GA 2008 Jerusalem

Since Friday there have been kassams that have landed just south of Ashkelon but so far no more rockets have fallen in Ashkelon.

Along with thousands of other committed Jews from Israel, America, and around the world, I am in Jerusalem attending the UJC's GA.

The 2008 General Assembly (GA) of the United Jewish Communities/Federations of North America celebrates Israel's 60th anniversary, with the theme “One People, One Destiny.” It is taking place from 16th - 19th Nov. in Jerusalem and all over Israel. The event draws thousands of Jews from around the world.

The 2008 GA -- the third to be held in Israel -- marks Israel's 60th anniversary with a series of high-profile meetings and events in Jerusalem, inspirational visits to the North and South to see how UJC/Federation-supported work supports the Jewish state, and to Israel's cosmopolitan hub, Tel Aviv.

The Jerusalem events include appearances by most of Israel's political leaders and dignitaries. Among the speakers are Israel's Prime Minister; Defense Minister; Foreign Minister, the Knesset opposition leader, and President Shimon Peres. Nicole

Rockets hit Ashkelon

After Tzahal killed four armed Hamas gunmen and destroyed a tunnel used for transporting arms, there has been an escalation of rocket attacks from Gaza.

Most of the rockets were fired at settlements around the Gaza border but yesterday sirens were heard once again in the city as three rockets fired from Gaza fell in Ashkelon. Today, sirens again, as four rockets hit Ashkelon.

Luckily no damage and no injuries, apart from a number of residents who had to be treated for shock. One of the rockets today fell near the central bus station and the street of high schools, and schools closed early.

A state of alert has been declared in the city, and public shelters have been opened.Nicole

Sue Liebman Visit

13th Nov: Sue Liebman was in Ashkelon for the day to see projects funded by The Associated. Together with Nicole, she visited Harel School to see the Tali program in action.

In the Grade One Tali Science class, the children learnt how oil is made Sue Liebman with the Headmistress of Harel School and two of the Tali teachers

Next stop was Meitar. The renovation of the Meitar building was funded by the Baltimore Jewish Community. From a disused wrecked kindergarden, the building has become an efficient facility for youth-at-risk, offering them a "home away from home", help with studies, as well as many different programs such as horse-riding, computers, music etc.

Sue with David Wolfson of Social Services, at Meitar

Sue was given a tour of the building, saw digital graphic work produced by the students as well as a newspaper they had published themselves. Sue chatted to some of the students about their life and hopes for the future. The center is run by Dafna Maman, and has been in operation for a year. They are still developing another much-needed multi-purpose hall to be used for handicrafts and carpentry.

Sue with David Wolfson of Ashkelon Social Services and Dafna Maman, Head of Meitar

Sue also visited the Michael Lapidus Park (Park Baltimore) and the Lyn Stacie Getz Playground and admired the mosaics made by the Plant and Futrovsky Families. Nicole

A view of Park Baltimore "The Michael Lapidus Park" - (looking southwards, from northern end).

11.11.08 Municipal Election Day

Election day has come and gone but as neither candidate managed to gain 40% of the vote, it's now clear that there will a second round of elections in two weeks time between Benny Vaknin (35% of the vote) and Itamar Shimoni (21% of the vote).

Mayor Roni Mehatzri, with 15% of the vote, will not take part in the second round. Nicole

"Top Gifts" Mission Enjoys Sunny Ashkelon Winter

Michael Elman (Baltimore) and Alan Marcus (Ashkelon).

The "Top Gifts Mission to Israel and Poland" was in Ashkelon on the 9th and 10th of November as part of a hectic 10 day trip with a non-stop program full of action, excitement and highlight events.

Top Gifts Mission to Israel and Poland -Nov 2008

Michael Lapidus Park (Park Baltimore)

On 9th November, the Top Gifts Mission delegates attended the 13th Memorial Ceremony for the late Yitzhak Rabin, for the 3rd year running. After the ceremony the Mission enjoyed dinner at the home of Shmuel and Leah Pivo, long-time Ashkelon residents.

Anat Weinstein Berkovitz - spokeswoman, Ashkelon Municipality, and Maia Hoffman - Director of Delegations and Special Projects.

After dinner, Levi Shafran talked about his experiences as a pilot, flying one of the planes involved in Operation Solomon - a 36 hour non-stop airlift operation transporting Ethiopian Jews to Israel in 1991, and showed a short documentary that left many in tears.

