Mothers with Meaning

Mothers with Meaning (Imahot im Mahut) was founded in 2015 by the late Michal Melamed-Cohen (1971-2018) together with 40 mothers from all over Israel, who shared her aspirations. It was influenced by a unique collaboration with JWRP (now called Momentum) and the Israeli branch of AISH.

Mothers with Meaning (MWM) is a strong, supportive community of women who work together with the goal of influencing the world around them through: learning, empowerment and community action, based on common Israeli values and inspired by Jewish wisdom.

I am Sima Rolnick – I live in Kochav Yair-Tsur Yigal. Ours is the oldest MWM community. I joined the other active women in the group for The Shabbat Project https://www.theshabbosproject.org/en/home several years ago, feeling that this was a project with which I could readily identify and to which I could contribute. Working on the Shabbat Project allowed me to connect my non-orthodox Judaism to my desire to strengthen neighborhood ties.

I succeeded in bringing together all of the neighbors, men, women and children, religious and secular, for a casual Shabbat kiddush on the street, mingling, getting acquainted and respecting each other. At the same time, other MWM women did the same, each in her own neighborhood.

This was the beginning of my journey with the MWM women. Since then, I have participated in many other community-oriented projects based on the values of MWM. For example, neighborhood cafes were set up in various venues in the community, raising money for a special fun day for the mothers of special needs children in the community; "Open Kitchen" klatches, connecting food to the Jewish calendar; Purim gifts for elderly residents (together with B'nei Akiva) and for the "invisible people" who keep our community clean and orderly. We also welcome and accompany newcomers to the community.

As mentioned before, we integrate Jewish wisdom into all our activities, through "hachkama" which is more "gaining wisdom" than "learning".

As of today, there are active MWM groups in Hod HaSharon, Kfar Vradim, Kfar Saba, Holon, Modiin, Alfei Menashe, Hadera, Rosh HaAyin, Petach Tikva, Rishon LeTsion, Matan, and Tsipori. Our vision is to have a congregation of Mothers with Meaning in every town, city and village in Israel and to connect each Israeli congregation to a "sister" congregation in Jewish communities through the world, building a pluralistic, international community of Am Yisrael, based on unity, a shared identity and Jewish wisdom.

If you identify with our values and are interested in joining one of the existing groups, or feel enlightened to start a group in your own neighborhood or community we will welcome you with open arms.

Please visit our website www.mwmisrael.com or our Facebook page