Partnership Event 29th November

On 29th November 2010, everyone involved in the Partnership gathered together at the Gvanim hall at the Barnea community center for a social evening. This occasion was the kickoff to the start of a new era for the partnership now operating under the new Vision, formulated after many months of discussions with our partners in Baltimore. New members were introduced and activities of the partnership were highlighted: past activities, present, and future ... There was a full turnout, good food and good company! Maccabi arts participant Gal Bental opens the event with a virtuoso flute playing performance. Behind her, "Highlights of the Partnership" slideshow.

Social Services staff shared a table

Alan and Ilana Marcus

Meir contemplates the spread....

A Gift for everyone...

Einat, Vered and Ilana with their gift mugs

And a "soofganiya" from Sigal & Einat

Lizzy (Maccabi Arts Coordinator), Marcelo Burdman & Shlomo Cohen

Maia tells everyone about the upcoming Family Mission

Dafna and her A-Team!

PACT Ashkelon - 3rd Anniversary !

PACT (Parents And Children Together , a JDC program funded by the ASSOCIATED ) celebrated the end of their 3rd year of activity in Ashkelon. The entrance of Woldenberg Community Center was decorated with Ethiopian art, and an exhibition of seasonings, festive clothing and musical instuments from the Ethiopian culture . Traditional Ethiopian food - Ingira, Dahbu bread, made by the participants, was served. Lots of children came with their parents to join the celebration and to watch a play about the Ethiopian community .

Ashkelon went dark for one hour on Sunday night

Sunday night 6 Dec 2009:before 8 pm and after 8 pm

Residents of Ashkelon and the surrounding areas turned their lights off on Sunday night at 8 PM for one hour, in protest over the proposed construction of a coal-powered electricity plant in the area.

Ashkelon is leading the fight against the 3rd coal powerplant . Gily , my 8 year old daughter came back from school and reminded me we should turn off the lights from 8 pm till 9 pm. We finished all the preparations that needed lights- homework, dinner , preparing the school bag and at 8pm , we turned off all the lights, lit candles and she took a bath by candle light ....

We looked out our windows and saw that many houses took part in this protest .Not sure how this will affect the governement decision , but who knows?

Photos by Edi Israel

Ashkelon Mimouna

The Mimouna is a traditional North African Jewish festival which starts in the evening on the last day of Passover and continues the next day. It marks the return to eating chametz, i.e., leavened bread which is forbidden throughout the week of Passover.

After two days of "chamsin", Thursday - the day of the Mimouna, started off rainy so it was touch and go whether the celebration would take place or not. Luckily Mayor Benny Vaknin remained firm and refused to cancel, and eventually the sun came out.

In Ashkelon, with its large number of immigrants from Morocco, the Mimouna has become a popular annual "happening" featuring outdoor picnics and BBQs. The Mayor of Ashkelon presides over a traditional Mimouna tent and invites Ashkelonians and visiting dignitaries from all over the world to drop by.

Mayor Benny Vaknin with visiting dignitaries inside the ceremonial Mimouna tent. Shlomo Cohen (Deputy Mayor of Ashkelon & Chairman of the Ashkelon-Baltimore steering committee), Sigal Ariely (Director of the Ashkelon-Baltimore partnership) and Iris Leibovitch (Director, Economic Development Office, Municipality of Ashkelon) outside the ceremonial tent.

Galit Amzallag (Director of International Relations, Municipality of Ashkelon) inside the ceremonial tent.

The Mimouna also marks the start of spring. In 1966, the Mimouna was introduced as a national holiday in Israel. In practice everyone decides for themselves whether they want to work or take a half day holiday.

Shlomo Cohen, discussing security arrangements with police officers outside the tent.

Border police on guard at the event

Moroccan and Algerian Jews open their homes to visitors, and lay a table spread with traditional holiday cakes and sweets. The particular Mimouna treat is Mofletta, a kind of crepe, folded over and drenched in honey. Another favorite is sfinj, a salty yeasty deepfried type of doughnut, dipped in sugar. The Mimouna celebration table is also laid with various symbols of luck, with an emphasis on the number "5," such as 5 pieces of gold jewelry or 5 green branches.

