila responded by organizing a holistic program engaging students,
committee. workshop on financial management for school staff, and parents to ensure that
self-employed women – with approxi- chareidi students in Ashkelon receive an
The need is critical. According to mately 200 women from Bnei Brak education that is tailor-made to their abil-
ities. This empowerment program puts
students on a path to success by opening
their eyes to new educational and career
opportunities,” says Susan Posner,
cochair of the Baltimore-Ashkelon
Partnership.
Adds Rabbi Cohen, “With The
Associated’s generous assistance through
the Baltimore-Ashkelon Partnership,
these children have more help and a
much brighter future.”◆
98 u www.wherewhatwhen.com u
LIVES self-employment.
Wby Rochelle C. Eisenberg
hen Dovid Kaniel decided it Beliba Choma, recent research indicates These programs are making an
was time to leave his yeshi- that poor instruction in subjects such as impact. According to Beliba Choma, in
va in Israel, he hoped to English and math has left many chareidi recent years, the number of chareidi men
pursue a secular degree in students experiencing difficulties in their and women participating in its higher
order to provide for his fam- academic studies. As a result, about 50% education or vocational training pro-
ily. Yet he worried that gaps of them drop out of college before com- grams has more than doubled, and the
in his education would pleting their degrees. majority of those who graduate from uni-
make it difficult to navigate versity are employed.
higher education’s secular course work “Chareidi employment is a topic that
and wondered how he would master the fits very nicely with many of our grant- This year, in Ashkelon, The Baltimore-
skills needed to succeed in the Israeli making goals,” says Neuberger. “It helps a Ashkelon Partnership funded Tikvat
workforce. clearly vulnerable population, enhances Acheinu, a pilot program created by
the economy of Israel, and provides man- Shlavim, an Israeli nonprofit founded to
It was around this time that Kaniel ifold opportunities for interaction among help the chareidi community become
learned about Beliba Choma, an organi- segments of society that don’t often come economically self-sufficient. Designed for
zation providing academic support for together.” boy and girl students, it helps them
chareidi men and women. The program receive the education necessary to be
matches a non-chareidi and chareidi stu- This past year, thanks to the accepted to and succeed in matricula-
dent for two hours of secular tutoring Baltimore Jewish community’s contribu- tion-track high schools.
and an hour of chavrusa learning led by tions to The Associated’s Annual
the chareidi student each week. With the Campaign, The Associated funded a The pilot offers sixth to eighth graders
help of the program, Kaniel thrived, ulti- number of programs specifically targeting in Ashkelon’s low income, low-achieving
mately receiving a paid internship with this community in Israel. Projects includ- chareidi schools with tutoring, mentoring,
the Ministry of Justice. ed Mesila, which empowers chareidi and interventions emphasizing math and
youth to be fiscally responsible, and English skills. Ultimately, these skills will
Beliba Choma (A Wall in its Midst) is Tikvat Acheinu in Ashkelon, Baltimore’s help them qualify for higher education or
just one of a number of organizations sister city, which seeks to improve the vocational training, allowing them to bet-
reaching Israel’s chareidi community and education of chareidi children. (Mesila ter provide for their families.
assisting community members with tools also has a branch in Baltimore that pro-
for success. As The Associated: Jewish vides family financial counseling and The project began at the beginning of
Community Federation of Baltimore adult education programs.) the school year, and Rabbi Avichai
looks at how it can support vulnerable Cohen, who is the administrator and
populations in Israel, it is looking at sup- For Chana, who resides in Jerusalem, supervisor of the program in Ashkelon,
porting organizations that ensure aca- Mesila has played a huge role in her has seen positive feedback. He has also
demic and financial success within the path to financial security. Self- noted rising attendance at a monthly
chareidi community. employed, this young woman works in parental workshop that offers student
Bnei Brak as a metapelet (caregiver) for progress reports and tools for helping
“I am a believer that this enhanced young children. Concerned about her them cope with emotional problems their
social interaction and the heightened future financial security, she recalled a children may experience.
mutual respect that this initiative gener- Mesila course on financial manage-
ates will help Israeli society as it grapples ment she took before she married. “The Associated and Baltimore-
with some fundamentally complex Realizing that she needed a pension Ashkelon Partnership are proud to sup-
issues,” says Yehuda Neuberger, chair of plan, she turned to the organization for port programs such as Tikvat Achienu, a
The Associated’s Israel and Overseas help. Mesila responded by organizing a holistic program engaging students,
committee. workshop on financial management for school staff, and parents to ensure that
self-employed women – with approxi- chareidi students in Ashkelon receive an
The need is critical. According to mately 200 women from Bnei Brak education that is tailor-made to their abil-
ities. This empowerment program puts
students on a path to success by opening
their eyes to new educational and career
opportunities,” says Susan Posner,
cochair of the Baltimore-Ashkelon
Partnership.
Adds Rabbi Cohen, “With The
Associated’s generous assistance through
the Baltimore-Ashkelon Partnership,
these children have more help and a
much brighter future.”◆
98 u www.wherewhatwhen.com u
