MAROM Leadership Seminars in Israel:

Model of Leadership Seminar
From August 5-15, 2002, eight students from the Czech Republic and Poland participated in a unique Eastern European Leadership Seminar in Jerusalem, sponsored by Marom Olami and the Department of Education of the Jewish Agency for Israel. The importance of bringing the students to Jerusalem was crucial to building the students’ connection to Israel and to get an understanding of the issues facing the Jewish state today. For most, this was their first visit.

The ten-day itinerary included extensive workshops on topics such as Israeli Society Today, Zionism and Pluralism, From Shoah to Rebirth and Jewish Identity in Israeli Law. Participants also toured selected sites in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv and climbed Masada. On Shabbat, the students participated in t'fillot at Kehillat Moreshet Avraham in Jerusalem and had study sessions and meals in the homes of Masorti rabbis and scholars.

The seminar also included discussions on organizing and planning Marom activities in Prague and Poland during the next academic year. As a result of the seminar, a joint seminar for Marom students from Europe was planned for November in Prague.


Project Details

The land costs (room and board) for the educational leadership seminars are covered by the Department of Education of the Jewish Agency. Marom Olami is in need of funds for scholarships to cover the air travel and some of the extra programming expenses added to the schedule.

Although some students or kehillot are able to afford to cover or partially cover these expenses, many students can not participate without a stipend for air travel.

Approximate cost for travel from Europe, Russia, Ukraine: $400 per student

Cost for Seminar of 10 students: $4,000

Additional programming costs: $1,000

TOTAL: $5,000 per seminar

What is Marom?


Marom, an acronym for “Mercaz Ruchani u’Masorti”-- the Center for Spiritual and Masorti Judaism--is an organization open to young adults ages 18-30 all over the world. Marom can be found in Israel, England, Sweden, Hungary, France, Czech Republic, Poland, Chile, Uruguay, Argentina, Russia, Ukraine and the United States. Its primary goal is to strengthen the Jewish identity of our young adults and to develop young leadership for the Masorti Movement. Each country is autonomous and plans its own activities including weekly lectures, discussions and Shabbat retreats.

Marom believes in living a modern Jewish lifestyle, constantly learning and dealing with issues of day to day reality in a Jewish life. Marom also serves as a social group for people of the same beliefs to get together. Marom believes in Zionism, Judaism, pluralism and equal rights.

Marom activities include weekly meetings and special events. Marom seminars have proven to be a very successful format with students. In addition to increasing Jewish knowledge and synagogue skills, the setting provides an opportunity to discuss relevant topics such as Israel, Zionism, Jewish ethics, value dilemmas, etc. It is important for Masorti Jewish students to meet one another, strengthen their Jewish identity and learn to work together to build a young leadership movement.

In addition to regional seminars in Europe and South America, seminars for students from Europe have taken place in Israel over the last few years and have been successful in strengthening the participants’ commitment to the Masorti Movement and in building future leadership.



Marom Coordinators

Marom works in conjunction with the Hagshama Department of the World Zionist Organization and the Education Department of the Jewish Agency. At this time, depending on budget, Marom is eligible to receive support for land costs (room and board) for specific Marom projects such as Shabbat retreats. However, Marom does not receive a budget for staff salary or for general administrative and programming expenses during the year. In order to continue to strengthen and develop Marom, we need to fund coordinators in each country.

The salary of a Marom coordinator, administration expenses and programming costs in each of the following countries are as follows:

Hungary:
Total: $7,000 per year

Czech Republic
Total: $4,400 per year

Ukraine
$2,400 per year per coordinator
Needed: Four Marom Coordinators
Total: $9,600

Moscow
Total: $4,400 per year