Photos from Feb, 2010 Steering Committee Meeting in Israel

Members of the TIPS steering committee from Tucson, Kiryat Malachi, Hof Ashkelon, Phoenix and Seattle held their annual winter meeting in Israel. In addition to the regular meeting, we held a retreat from Monday evening to Tuesday afternoon so that we could get to know each other better and acquire skills to work better together as a partnership. The following are some photos taken during the meetings.

Sue Shurgin from Tucson walking through the gardens at the retreat center on the way to Jerusalem. The gardens were lovely, but we had very little time to enjoy them. Sue had been involved in the partnership years ago, but left about 6 years ago when she moved to Sedona. She moved back to Tucson recently and we are delighted that she became active a year ago and is now the Tucson chair.

Our first activity was to get to know someone from across the ocean. Sue and Eddi Yosef, a new member of the committee, interviewed each other. They were to find out something unusual about each other.

Dr. Jaime (Haim) Amsel, the facilitator

Rami Assis, Itai, and Amy Wasser-Simpson, partners in interviewing

Dvora Attal from KM and Ethan B. from Phoenix

Adam T from Phoenix and Eliya Weiss from KM. Eliya first was involved at age 13 when she was sent to a camp near Seattle. She is now an officer in the army and one of the newest members of the TIPS steering committee.

Diane Weintraub receives a birthday cake. To her left is Amalia Lewin from Hof Ashkelon, and to her right is Diane's husband, Ron

Toward the end fo the retreat we did an activity with "string," with each participant pledging how s/he would work to improve trust in the partnership. Pictured are Dvora, Inbal, Sue, and Rami

Dalia Burgana from KM and Dina Tanners from Seattle, co-chairs of TIPS....both in black pant suits
Itai at the entry to the second floor of the Naamat Building

Inbal Attal-Cohen, Young Adult Program Director, busy at work, in the newly renovated 2nd floor of the Naamat building.

Representatives from the KM Youth Council together with Morian Ben David
Meeting with the Mayor of Hof Ashkelon Yair F. and the head of the Social Services and Matnas Maoz
Hof Ashkelon Youth Council President Smadar together with the VP and Hila Levy Hamami, the youth director of Hof Ashkelon

Moshe, Rami, Adi, Amalia, Dina, and Dalia

Moshe Babelpour with two representatives from KM of the Young Adult group, Eliya and Adi

The logo recently created by the Young Adult group in KM which includes the logo of Kiryat Malachi on the left

Hila Kordana explaining pictures of the YA group and the new logo.

A representative from HaPoel Tel Aviv on the left at a KM sports leadership activity

A Sports for All activity in KM, with the leadership group running a sports afternoon for younger kids. Here is a relay race. The teens in the red shirts are the leaders.

Itzhik, head of sports in HA, and a teen assistant, talking about the programs, especially the Kat Regel (mini-soccer) league

The youth advisor from Kibbutz Gvaram and two teens talking about the renovation project at the kibbutz they are working on to create a functional teen center

Meir Shitrit's group played for us at the final dinner when we were treated to another meal by the Ethnic Flavors Taamei Ami group

Ken B presenting a video camera to the Youth of Kiryat M alachi

Sue Shurgin getting some of the tasty food

Ethiopian bread with wonderful seasoning

Figs stuffed with ground meat

Six of the women plus Smadar

An array of great food, Hila K, Yaffa Cohen, Eliya, etc. Members of the YA groups were invited to attend too.

We also saw part of the dance practice of the top dance group of Art City, Tzuza. This group will be in Tucson, and Phoenix for their Yom Haatzmaut celebration and then in Seattle for Lag B'Omer.

Art City dancers stretching during warm ups

Shlomi instructing the group

Dancers warming up to live music from an Art City Band

Eddi at the retreat, talking about working in Partnership

Photography Lessons bring out creativity in KM teens at risk

Bayit Ham is a special place in Kiryat Malachi for teenage girls at risk. It is a safe place for them to go during the day--after school in winters and most of the day and evening in summers. A house mom and social workers help organize activities and help teach the girls to make this place their second home. It has pulled many girls off the streets and help provide better opportunities for them. Over and Above funding has helped this program in the past.

In February as our TIPS steering committee meeting was about to begin, a ceremony was held to open a photo exibit of picture that the girls took during photo classes that they had in their "second home." The exhibit is in the second floor of the Naamat/Yedid building, which is now the Kiryat Malalachi Volunteer Center. You can see some of the pictures and some of the girls and their families in the pictures below.

Photography students and attendees

Speaking for the students

The teacher speaking--she is origially from KM

More Participants and attendees

Kiryat Malachi Cooks visit Tucson

Seven women, from Kiryat Malachi visited TIPS communities in November.

Sima Kaduri, Yehudit Shitrit, Rina Golan, Aliza Surit, Clara Davidov, Chilot Gethon, and Mazal Caravani, participated in a series of public events in which each of them cooked and shared with the audience some of their authentic ethnic foods, as well as insights into their lives and histories.

See the articles about their visit to Seattle HERE and to Phoenix HERE

Photos from the visit of the cooking ladies from Kiryat Malachi, below.

2 more rockets this evening....

Kassam rocket hits Hof Ashkelon

A Qassam rocket fired from Gaza exploded in Hof Ashkelon early this evening, near one of the moshavim. Miraculously there were no casualties or damage but the "Color Red" siren sent Hof Ashkelon residents running for their shelters, until they heard the rocket hit the ground.

Mortar fire and rockets have been aimed at us intermittently over the last few months, but mostly in the Sderot area. A stark reminder that the danger is not over. The Kassam rocket followed a barrage of mortar shells fired from Gaza earlier in the day, as well as an anti-tank missile fired at Israeli troops patrolling the border with Gaza. Nobody was hurt.

