Meitarim | About

The purpose of Meitarim is to educate Jewish children in a religiously pluralistic, coeducational environment. Meitarim establishes frameworks for Jewish-democratic education throughout Israel in which students from different backgrounds learn together about their common Jewish heritage in a non-coercive environment. Children are taught values such as Jewish peoplehood, tolerance, and humanism and receive an education where there is no contradiction between Judaism, pluralism, and democracy

The present two-track public school system segregates religious and secular students socially and educationally, and fosters polarization at an early age. Students in the secular public school system (mamlachti) learn practically nothing about their Jewish heritage. Students in the religious public school system (mamlachti dati) seldom confront fundamental questions of modern Jewish identity, including secular Israelihood and non-Orthodox denominations. By the time students from the two main school systems meet, whether it be in a military, university, or employment setting, there are already negative stereotypes deeply in place. Both tracks all but ignore Jews of the Diaspora.

Meitarim is designed to serve students of all backgrounds and in all geographic regions. We have a mixture of all Israelis. Students from orthodox, traditional, conservative, reform and secular students are enrolled in our schools. Our present schools are populated with children from different socio-economic classes, different ethnic backgrounds, as well as both native born Israelis and immigrants. We have a disproportionate amount of special needs children in one of our high schools, and we our using this as a test case for our other schools to see what is needed to provide for an adequate learning environment for special needs children. Existing schools and kindergartens are located throughout the country.

Meitarim's goal is to effect systemic change within the educational system whereby a pluralistic school system will eventually become the third public school option available to students all over the country. In order for Meitarim to be successful there needs to be inclusiveness of students from all backgrounds in a forum where nobody feels de-legitimized in their own individual Jewish identity. This will only happen with the development of new curriculum focused on Jewish identity, retraining of administrators and teachers, and the active involvement of parents.

Meitarim has put Jewish heritage at the core of the curriculum. For the first time children, and their parents, are being exposed to Judaism in a no boundaries environment. They are finding out that they are all part of Jewish peoplehood, that their individual practices at home are legitimate Jewish practices, and they are discovering for maybe the first time that they are part of a common Jewish narrative.

Meitarim schools, in addition to bringing children from different religious backgrounds together, serves as a living example and resource for other pluralistic initiatives throughout the country.

The aim of "Meytarim" is to establish a Jewish-democratic
:framework that will

Create an educational climate in which religious and non-religious students will learn together comfortably and where there will be no need for value judgments regarding definitions of Judaism
Impart a Jewish education that will be based on Jewish law and tradition as a starting- point for discussion, with a non-coercive approach that permits pluralistic expression of their .Jewish heritage
Assist students in defining their Jewish identity and making it relevant for them, and permitting all of them to recognize ways to express their Jewish identity; also to ensure meaningful continuity and awareness, so that the individual both identifies with, and is identified as, a member of the .Jewish people together with his family and his community
All efforts will be made to instill Jewish values and means of expression that are relevant to interpersonal relationships, membership of the community and active involvement in its affairs, values that include Jewish solidarity and maintaining active ties with Jews of the Diaspora, relating to people who are foreign, different or diverse and guidance how to act .appropriately in different settings

provides an alternative to existing national education and national religious education in its curriculum and its
.educational activities/ programs

sees the educational institution and the educational activity as a framework for experimenting with and probing the challenges posed by adult society. In view of this there is no room for making artificial differentiations in society between the sexes or between people holding differing world- .views
The schools affiliated with "Meytarim" will form autonomous Jewish communities for purposes of study, where the special vision of each one will be developed by the community with input from
.the professional staff

The "Meytarim" Network is a collective framework, that supports the federation of schools that operate in the spirit of "Meytarim" from ideological, organizational, communal, financial and professional standpoints, and also assists in fundraising activities, in enlisting community support, and in maintaining the supportive network comprised by this federation.

