What is the Computer Gemach?

The Computer Gemach is a service for the community of people who are in need of a computer for a special brief period of time.

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Computers or peripherals are loaned to people who require training or to office or home businesses which suffer crises.

People who require retraining.

People may search for a different job because they have no prior training, or because their training is not adequate for earning a livelihood.

They are frequently urged to study computers as a possible source of income. The Computer Gemach is primarily designed for these people. They can borrow a computer for longer than the usual time - for up to two full weeks by prior arrangement and appointment. During this time, they can take a private tutor or any literature they desire, and they can see if they can sit at a computer for a number of hours a day and if they are interested in pursuing their computer studies.

The success of the Computer Gemach can be measured by those who don't buy a computer or who decide not to buy a computer of their own.

They save large sums of money, and possibly refrain from going into debt. They save several years of study. The Computer Gemach helps them evaluate whether the computer is really their best direction or venue, before they begin their actual studies or investment.

Office or home business which suffer crises.

The Computer Gemach has actually saved businesses in need. They depend on their computer system, and were grateful that they were able to continue their source or livelihood after the computer system was destroyed by a fire or lightning.

When a part becomes defective in a computer. Someone who is working when stores are not open and a monitor or another part no longer stops working, you can borrow a replacement from the computer gemach.

Nothing. The Computer Gemach assumes that the people who borrow the computers either do not know how to use a computer, and they are borrowing it in order to learn how to use the computer. In the course of investigating the possibilities they can indeed unwittingly or unintentionally damage the machine. We believe that they should not be penalized for this. However, someone who finds that he cannot use a computer without damaging it, should certainly think twice about going into the field of computers.

In other cases, computers are used by offices. Although we do not charge for damaged equipment, if a business or professional office damages the computer, we do request (but we do not demand) that they replace the part or that they provide the Computer Gemach with an equivalent piece of computer equipment.

Computers from the Gemach are rarely placed in storage. They are always being used, in somebody's home or business. As soon as a computer is returned, it is checked to verify that it is in good condition, and then given to the next borrower. There is no issue of storage.

There is a small supply of computer parts, on the other hand. However, we do not have sufficient computer parts, and storage is not an issue.

In Jerusalem, but people from any part of Israel are entitled to borrow computers as long as they can pick them up and return them.

Contact gemach@post.com (preferred) or to Computer Gemach, Box 6925, Jerusalem, Israel. We will then provide you with any further information that is needed.

Please don't. You might imagine what it would be like to give out the phone number - even in the unlikely event that it would be possible to arrange for fixed office hours - and also to run all of these discussion groups, to hold down a job, and to be the head of a family? If you were offering these free services, you would also treasure your privacy, right?

Borrowing from the Computer Gemach

Giving computer equipment to the Gemach

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