1. Our
Partnership
ARAD - TAMAR
NEW JERSEY
DELAWARE
December 2011
Partnership2GETHER New Jersey/Delaware-Arad/Tamar
From the Partnership Director's Chair
The Jewish Agency's Our partnership is between the city of Arad and the members, and they want to be involved and provide
Partnership 2000 project Tamar Regional Council (at the Dead Sea) with a few real assistance in the region's development.
first began operating in Jewish federation in New Jersey and Delaware in This past year was full of activities, which about
the 90s, based upon the United States. The partnership was established some you can read in this issue. We are eagerly
the concept of uniting more than 16 years, and we are proud to be a part looking forward to the new year and everything
communities and of this success. The goal of our partnership is, to that it will bring.
organizations from all be a partnership that aims to work for a better I would like to thank the Arad Municipality and the
over the world with future, particularly for our children, in both sides Tamar Regional Council, for their cooperation, and
the State of Israel. Over of the ocean. the Steering Committee members, volunteers and
the years the project Throughout the years our partnership has helped professional, in Israel and abroad, for dedicating
developed and progressed and changed its name to make the Arad-Tamar region stronger, by funding so much of their valuable time in order to achieve
Partnership2Gether. In order to focus on its Jewish projects in various fields, such as: education and
and promote the goals the Partnership. Special
connections and on the unity of the communities, community, economic and tourism development,
thanks to our partner communities in New Jersey
a new and unique logo was designed, containing a empowerment of women and the most important
and Delaware, without whom we would not have
number of small Jewish stars which together create subject: strengthening and expending the ties with
been able to achieve all of this wonderful work.
one big Magen David, as can be seen at the top the people at our partner communities. And indeed,
right hand side of this page. Currently there are 44 we feel that our partners in the other side of the
partnerships, uniting over 550 Jewish communities ocean, see Arad and Tamar as the home away from Nili Avrahami
all around the world with regions in Israel. home of each and every one of the federation's Partnership Director
Climbing to New Heights
Mor Nadler, Director of the College for All Center in Arad
The Return of the For the past four years the College for All has
Emissary been running a center in Arad, which aims to
help children to realize their abilities and even to
Abir Malianker from Arad, who served as the achieve excellence. The College for All Association is
Partnership's shaliach to Central operating 25 centers in cities and towns, working to
New Jersey, recently completed reduce social disparities, and helping children from
a year of shlichut and came back the geographic and social periphery of Israel, by
to his first home in Arad. Abir way of a high level comprehensive multidisciplinary
did outstanding work in the educational program. The program includes
community in bringing people reinforcement and expansion upon the core subjects
closer together, deepening studied at school, personal empowerment, social
Jewish roots and reinforcing the ties to Israel among involvement and generally broadening horizons in participation of College for All students from all over
our partners on the other side of the ocean. as many ways as possible. the country. To wrap up the mathematics lessons
During this intensive year, Abir met a wide variety of Last year, 70 children in the third to eighth grades, in which the children learned about geometry,
people: children, young people, students and older participated in the activities in the Arad center, ratios, how to read a map and more, a competition
adults, and made a huge impact on the community, supported by the Jewish Agency through the was held for planning and building a palace. The
benefiting both Israel and Arad. Partnership, the Arad municipality and other entities. students from the Arad Center won 2nd place in
We want to take this opportunity and thank Abir In addition to the studies, the children enjoyed the competition and 3rd place in the map reading
for everything he had done. enrichment classes such as dance, nature and competition. Well done!
Abir was replaced by, Natalie Elgrabli from Jerusalem, Participation in the program instills real hope for
environment, drama, drawing, astronomy, football
who will continue this important work. change in education and gives the children in the
in cooperation with the Hapoel Tel Aviv football
We wish her much success! program equal opportunities to succeed, excel in
school, and debating with the debating league
from Ben Gurion University. their studies, get a good education, integrate into
Just before the end of the year, a highlight day society and to develop as contributing citizens and
of the Association took place in Tel Aviv with the future leaders of Israeli society.

