Mesila

What is Mesila?
Mesila is dedicated to empowering men, women and children in the community to seek,
achieve and maintain economic self-sufficiency and stability.

The Need
Many families struggle to make ends meet – even those earning what is generally considered
a decent livelihood. Left unchecked, this can have negative effects on relationships, both in
terms of the marriage and with children.

Furthermore, financial mismanagement drains communal resources, by creating dependence
on handouts and food packages, or through unpaid school fees.

The Solution
We have developed a successful coaching service to help families gain a detailed
understanding of their current financial situation, identify a plan for improving their situation
and implementing the plan, all carried out through a series of 6 meetings with a trained
coach.

Our Objectives:
Our objectives are to enable couples to gain a detailed understanding of their current
financial situation, and to identify a realistic plan for improving that situation.
Finally, by implementing that change, the ultimate objective is to increase the amount of
disposable income available each month, and to give a sense of clarity and tranquility on all
matters to do with home finances.

Innovative
Though there are many charities that support families through handouts or other types of
financial support, our philosophy is that the main problem is not a lack of money, but rather,
a lack of expertise in handling money. Our service does not seek to provide a mere Band-Aid, we try to solve the issues at their root, by enabling people to create a plan that suits their needs.
Furthermore, our service differs markedly from debt counseling services that exist in and
outside the community. Ours puts the couple in control, as opposed to giving advice. Also,
Mesilla is relevant for people at all levels of the earning spectrum and a range of life-situations,
not just those in debt.

Our Budget
Our annual budget is £80,000. We procure funding from public and private trusts & foundations,
but we rely upon the community to contribute as well. We are looking for partnerships
from those who value not just social welfare projects, but projects with a ‘return on investment’
– stronger families means a stronger community.

We invite you to join us with any donation, by contacting:

Mesilla UK,
admin@mesilauk.org
0333 344 1711
Account number: 60069779 – Sort code: 20-36-47

Mesila's website

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Talmudic Encyclopedia

The Talmudic Encyclopedia compiles, summarizes and explains the vast range of Torah knowledge on every topic in Jewish law, from Biblical times to the present, and is used by a wide range of people. 

Precise and comprehensive, the Talmudic Encyclopedia is accepted and respected by study groups, academics, Rabbinic and Yeshiva scholars on the entire spectrum of Torah learning throughout the world. It is noteworthy that Israel’s civil court system utilizes the Talmudic Encyclopedia in the process of reaching verdicts.

The Talmudic Encyclopedia is accessible not only to scholars, but to anyone who wants to understand concepts within the vast world of Torah knowledge. In recent volumes, detailed illustrations, charts, and diagrams enhance many entries.

Combining traditional Jewish Studies with state-of-the-art modern technology:
We are planning to create a series of interactive websites so that the work of several generations of Jewish scholars can be made available for study and commentary by the widest possible readership, including a Wikipedia-style format for entries from the public.

We invite you to join us with any donation, by sending your check to:

British Friends of the Talmudic Encyclopedia
c/o Dr. E. Kahen
14 Green Lane
London, UK
NW4 2NN

Or via bank transfer to:

HSBC Bank, Sort code: 400311
Account number: 21686445
897 Finchley, Rd.
Golders Green, London UK
NW11 7NX

If you would like to consider sponsoring the publication or reprinting of a volume, send us an email to office@e-tal.org.

Sponsorship of Reprints: 
Due to high demand, we plan to reprint the current set of 37 volumes in the near future. The sponsorship cost of each volume is $10,000 for 1,000 copies.

Sponsorship of Special Volumes: 
In addition to the ongoing volumes, we have published volumes on specific topics such as the Passover Haggada, Yom Kippur Machzor, Chanuka, Jerusalem and the Temple and others. The cost of sponsoring such a volume with 1000 copies is $25,000

Other sponsorship opportunities are available - be in touch for more details.

With many thanks,

Benny Gur

Director of Resource Development

office@e-tal.org
http://talmudit.org/

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Campus Strauss- Afikei Lomda

“There are eight levels of charity and the greatest level, above which there is no greater, is the support to enable a fellow Jew to no longer need to be dependent upon others.”           

      - Maimonides 

Campus Strauss is the Haredi campus of Hadassah Academic College (HAC). Located on Strauss Street in Jerusalem, the heart of Jerusalem's ultra- orthodox neighborhoods, Campus Strauss offers HAC's marketable professions in a culturally compatible atmosphere.

Campus Strauss- Afikei Lomda is the product of successful collaboration between Hadassah Academic College and Lomda Institute.

Hadassah Academic College is a unique educational institution affording students a world class, career-focused education. Recognized and accredited by Israel's governing body for colleges and universities, the Council for Higher Education, the College offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs leading to in-demand professions in fields including health sciences and life sciences, and information and computer technology, communication, design, management and more.

Lomda Institute is Jerusalem's premier vocational training center. Since 1992, Lomda has trained over 10,000 Haredi men and women in various field of professions. Lomda identifies with the particular concerns of the ultra-orthodox sector and designs its programs concurring with the Haredi lifestyle and values. By empowering Orthodox Jews with effective vocational skills, Lomda is creating a ripple-effect transformation on Israeli society: more and more Haredim are entering the workforce, earning a respectable living and achieving financial independence.

In 2011, the Ministry of Education proposed an offer to Institutions of Higher Education throughout Israel to open separate campuses for Haredi students and offer the same degrees that are available to the secular public. 

The campuses- referred to as MAHAR (Hebrew acronym for Misgeret Haredit- ultra-orthodox institution and translated "tomorrow" or "future") must be physically located close to the home college and offer its curricular, lecturers and academic experience to Haredi students in a suitable atmosphere.

