In the most recent session of the UJA sponsored program to reduce intra-communal conflicts among Bete Israel, participants began with a sharing circle where some discussed finishing their last classes, while others shared their experiences with IDF reserve duty amidst ongoing war, highlighting the complexity of the year. The meeting’s agenda included reviewing the summary report of the first-year interventions, planning the summary conference, evaluating the participants’ intervention success, and planning the details of the intervention for the second year.
The summary conference is scheduled for March 4, 2025, at Ono’s Shulich Auditorium. The agenda includes various speeches, a panel discussion with notable figures like MK Moshe Solomon and Minister MK Pnina Tamano-Shata and Rabbi Dr. Sharon Shalom, and presentations by program participants. Rabbi Sharon emphasized the significance of the conference for showcasing community resilience, particularly within the diverse Bete Israel community.
In evaluating the first year’s intervention, some participants shared insights on what worked well, such as better communication between educators and parents, and areas for improvement. Discussions also touched on academic collaboration between Rabbis and Keisim, suggesting further research in the future and practical compromises in community rituals. For the second year, interventions were planned, focusing on areas like enhancing religious education among the youth and exploring integrated study institutes, with participants expressing hopes for broader community integration and cultural preservation.
