EBDI visits PACT in Ashkelon

Mayor Benny Vaknin greets Michael Hoffman of The Associated while Meir Bouhnik of The Ashkelon Foundation looks on.

Yesterday a VIP EBDI delegation of 16 professionals from Baltimore visited Ashkelon to see PACT projects in action and learn about the specific problems facing new immigrants from Ethiopia in Israel.

EBDI is the East Baltimore Development Inc - a nonprofit partnership of private and public entities that is undertaking the single largest redevelopment project in Baltimore, transforming 88 acres with $1.8 billion in new investments. EBDI works in partnership with and receives support from, among others, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the Johns Hopkins Institutions, the Goldseker Foundation, the Greater Baltimore Committee, and the Federal, State and City governments.

The delegation is in Israel to examine the PACT (Parents and Children Together) model, learn about the work of the JDC and see for themselves the impact of Baltimore's support for the PACT program, with a view to implementing aspects of the PACT program in East Baltimore. Read about PACT here

In Ashkelon, the EBDI delegation visited Bet Tzipora - an after-school facility supported by Marion and Eli Wiesel to nurture children of Ethiopian origin and help them be the best that they can be. The delegation split up to visit homes of Ethiopians living in Ashkelon, visited kindergartens, and held meetings with Ashkelon social service professionals.

Last stop was a PACT Hannuka activity for mothers and children at the community center. Mr Benny Vaknin, the newly elected Mayor of Ashkelon met Janie McCullough, Deputy Mayor of Baltimore and warmly welcomed the delegation. to the city. Nicole

Ashkelon Mayor Benny Vaknin with Baltimore's Deputy Mayor Janie McCullough

Benny Vaknin, Janie McCullough & Michael Hoffman

A display of LEAP embroidery and baskets made by Ethiopian women EBDI participant Adam Rosenberg met Zuwalu of LEAP , who embroidered this picture of Adam & Eve in Gan Eden

Read Adam Rosenberg's EBDI trip to Israel report here

Mayor Benny Vaknin, Suzi Eigenstein (Women's Forum) and Meir Bouhnik (The Ashkelon Foundation)

PACT activity for Mothers and children

See more photos of the EIDB visit in this photo album ALBUM

"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