An increasing number of single religious women choose to make aliyah after studying in seminaries in Israel. Additionally as they get older, some women, choose to explore living in Israel as a possibility and move here on their own.  While this is a welcome phenomenon, many of these women, find themselves struggling to find a community to which they feel a sense of belonging and which can provide them with support and structure. Many do not have family in the country, and financial, vocational, and social challenges abound.

 

Rising to this challenge, Rabbi Avi and Shira Horowitz, past Rabbi and Rebbetzin from Santiago, Chile, (Aish Chile and Maimonides school) teamed up with Miriam Shaul, former administrative director at Shearim College of Jewish Studies, to develop a model addressing the issue.

 

Their project, initially named OMC (Organic Mini Communities), was launched by Rabbi Avi Horowitz in August 2022. By leveraging funding from the Yedidut Toronto Foundation and bringing in professionals like Naomi Movsas and Gila Ashkenazy, the project was able to grow and thrive.

With Shira Horowitz's background from CoreJSinglesHub,and COREunity, the project eventually evolved into MAAGALOT, focusing on connecting single, English speaking, religious women 20+ living in Israel, including first and second generation Olot (born to parents who made aliyah). Today, MAAGALOT successfully fosters connections among these women, providing them with a sense of belonging to a larger, healthy, and vibrant religious community. 

 

MAAGALOT organizes well planned and exciting events and activities such as Shabbatonim, parties, volunteering options, and more on a regular basis. Events are subsidized and attended by single, religious, English speaking women from a variety of backgrounds. 

 

In addition MAAGALOT encourages and supports the formation of “Circles” of women who meet on a regular basis providing a social, supportive network for participants. (Link to Circles page)

 

MAAGALOT is addressing a crucial need within the community and is making a significant impact by providing single religious women in Israel with a supportive community and mentorship where they feel valued and connected. This not only addresses their immediate need for companionship, but also contributes to their overall sense of fulfillment and well-being.

 

In addition, our dream for our women is to continue their friendships and  connections creating and participating in circles as they move into married life and establish their own  families.

 

Our future vision is to continue developing MAAGALOT into a sustainable model which could provide services and circles for additional audiences such as single women speaking other languages, women who are divorced with or without children and more.