It provides help with the ideas, organization and communal framework needed to consolidate parent groups formed with the purpose of setting up educational institutions - starting from the kindergarten level and going through high school - .in any place where the right conditions exist
It develops a broad spectrum values-based education approach, that places the student in the center of the picture :and is based on A. It provides a combination of Jewish world-views/attitudes and their means of expression in the life of the individual and the community in the realms of values, behavioral norms .and tradition B. It imparts an understanding of the main philosophical approaches of both Jewish and general thought and philosophy - and of the .connections and the differences between them C. Awareness of the "Jewish library" and world literature, and studying them from both historical and .relevant modern day angles D. Knowledge of modern science, democratic values, rights .of man, and a critical appraisal of reality
Presenting this educational approach to groups of parents in .different places in the State of Israel
Developing a program of studies and a curriculum that will actualize the educational approach into practical pedagogical .applications
Training teachers and principals for work in the educational facilities of "Meytarim" on the basis of these .curricula
Building a community hinterland for the educational institutions of "Meytarim" to help propagate their .educational-social message
Creating communal awareness and economic support that will enable whoever wishes to embrace/embark on/follow .the educational path of "Meytarim" to do so

Graduates of the network will share the following characteristics:

They will relate positively and responsibly to their Jewish identity and this will find expression in their shared values of Jewish democratic pluralism, in their private lifestyles, and .their social and political activities
They will have the ability to live in a complex world and to cope with different opinions that are necessarily experienced .in an environment of variegated voices
They will have at their fingertips a range of academic tools .regarding Jewish law and time-honored Jewish philosophy
They will enjoy the capability of varied and pluralistic Jewish .expressions
They will have the ability to see other forms of expressing .Judaism as legitimate
They will be faithful to the State of Israel and its Zionist vision and regard it as an essential means to ensure Jewish continuity, and be active partners in maintaining ties with .Jews of the Diaspora
They will be well versed in the sciences and in technological developments and be equipped to deal with dilemmas these . may pose for the modern Jew

                                          (Emblem)
                                        State of Israel
                          Minister of Education, Culture and Sport

Jerusalem, 16 Iyar 5763
19/05/2003
Ref. 00427187

To:
“Meytarim” – Jewish-Democratic Educational Network
Jerusalem

Subject: “Meytarim” – Jewish-Democratic Educational Network

Further to the meeting that took place in my office between “Meytarim” representatives and representatives from my ministry, I was glad to hear of your initiative in setting up “Meytarim”: a Jewish-Democratic Educational Network, as part of the national system, and wish you success.

The establishment of joint educational frameworks for religious and non-religious students that have a central aim that is both Jewish and democratic is a much needed challenge for Israeli society, and they integrate well with my proposed aim for the educational system, to deepen the Jewish, Zionistic and democratic values of Israeli students.

I have no doubt that educational frameworks like “Meytarim” can make an extremely important contribution to broadening knowledge in Jewish studies, strengthening Jewish identity and developing channels of communication between different sectors of the Israeli community.

I hope that little by little, as a result of your future success, the network will develop and grow in additional ways.

I wish you success in your tasks, which I know are not easy ones.

Yours truly,

Limor Livnat

34 Shivtei Yisrael St, Jerusalem 91911, Tel. 02-5602330, Fax. 02-5602246
website: http://www.education.gov.il

Member's of Knesset who signed bill calling for state funded pluralistic education:

Bronfman, Roman Meretz
Chen, Reshef  Shinui
Doron, Chemi  Shinui
Eitan, Michael Likud
Galon, Zahava  Meretz
Herzog, Isaac Labor-Meimad
Lebovitz, Ilan Shinui
Melchior, Michael Labor-Meimad
Pinnes, Ofer   Labor-Meimad
Sarid, Yossi   Meretz
Shalgi, Ilan   Shinui (Chairman of Knesset Education committee)
Stern, Yuri   Ichud Leumi
Villan, Avshalom Meretz
Yasimov, Yigal Shinui
Yatom, Danny Labor-Meimad