Society Emuna

National Network

Latvia

Address

str.Skolas 10-3, LV 1010
Riga,
Latvia

Telephone

67281160

Fax

67281160

E-Mail

emuna2@inbox.lv

E-Mail (2)

miriam@apollo.lv

Mobile Phone

26535599

Organisation Type

Public/Private Non-Profit Foundation

Year of Establishment

2003

Fields of Activity

Youth and education

General Information

Structure of Congregation Emuna is as follows: The board consists of chairman of the board, deputy chairman of the board, four members of the board. Chairman of the board is Miriam Zalmanovich: PhD in History of Jewish People (University of Bar-Ilan, Israel). Administration consists of three people: Project leader, Project coordinator, Accountant. Pedagogic team: Four pre-school teachers Two teacher’s assistants (nurses) Hebrew language teacher, Latvian language teacher, Jewish history and tradition lecturer, music teacher, child psychologist, chess teacher. Therefore, total - 12 paid employees and 3 volunteers’ employees. All the employees are certified specialists in their fields. Our organization involves volunteers – they are around 20. Budgetary resources available in a year about 20000 euro Sources of funding: Latvian and foreign non-government organizations, like social organization Kašruts (Latvia), LA Pincus found (Israel), The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee(USA) , the membership dues from members of organization, private donators.

Mission and Objectives

EMUNA was founded on December 8, 2003.
The primary task of our organization was to introduce Jews to traditions, religion and culture. This objective was not easy - demonstration of Jewish identity during Soviet times was prosecuted. Many Jews stopped following tradition.
We decided to fulfill our task by bringing up children according to Jewish tradition. For this reason we established Pre-School Education Center “MISHAPACHTON” .
Starting with kids’ education, we realized that their parents – generation that grew up in Soviet times – are interested in Jewish tradition as well, therefore, we started organizing lectures and seminar for them. To complete this project the following goals and objectives are defined: Jewish education for children, involving their parents in Jewish culture and tradition and involving them into Jewish life of Latvia

Main Projects / Activities

On April 12, 2005 was founded pre-school center MISHPACHTON, its activity was licensed by Ministry of Education and Science (license number 07-80 (927))
Kindergarten Mishpachton unites approximately 20 kids, who are divided into four different age groups. Besides education corresponding to children’s age, Mishpachton pupils study Hebrew, Jewish tradition, songs in Hebrew; celebrate Jewish holidays. It is important to note, that kindergarten is not Orthodox-religious, but follows the Jewish traditional concept.
Besides kindergarten, Emuna has held activities for adults: lectures on Jewish topics, studying the Jewish history, holidays and celebrating them all together. The last public activity that took place in February 2009 gathered together around 350 people.

Contact (1) Full Name

Miriam Zalmanovich

Head of the organisation

Miriam Zalmanovich