Beit Midrash "Rei'im"

For the past three years, Ne'emanei Torah vaAvodah has been operating Rei'im ["colleagues," "companions"], a unique, co-educational Orthodox beit midrash for the general public. The groups consist of about 30 religious young men and women (most in their 20s), graduates of institutes of higher Jewish education. Once a week, they gather at Re'im to study Torah and Talmud and discuss a wide spectrum of topics connected with Jewish spiritual life and culture. In their lessons, the instructors examine contemporary, day-to-day life in a historical and religious perspective, challenging the participants to reflect on their religious and national identity. When they conclude the program, graduates of the beit midrash enter different educational and cultural institutions, taking with them the values they acquired in the course of their studies.

 These values are then integrated naturally into their work and their personal lives. Although it is true that the religious community does not lack study frameworks for youth, the overwhelming majority are gender-segregated with a clear political and social message. A typical beit midrash, therefore, is detached from the everyday lives of its participants. What is unique about Re'im? First, its orthodox educational framework is open to the public at large; second, it is open to both men and women on an equal basis: third. it presents a variety of views and encourages a multiplicity of voices; and finally, it approaches the sources soberly, openly, and self-critically.

 The beit midrash serves to widen the knowledge and understanding of the participants, who want to build an ethical and religious society in Israel.

Re'im has been operating on a shoestring budget since instruction is entirely volunteer based while the Hartman Institute and the Pelech School in Jerusalem have provided facilities for instruction free of charge. The students, who also study without stipends, provide light refreshments. It is becoming increasingly difficult to operate the beit midrash on this basis. To sustain this successful venture, a sum of $14,000 is required to pay coordinators and lecturers and to provide stipends for students.