I spent a day with Judith and Idit from JUF's Jerusalem office. We covered lots of ground in our Partnership region, Kiryat Gat-Lachish-Shafir, in Israel’s northern Negev. We visited an Ethiopian absorption center where the residents had just finished their daily Hebrew lessons and were in their apartments making lunch. This woman was nice enough to show us her home.We then set off to Nevi’im School to see how the partnership works in the schools—I had no idea what to expect when we got to a classroom filled with 5th graders who had been learning about Chicago, but clearly the impact goes way beyond financial assistance. They were shy about speaking English so I didn’t get to talk to them directly. They put together a great presentation of the work they did including a bound book of drawings representing the partnership between both of our hometowns. The girl who drew this one explained that the apple represents apples eaten for Rosh Hashanah and the picture of Chicago represents how our involvement with her school sweetens all of their lives.
After a great lunch at the Kiryat Gat office, I punched a heavy bag and climbed a rock wall at an athletic center that was converted from an old warehouse. Victoria Ephraimov, Victor Ephraimov and Kochav David began the non-profit organization to help at-risk teens through sports and art.
Designated gifts from the Lavin and Weiner families paid for a boxing ring and new mirrors. I was there the first day the girls saw that their gymnastics practice room had mirrors; they couldn’t have been more excited. The space is home to Israel’s boxing champ (shown here with Vicotr) and an after school program for kids—mostly Russian immigrants. Despite practicing on a basketball court and not having the funds to get a proper (and costly $11,000) mat, one of the gymnasts has gone far on the international scene.
Next: Floating in the Dead Sea and climbing in Ein Gedi