LEAP (Ladies Ethiopian Art Project) embroidery was on sale and mission participants were treated to a short talk by ENP Director Dr. Negist Mengesha.

The next morning began with a security briefing from Avi Dichter, and continued with visits to PACT and other projects funded by the Jewish community of Baltimore and the Ashkelon-Baltimore Partnership. The highlight of the morning was the visit to The Michael Lapidus (Park Baltimore) and the Lyn Stacie Getz Playground. Many of the TOP GIFTS participants also took part in building the Park and the Lyn Stacie Getz Playground, almost a year ago, and were excited to see the green and lush park, and all the playground equipment, all looking its best on that sunny Monday.

Nissim Suissa- Director of Environment, Ashkelon Municipality; with Sigal Ariely

Mission participants admired the ceramic and mosaic plaques made by the Pant-Futrovsky Family Mission, now mounted on a wall in the park, and then made their own hands-on contribution to the Park.

Half the group painted a protective laquer finish on the Exodus ship and the other half helped make the mosaics on the seating.

The tired but happy group took a break for a picnic lunch and a talk by Ashkelon's David Ariel, who came to Israel as a 15 year old illegal immigrant on the ship Exodus.

Suzi Eigenstein translating for David Ariel - Exodus survivor

See more photos of the "Top Gifts Mission" in Ashkelon on the Ashkelon-Baltimore Partnership online album webpage.

( http://picasaweb.google.com/nikirose/TOPGIFTS910Nov08# )

The intrepid Mission participants left Ashkelon and continued southwards for a desert experience. Two more days of the Mission remain....... Nicole

Red Alert for Otzma

Otzma in Ashkelon!

Five Otzma-niks will be coming to live and work in Ashkelon for 3 months from January 2009. They have already spent a weekend in Ashkelon getting to know their host families. The 5 Otzma-niks were in town on 5th November to see where they will be living and to look at various volunteer options.

Otzma 2008-2009 in front of a mosaic made by Otzma-niks of previous years, Beit Canada

First stop on their visit was Ashkelon municipality. No sooner had they arrived in the building, when the Red Alert siren sounded. Ceasefire Shmeasefire, we are still experiencing the occasional rocket attack. The rocket landed in another neighborhood and luckily caused no damage, but our Otzmaniks were reminded that life in Ashkelon will be something of an adventure.

The tour of the city proceeded with stops at Netzach Yisrael community kindergarten, Beit Canada absorption center, Calanit student absorption center, Bet Tzipora, and afternoon day care facilities for children at risk. Nicole

Oriana Haddad outlines volunteer options for working with Ethiopian new immigrants at Beit Canada Absorption Center

Report from our Otzmaniks: "We are eager and excited and looking forward to being in Ashkelon! We love our host families and already love the city, can't wait to live here, visit the beach, and the marina, find our favorite felafel store, and shop at the shouk".

Alizka and Esther of Calanit student absorption center hosted our Otzmaniks for lunch and showed them the rooms where they will be staying from January 2009. The rooms have been newly renovated and furnished.

Lunch at Calanit

Meir Bouhnik of "The Ashkelon Foundation" ("Keren Ashkelon") and Mazal, Head of Bet Tzipora, show the Otzmaniks around Bet Tzipora - a joint project with Eli and Marion Wiesel

Reality Reminder ....

Shalom ! I just got back from my trip to Baltimore and the Diller -Teen exchange progam conference in San Francisco . Since I lost my camera on the way back, no pictures for now... sorry... ! This morning in Ashkelon the Red Alert sirens at the industrial area were operated 3 times, due to kassam rockets launched in our direction. At 9:30 we heard the alarm, loud and clear (one of the sirens is located on the municipality building roof, just above my head). We ran from the 4th floor which is all glass windows to the hallway of the 3rd floor. A few seconds later we heard the boom. Luckily the rocket hit a grass lawn , in one of the neighborhoods close to where we were... No casualties, no damage ! My son was on his way to the bus taking all his class mate to an overnight field trip. They rushed the students back to the building, and after a while they left as planned. He called me to say that they heard the boom very loud because the rocket fell very close to the school . We also had guests with us this morning, 6 Otzma volunteers (3 from Baltimore ) who came to visit some of the places they will be volunteering at from January. They were on their way to the municipality as the siren went. They were very calm, unlike their madricha who REALLY panicked... Things are back to normal , and we continued their visit as planned . They had a really good story for folks back home. Sigal