Van Gogh Exhibition at Hof Ashkelon Regional Library

Through a donation of the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Israel and a group of individuals, an exhibition of carefully selected reproductions of Van Gogh paintings are being shown in Israel. These 30 painting have been at the Hof Ashkelon Regional Library since October 22 and will be on display until January 31, 2010. The exhibit was first in Beersheva before coming to Hof Ashkelon. Since there are only 3 Van Goghs on public display in museums in Israel, this is an amazing opportunity for people in the Hof Ashkelon region.

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, the exhibit is open from 9 a.m. to 12:30, and Sunday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, it is open from 4 to 6 p.m.

To see the more about the exhibit, please go to:

http://www.artis-society-israel.org/2e03.01.Van%20Gogh.htm (for English)

or

http://www.artis-society-israel.org/2h03.01.Van%20Gogh.htm (for Hebrew)

Teaching English, learning Israel

Teaching English, learning Israel
Local volunteer sees federation funds in action
by DAVID WEINER,

published in JEWISH NEWS OF GREATER PHOENIX, ONLINE


Israeli children view a robot demonstration at a Police Academy presentation in Kiryat Malachi.
Photo courtesy of David Weiner

Imagine a city of 20,000 people that has seven political parties, a 25 percent unemployment rate, a population half of which is disadvantaged and a school system with students that are primarily first-generation Israelis?

I am describing the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix's Partnership 2000 sister city, Kiryat Malachi, which I visited in mid-December. I was touched by the warm hospitality of the community and saw firsthand how the federation's support of the Hof Ashkelon region, which borders Gaza, is appreciated. I visited after-school projects, youth leadership programs, child mental health clinics and community centers that are recipients of the Valley Jewish community's donations.

The federation works closely with our volunteer counterparts in the Hof Ashkelon region by determining which projects will be funded by the TIPS program (made up of the Jewish communities in Tucson, Israel, Phoenix and Seattle). Phoenix area residents who volunteer more than five days can stay for a minimal fee in an apartment and experience the culture of Kiryat Malachi.

During my visit, I spent time volunteering in an elementary school, helping third- through sixth-graders with their English. The children were smart and engaging and very excited to use their English. Nearly every student has a home computer that gives him or her a connection to the world and a cell phone, to offer reassurance to anxious parents who may need to locate their children after a terrorist attack.

Not having experience with children nor being able to speak Hebrew, I was a bit skeptical as to how I could keep their attention and not go crazy in the process. I soon learned how to gain control, keep their interest and even teach them a bit of English.

The teacher started the class by giving students an opportunity to ask questions and then asked for volunteers to break into small groups for further discussion. Nearly everyone wanted to join. That was great for the ego! When it came time for a class break and a visit to the teacher's lounge, I was faced with a room full of sad faces, so I skipped the break and stayed with the children.

The girls asked me about Hannah Montana and the boys inquired about cars, while everyone wanted me to join their Facebook page. In practicing their numbers, I was having children count and tell me how many brothers and sisters they have. One Ethiopian boy had 10 siblings. As I walked home after school, it was rewarding to hear my name shouted in English as the children waved goodbye.

I attended a competition sponsored by the Police Academy for fifth- and sixth-graders where they were asked to come up with a logo and motto describing their school. Highlights included canine, robot and helicopter demonstrations, as well as exhibitions about sharpshooting and deep-water rescue.

It was a real contrast to see these young innocent faces flushed with enthusiasm as they learned about the strength of their local police. To see bomb-sniffing dogs sorting through children's coats looking for the marked coat was reassuring but sad. The Hannah Montana backpacks nestled up against the robots was a stark reminder of what Israeli life is all about.

When I wasn't at the school, the Jewish Agency showed me the projects that have been funded by Phoenix. Our sister city is in the area where kibbutzim and moshavim border Gaza and are just a rocket away. I stood on a bluff and heard the Muezzin call Gazans to their noon prayers.

I toured a mental health clinic where children are treated for the psychological scars of living in this area and the effects of the constant threat of terrorism. The director of the clinic told me they were preparing for a layoff of their professional staff due to a funding shortage. I worry about how the funds will be found once the rockets start to fall again.

One evening, I visited with teenagers in their last year of high school who were trying to decide if they wanted to spend a national year of service prior to joining the Army. As Israel prospers and children see the opportunities to finish the army and begin their adult life, it was refreshing to see the Zionist spirit. A war hero with only one limb addressed the students, and a silence overcame the room when he described his volunteer experience.

I encourage anyone who can commit five days to visit this region and help make a difference. Lodging is nearly free. Retirees, students or someone looking for a bit of rejuvenation would find the visit rewarding while being welcomed with warmth and generosity. All that is required is a willingness to help and an understanding of family.

David Weiner is chairman of the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix's Israel Overseas Committee.

For more information about volunteering in Kiryat Malachi, call Adam Tennen, 480-634-4900, ext. 1102.

Phoenix--donating funds for books for Libraries in KM and HA

From the Jewish News of Greater Phoenix, November 27, 2009--under "Giving from the Heart"
Jewish Federation of Greater jewishphoenix.org

Help an Israeli community this Hanukkah through the federation's Sefer for Success fundraiser, a part of its TIPS (Tucson, Israel, Phoenix, Seattle) program. For a $15 contribution, participants will provide a new sefer (Hebrew educational book) for the libraries in TIPS partnership communities Kiryat Malachi and Hof Ashkelon. All of the proceeds benefit the project, and sometime before Hanukkah, participants will receive a special thank-you card including a photo of some of the children who will benefit from the donation.Givers can also donate money to the federation in someone's name; an online form at jewishphoenix.org includes a space to write a personal message to the honoree, which will appear in a tribute card.