As a result of this bid, Lomda partnered with HAC, thus forming Campus Strauss. As of 2017, the Campus offers bachelor degrees in biotechnology, optometry, communication disorders, management, politics and media, and computer sciences. 700 students are enrolled in academic studies and 150 students are studying in the pre-academic program (Mechina).
Internship and Job Placement.

Campus Strauss' goal is to successfully assist all the student to gain employment upon graduating. The Career and Job Placement Center helps students cross the final bridge to employment upon graduating by offering workshops on workforce preparation, individual support and initiating and maintain dozens of employer connections.

Scholarships and Student Loans: 
As most of our students come from the low-income sector and face financial challenges, an integral part of the Campus' work is assisting them in obtaining scholarships and student loans that subsidize their studies.

The Campus is seeking funding for scholarship support for the students who cannot support themselves while studying full time. 


Credit card or PayPal donations can be made via IsraelGives.org secure payment system. Or search for Campus Strauss -Afikei Lomda, non-profit #580573384

Donations can also be sent to:

UK Gives Ltd.
Charity Number: 1161366
Bank Name: Lloyds
Account Number: 39408560
Sort code: 771703

For more information about supporting our students, please contact:
Ayala Feivelson
Resource Development, Director
ayala@scampus.co.il
+972-732166307
Strauss 24, Jerusalem, Israel

Thank you for your support!

Temech: Tapping Israel's Potential

Israel’s ability to succeed as a viable, thriving economy is predicated by the ability of all sectors of its population to engage, integrate and advance in their economic mobility.

Within the Israeli population, the ultra-orthodox sector stands out as more vulnerable, marginalized and disadvantaged. This population in Israel is one of the poorest sectors in the country. Often, core competency skills are lacking, which prevents them from finding employment and even from participating in professional training. Without these skills, the quest for employment and financial stability become a self-defeating cycle of despair. Moreover, employers lack the necessary tools to recruit, employ and integrate ultra-orthodox employees. Unfortunately, due to lack of academic accreditation, large average family size, and religious and cultural limitations, ultra-orthodox women often find it difficult, if not impossible, to earn a sufficient income.

Established in 2005, Temech’s mission is to enable, empower, and train ultra-orthodox women in Israel to maximize their employment opportunities. 

With varied projects and programs, Temech offers a full range of support to job seekers and entrepreneurs from the community, such as:

• Employment Training, 
• Professional conferences and workshops, 
• Mentors and individualized support, 
• A professional forum,
• Job fairs
• A professional working Hub. 

By working closely with employers, policy makers, government and key institutions such as the Ministry of Economics, the Joint Distribution Committee and the National Health Insurance Fund, over 13,000 women in 20 cities have advanced their employment opportunities through Temech to date and are creating a positive impact on their communities and Israel.

Funding is sought for its Hub for helping Haredi women open small businesses, and for its employer-based training programs with guaranteed jobs for graduates.

We invite you to join us with any donation, by sending your check to:
UK Toremet Limited
Shenkers LLP
4th Floor, Sutherland House
70/78 West Hendon Broadway
NW9 7BT
London UK

Or via bank transfer to:
UK TOREMET LIMITED, Account type: NWDBB CURRENT
Account number: 1 9 2 1 1 3 3 3, Sort code: 6 0 - 2 4 - 7 7, Bank address: PO Box 4115, Hornchurch, Essex, RM12 4DF.


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Thank you for your support!

Bridging the Divide: Abu Tor/ el-T'hori Good Neighbors

The neighborhood of Abu Tor/el-Turi straddles the “seam” between East and West Jerusalem. During the past two years, a group of Jewish and Arab volunteer residents initiated joint action to better the neighborhood.

This is a model project with the potential to prove that Israelis and Palestinians can live together in an undivided Jerusalem.

We seek your support to increase our Hebrew/Arabic Language Study: 
Language instruction by 12 Jewish and Palestinian resident teachers to double our weekly classes to 120 students and continue our successful pilot of the "Language Café" -  for language practice/socializing.

We seek your support for our Jewish/Arab Boys Soccer Team:
Coached by two Palestinian residents, funds would enable us to open a second team for the 14-16 year olds, a tough age at which if they are not kicking the ball to a teammate on the field, they might well be kicking each other off the field. In addition, we wish to add a second day for a combination short practice and guided joint social/educational activity, including some with parental involvement to foster communication off the field.


We seek your support to plant and harvest in our joint Community Organic Garden:
The garden was planned jointly and would enable the involvement of various age groups (children and families, seniors, special needs, and others) in the growing process.

We seek your support for our Grass Roots Economic Development/ Community Services Project:
This will enable us to develop the social media mechanisms to foster local commercial transactions which will provide needed income, services and the development of additional interpersonal relations.

We seek your support to enable us to run the Women's Empowerment Forum with special events for women on women's issues and for our Early Childhood Initiative and Family Community theater /monthly events.

We seek your support to establish a multi-lingual website and Facebook page, and to complete editing hours of video footage and interviews into short videos for sharing our vision and model with other neighborhoods and cities, as well as for fundraising purposes.

Like us on Facebook and see the faces of our community based on common needs.

UK contributions can be made to:

UK Friends of the Jerusalem Foundation
Administered by Prism the Gift Fund
20 Gloucester Place
W1U 8HA
London UK
Tel: 44-020-7009-9649.

Please make sure that you designate your gift for the Baka Community Council's Abu Tor Good Neighbors Project.