'Ma'a lots' Partners' (NPO)  was established in 2020 in order to promote and expand mental health projects for religious Torah studiers.  Our programs are based on and emphasize participation and a sense of belonging to the surrounding local communities where the

.participants live

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The organization was founded based on over a decade of activity in the various rehabilitative Batei- Midrash of 'Ma'alot' throughout Israel. The Batei Midrash are funded and under the supervision of the Health Ministry as part of the law of mental health rehabilitation. These centers provide religious Torah based services to religious and orthodox people living with mental health challenges in Israel.  The service of Torah Rehabilitation we provide is intended to allow people dealing with mental health challenges who see Torah studies as a top priority and the central value in their lives, to become integrated in Torah study frameworks in their local community or in designated Torah study centers for people with such challenges. In 'Ma'a lot' we give professional guidance to people in various levels of study, functioning and integration, deriving from a belief in the principles of recovery and rehabilitation through the study of Torah.


Our programs emphasize attaining cognitive and social skills, personal growth, a fulfilling experience of studying and reaching personal study goals, as well as the ability to take part in Batei Midrash or religious activities in the community

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Ma'alots' vision is to enable every person his right to lead a religious Torah based life according to his beliefs, that includes set study hours on a daily or weekly base, as part of the society and

.community to which he feels belonging


As mentioned, the founding of 'Ma'alots' Partners' association was meant to expand the activity given up until now and widen the idea which 'Ma'a lot' promotes to new areas. Many dreams and aspirations stand against our eyes. At this time we are focusing on two of them:

   Great Rabbis is also Ma'alot Partners

:Examples of innovative projects

Religious women as well, experience the minimization and distancing from the religious community activity centers, whether by choice or necessity. The sense of belonging to the community, to a meaningful religious life, can be severely damaged, due to personal and environmental circumstances. Additionally, many times there is no appropriate spiritual guidance for the complex state which the woman is experiencing. 

The project:

The need for a service which could allow women to fulfill their aspirations for spiritual growth and community belonging, drove us to develop a new program- 'Ma'a lot Bakodesh'- Torah based rehabilitation and communal integration program for women. Torah studies are typically unique and differ between men and women, and as such, the women's program is intended to provide the response to those specific needs. As in all of Ma'alots' services, we strived to develop a variety of options also in the women's program, so that each woman can choose and receive a program according to her wishes and abilities:

· Counseling and assistance in taking part in women's Torah classes in the community. 

· Pair studying- 'Chevruta', several times a week with the program leader and women volunteers from the community. 

· Designated group studies twice a week including classes in a variety of topics, religious group activities and workshops focusing on spiritual growth. 

The ministry will be reluctant to fund the woman's program as the small scale of once a week does not comply with the ministry's criteria for rehabilitation programs.

 

The staff in the program include: 1. A manager, coordinator of the program 2. Social worker 3. Men and women Torah scholars.

The activity will collaborate with religious communities in the city and with local women's Torah study organizations from a variety of religious affiliations. 

 

To establish this unique program, we are looking for partners who share the vision of 'Ma'a lot Bakodesh'. Who see Torah studying and torah based activities an integral part of rehabilitation processes for women from diverse religious backgrounds.

Currently, we are striving to expand and widen the possibilities of activities and counseling for women in the Beer Sheva area, our first center. We are also developing foundations for widening the services to additional cities in the country. 

Psychiatric hospitalization is one of the hardest times in a persons' life. The soul is wounded and suffering and helpless to the extent that he has no choice but to leave his or hers home and family. In the hospital they will treated with extreme and intense treatment, with all its advantages and disadvantages, and pray for relief, hoping to regain control and steer their life back onto course. 

 

In the psychiatric ward, the person is surrounded by other suffering people, with few or no family visits, causing loneliness that deepens the distress.  The person leaves behind his religious community and surroundings, to a place which rarely offers daily prayers, shabbat meals and Torah studying. These are all central in their daily life and identity.

 From our experience in the past decade, a Torah lesson from a Torah scholar of the "outside" world proves to be immensely meaningful and grants light and hope. The Torah itself relights and strengthens the soul of those who come in touch with it, and in times of hardship the Torahs' light shines even brighter. 

 

The Project:

As of now, we hold regular Torah lessons in a small number of psychiatric wards around the country and we receive ongoing requests to expand the number of visits to additional wards and locations once a week. The lessons and visits are of course coordinated with the staff. The topics vary: the weekly Torah portion, holidays, spiritual growth.  The rabbis are also consulted about additional religious needs of the patients and assist through the hospital staff or 'Ma'a lot's Partners' association. 

 

The lessons are not regarded as treatment do not replace treatment in any way. Nor are the lessons aimed to persuade people to take upon themselves religious practices.

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