Moufleta (left) and Sfinj (right), traditional North African desserts served at the Mimouna celebration.

Every year at the Mimouna festival, the grass at the Ashkelon National Park is crowded with families enjoying themselves.

Antiquities in the Ashkelon national park.

Mosaic Tree Panels for Park Baltimore

An exciting exhibition opened yesterday in the city: A group of Ashkelon artists, trained by Ashkelon's own world-renowned mosaic artist Ilana Shafir, are exhibiting mosaic panels, all with the theme of "The Tree of Eden" . The colorful mosaic wall panels will be mounted on a wall in Park Baltimore after the exhibition.

Nira Portugaly, one of the mosaic artists explained: "The panels are made using Ilana Shafir's original technique which is called 'spontaneous mosaic' whereby scraps of pottery, stones and shells collected from nature, and specially made ceramic elements are all combined together in a spontaneous mosaic creation".

Tova Shafran, one of the mosaic artists, thanked Ilana Shafir and noted that she will celebrate her 85th birthday this week. The panels are a gift from the artists to the city and will be displayed in Park Baltimore after the exhibition.

Chag Sameach!

Happy Hannukah Everyone!

Yesterday was the 1st night of Hanukah, and a joint candle-lighting ceremony was planned, with the women of Baltimore and the women of Ashkelon, lighting candles together by videoconference.

Everyone was very disappointed when icy road conditions and bad winter weather prevented the Baltimore women from taking part. In Ashkelon the weather is still warm and sunny so we could only try to imagine what a "real" winter feels like.

In Ashkelon there was a good turnout and the women took the opportunity to reconnect and celebrate Hannukah. Then everyone rushed to get home in time to light the candles with their families. Nicole

In Ashkelon, the women gathered for the candle-lighting ceremony

Chag Urim Sameach!

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

June-July Visits

Recent visitors from Baltimore:

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Steve Gevarter spent a day with us, together with his son David. They were on a trip to Israel with Chizuk Amona. The first picture shows all of us at lunch - Steve & David Gevarter, Mayor Roni, Deputy Mayor Levi, Dr Alan Marcus, and myself. The second picture shows David Gevarter - trying out Mayor Roni's seat for size.... who knows?!

Later that day the whole Chizuk Amona group came to Ashkelon for a few hours, visited Park Baltimore (which is looking green and lovely) and the Lyn Stacie Getz Playground, and visited Netzach Yisrael congregation.

Marty Waxman was here on a family trip and took the opportunity to stay overnight in the Ashkelon Holiday Inn, and get an update on economic development projects with the help of Eliezer Priel, Alan Marcus, Moty Harel, Iris Liebovich and myself. The group visited two new small businesses that received loans from the Loan Fund sponsored by the partnership.

Devera Routman - "DeeDee", spent nearly a whole week in Ashkelon and we kept her very busy. Amongst other activities, she volunteered at Gan Hofit kindergarten, she spent a morning with Nicole - visiting the Ladies Ethiopian Art Project, met Liron our young shinshin, ate lunch with Dr Sharf at Barzilai Medical Center, visited with Mayor Roni and Deputy Mayor Levi, walked round Park Baltimore and went to check out the Michael Lapides firetruck donated by the Baltimore community, at the Ashkelon fire-station.

Noa Nagar HaLevy - Diller program counselor, who stayed with Devera's daughter Tammy Heyman while she was on the Diller delegation to Baltimore, invited Devera (as well as Yuval, Nicole and myself) to a delicious and bountiful dinner at her lovely apartment, where Devera met Noa's family, admired the incredible sunset and view of Ashkelon from the 5th floor (top of a hill location), and said of the dinner "Of all the fancy restaurants I visited in Israel, this was the best dinner I have eaten during my whole trip". Nicole

Regatta in Ashkelon

Each year in late June, a regatta of about 80 yachts from 20 different countries arrives in Ashkelon from Turkey. For the past 17 years the regatta has been led by the same Turkish businessman named Hassan Kakmaz. The regatta started at the end of April in Istanbul. For a couple of days there's an atmosphere of festival at the Marina. Boats, flags, tourists and local sea lovers - all meet and celebrate together. The visitors take tours and go on hikes in Israel, they see Massada and Jerusalem.The City of Ashkelon honors them with a festive welcome reception. This morning the mall was full of sailors, all shopping after many days at sea.

