Vision to Reality: The Reut Blog

In the context of local and national resilience, organizations such as the Ultra Orthodox Organization ‘Hevruta’ can function as a hub in the Civil Resilience Network.

Hevruta’s declared goal is to create better coexistence between the secular and the ultra orthodox sectors in Israel. The organization’s activity is based on ‘One-on-One’ phone calls which aim to neutralize basic suspicions and contribute to natural and open relationships between the two sectors. The organization not only strengthens relationships among its members but also between itself and its members. 

Reut’s document ‘Civil Resilience Network – National and Local Resilience‘ shaped a model for consolidating a Civil Network through enhancing the social bonds among the network’s units and by utilizing its resources.

The goal of the civil network (which is built from smaller networks that represent the many sectors in Israeli society) is to support the emergency authorities in times of crisis while creating a better reality and playing their part in building local and national resilience.

Within the network appear two main components; Hubs -  which are the pillars of the network with the greatest influence over their environment as a result of their extraordinary number of connections with other units; and Catalysts – units that have the status and capacities to develop the network. The Catalysts act, among other things, to strengthen existing units, to increase awareness, to recruit new units in order to increase the network’s connectivity.

Because hubs and catalysts are an integral part of the model of consolidating the civil resilience network, it is essential that all sectors in Israeli society (including the Arab, Ultra Orthodox and others) will be represented in the network. Therefore, organizations like ‘Hevruta’ can help the home front perform in more efficient way in future crises.