This program is for women dealing with complex life situations, economic hardship and personal stress. The program was developed out of a belief in the great female strength, which can serve as a place for sharing and joint empowerment.

 

Keren b’Kavod has established empowerment groups operating across the country that meet several times per month in the following localities: Jerusalem, Be’er Sheva, Ashkelon, Sderot, Rishon LeZion, in the Bedouin towns of Rahat, El-Azameh, and others. The aim of the program is to empower and strengthen the participants, who are dealing with complex economic and security situations as well as personal stress. As part of the program, these women examine various ways to deal with their life circumstances, while learning from each other’s experiences, as well as through Jewish text study and a variety of other literary sources, which invites them to delve into topics such as parenting, personal and community distress, changes in their life cycle and more.

 

The meetings are all about matters of the heart, sharing, strengthening the women's faith, self-acceptance and self-confidence. Slowly but surely, a solid friendship grows among them, their bonds become stronger every time and a beautiful alliance forms its way through their heart, soul and being.

 

At the meetings, Keren b’Kavod uses Biblical and Jewish scriptures, Israeli poetry and art, and creation methods for occupational therapy. All programs are cultivated with great respect for each group's unique cultural backgrounds. All meetings wrapped with a strong sense of commitment to an essential and extremely important process need to be executed with a great deal of delicacy and intimacy. 

 

Lately, Keren b’Kavod opened groups in Ashkelon, Rishon LeZion and Jerusalem. The group in Ashkelon is oriented for women from the Ethiopian community and in Rishon LeZion oriented for women who have been through physical and emotional abuse. The groups operate as a supportive community for the women, aiming to teach them how to deal with issues that every woman faces: crises in life, changes, self-appreciation, proper economic management, self-care and more. In Jerusalem, the group is oriented for elderly women who barely get out of their house. The women learn, sing and spend time together. By doing so they experience what it feels like to be part of a supportive community and naturally, they restore their abilities to social skills.  The groups consist of about 220 women. All circles are up and running, while each time the number of participants increases and the demand for participation is growing.

 

This is one of Keren b’Kavod’s most influential programs.  It is important to mention, even though Keren b'Kavod's budget was reduced over the past year and funds for this program have been reduced as well, Keren b’Kavod has continued to assist these women because we know the positive impact it makes in their lives.

 

Over the past few months, additional groups have been set up in cooperation with IMPJ congregations: a new group has opened in cooperation with Kehillat “Har-El”, led by Rabbi Ada Zevidov and Cantor Even Cohen. The group consists of 50 elderly Jerusalemite women who come to the synagogue to study, sing and spend time together. Another group was open in cooperation with the Kehillat “Achvat Yisrael’, led by Rabbi Tamara Shifrin and Sharona Yekutiel, director of Keren b’Kavod. The women come to learn about the weekly Torah portion, Jewish holidays with an emphasis on the importance of women role

 

In addition, Keren b’Kavod continues to operate its existing groups of Bedouin women’s circles. Keren b’Kavod, together with local assistance organizations, the Neveh Midbar regional council and the Be’er Sheva municipality, run a number of joint programs throughout the year assisting Bedouin families, in light of their unique socio-cultural circumstances.

 

Keren b'Kavod initiated two Bedouin groups operating in Rahat and El-Azameh. Meetings take place once a week in Arabic, led by the same facilitators each time. Together, the women have established a supportive community where they study with each other a variety of meaningful topics including sharing personal distress, personal and community strength, financial coping, developing parenting skills, women’s rights, domestic violence and more.