Derech Eretz – About the Project

About

Derech Eretz is a civic movement that builds the infrastructure for civic engagement in Israel. We provide people with the tools, knowledge, and legal and financial support they need to advance initiatives and help shape the country’s future. Our goal is to transform active citizens from bystanders into a force capable of changing society and the state.

District level

“Derech Eretz” community groups that address local issues faced by residents.
City level

The work of movement coordinators and direct engagement with municipalities to influence the city’s agenda.
National level

Parliamentary lobbying and advocacy for legislation on the status of district councils. Preparing policy briefs for the Knesset and organizing regular meetings between activists and politicians.

Mission

“Derech Eretz” provides citizens with effective tools for governing the country—at the local, municipal, and national levels. We are rebuilding civic solidarity in Israel by uniting people across ideological and religious divides.

Vision

We envision Israel as a society in which civic self-governance has become the accepted norm, and ethnic, religious, and ideological differences have given way to a shared sense of civic responsibility.

Institutionalization of civic participation

We are committed to ensuring that Israeli citizens have official channels through which they can influence decision-making at both the municipal and national levels. Our top priority is to legalize neighborhood councils so that they become a standard and recognized state institution.
Depoliticizing social divisions

We depoliticize social conflicts by bringing people together to address practical issues at the neighborhood and city levels. Secular and religious Jews and Arabs, “Russians” and Hebrew-speaking Israelis act first and foremost as fellow citizens with shared interests, rather than as isolated groups.
Access to civic engagement resources

We provide every Israeli citizen with access to the financial, educational, and legal resources needed to carry out initiatives that benefit the community. Our mission is to remove barriers and empower people to make a difference in their communities.

The Derech Eretz movement is a network of initiative groups and nongovernmental organizations and is not a legal entity.

Dor Moriah is a member of this network and performs the necessary administrative and analytical functions.

Dor Moriah has been operating in Israel for 10 years and holds a “Form 46,” which allows donors to claim tax deductions on their donations.

The creation of a forum dedicated to issues concerning the status and influence of Russian-speaking Israelis
Establishment of a Congress of Russian-speaking Israelis
Establishing a parliamentary lobby to represent the interests of Russian-speaking Israelis
Establishment of a business club and cultural center for Russian-speaking Israelis
Establishment of a Citizen Service Center
Development of a political education program
Establishment of a Coordinating Council
Integration of the analytics center