From Ashkelon they continue their journey to Egypt, bringing with them a message of peace and brotherhood to all . Nicole

New Fire Truck for Ashkelon

On Independence Day Eve, the Ashkelon Fire Station held a special ceremony to welcome the new firefighting vehicle. The vehicle was donated in memory of Michael Lapides, by the Jewish community in Baltimore in a fundraising effort spearheaded by Tammy and Fred Heyman. The brand new fire engine is a “Rotem” vehicle and will be used to respond to emergencies, fires and rescues. At the ceremony, Mayor Roni Mehatzri - Head of the Fireman’s Union, and Dani Sasson – Fire Chief, awarded ranks to fireman and officers. Among those who received promotions were two female firefighters. The Mayor thanked the Jewish Community of Baltimore and the ceremony concluded with a “Haramat Kosit” (toast) in honor of the 60th Independence Day anniversary of the State of Israel. Nicole

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Yom HaAtzmaut

Israel's 60th Independance Day Anniversary was full of celebrations, and a time for family to enjoy a day together. In the evening, we watched the torch-lighting ceremony on Mount Herzl on Mt Herzl, and then went outside to enjoy a spectacular display of fireworks.

Next day we were treated to a "fly-by" of the Israeli airforce. We saw formations of fighter planes, a plane being fueled in mid-air by helicopters, acrobatics, very impressive. During the day there was a also a "sail by" by Israel's navy, and an impressive display by paratroopers from all over the world who came here to join the Israeli paratroopers jumping in formations, a "Freedom Jump" - in honor of Israel's 60th birthday.

As always, every piece of grass in the city was used by a family having a traditional "mangal" barbecue. Some families who live in apartments were so desperate for their mangal that they set up their picnic on the grassy island in the middle of the road (I wish I had taken a photo for you).

Happy 60th Birthday to all of us!

http://dover.idf.il/IDF/English/News/today/2008n/05/0901.htm

http://www.ynetnews.com/home/0,7340,L-5341,00.html

Nicole

Memorial Day

Last night we heard the eerie sound of the siren, but not for kassams this time, but in memory.

Before we can celebrate 60 years of Independance, we remember our fallen. All over the country there are ceremonies as the whole country mourns. There is hardly a family who has not been affected or does not know someone who has been killed.

Last night I attended the official Ashkelon ceremony, along with everyone from the Municipality and many Ashkelon residents. At 8:00 p.m. there was a siren, the country ground to a standstill for 2 minutes, as we all stood to remember. The photos of our lost young soldiers were projected on to a screen as we heard some of the stories.

This morning at 11:00 am there is another countrywide siren and I will attend the official ceremony at the Ashkelon Art school, which is always a sad but impressive event. Over all the years, the official figure of Israeli soldiers killed stands at 22,437. This does not count civilians. This year alone, 65 soldiers were killed.

One of these was our own Liron Banai from Ashkelon, killed about two months ago. He was a fighter in the elite Givati combat unit. He was only 20 years old. He was mortally wounded when his jeep went over a mine at Kissufim, and he died of his injuries in hospital. He left behind a sister, a young brother and two parents who are deaf and for whom he was the spokesman. http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Terrorism-+Obstacle+to+Peace/Memorial/2008/Victims/Liran+Banai.htm

sigal ariely sigal ariely sigal ariely

All time Best Israeli SONG

The city of Ashkelon hosted the national ceremony to choose the favorite Israeli song of 60 years .

The program was live broadcast on TV on channel 1, a lot of famous singers sang the 12 songs that were selected to be the nominees. People in different cities rated the songs, and people sent text messages to vote.

Guess which is THE BEST ISRAELI SONG ever ?: "Yerushalaim shel Zahav" - Jerusalem of Gold.

It was an enjoyable evening of songs and music, that helped us forget other things .

To hear the unforgettable Ofra Haza singing Yerushalaim shel Zahav:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlIJOAZ1pak