2. Youth Futures - For Our Children
Leah Samuch Tal, Program Director in Arad
Youth Futures is a Jewish Agency national program is used as a relaxation place during the breaks in the
for children and youth. The program's main goal is school day; Benches throughout Arad were decorated
to reduce disparities by providing the participants by the program's children as a contribution to the
equal opportunities in education and excellence. community in which they live in; An exhibition of
The program allows children to develop their abilities characters from famous stories, made by the middle
through empowerment and encouragement and school children of plasticine and beads, was shown
build self-confidence and capability with the help of
at the city library; Creative and studies workshops
adults called "trustees", who work with them, both
during the holydays vacation, as well as a visit the
individually and in groups, in cooperation with the
educational and welfare entities. Arad fire station, field activities at the Yeruham Lake
The 2010-11 school year was the program's fourth and a ceremony at an Air Force Base during which
with a carpet, cushiony seats and chairs, all of which new pilots received their certification. We would like
year in Arad, with some 160 participants. The year was
full of activities, combining education and enjoyment contribute to the pleasant atmosphere; An Ecological to thank the Heiman Foundation and the Jewish
such as opening a library for the program's children, Community Garden was established at the Ort high Federation of Central New Jersey, without whose
thanks to the generous donation of Bank Hapoalim. school by middle school children participating in generous support, this program would not be able
In addition to the books, the library was equipped the program, their friends and trustees. The garden to carry on.
The Elite Youth
Hall of Fame - Here We Come… Spending National
Service Year in Arad
were hosted at the homes of families from the
community and were very warmly welcomed and
were spoiled by many treats and outings, such as
a trip to the Six Flags amusement park, where they
rode the scariest and craziest roller coasters, which
were of course the most fun!
After four days of getting to know the rest of the
Atlantic delegation members, they set out for the
Maccabi games, to the competitions in Springfield,
Tsameret is the Hebrew word for treetop. It is often
to join some 750 young participants from all over use to express the elite of something or someone.
The Maccabi games for youth takes place in the
the world. Tsameret is also the name or an organization in
United States every summer. For over a decade,
athletes from Arad and Tamar have participated in One of the basketball games in which Noy and Israel that have a special program for high school
these games, as part of the delegations from our Nadav participated was held in the basketball Hall graduators, who postponed their army service in
partner communities in New Jersey and Delaware of Fame, which was a special event, not experienced order to volunteer in the community.
by many basketball players. Shira, Leah, Yael, Liran, Tehila, Shir, Gilad and Shaul
to the games.
Tal, Nadav and Noy fit in with the Atlantic are such young people, meaning the elite of the
This year, the games took place in Springfield,
delegation very well, and proved once again that youth who finished their National Service year in
Massachusetts. We received a request from the
Arad. They left behind lots of amazing activities and
Katz JCC in Atlantic Cape May for three teens to the children of Arad are outstanding and can
achievements, and many people who will miss them.
join their delegation to the game. Noy Raskin and represent us with great respect.
In September, the third year of the Tsameret National
Nadav Okanin represented us in basketball, and Special thanks to Jack Fox and the JCC of Atlantic Service year in Arad began, a project funded by the
Tal Amar in tennis, chaperoned by Yoram Egozy, a Cape May Counties for funding and hosting our Partnership. This year there are 10 young people:
sports teacher at the Arad Ort High School. They wonderful athletes. Yishay, Shani, Tsahala, Itai, Chen, Lia, Sivan, Hadar
and Ravid. In the mornings they help out in the
Schools all over the city, and in the afternoon they
Counterpoint Israel continue their great work at the youth clubs, the
Community Center Youth Department, the Tsameret
A new summer camp started operating in Arad: All the activities were in English and has been youth movement that they established in the Arad, in
Counterpoint Israel. It is a Yeshiva University program described by Amy cooper, Director of Financial the Orly Absorption Center for Ethiopian immigrants,
taking place during three consecutive weeks Resource Development of the Jewish Federation Ran's Place and the Warm Home for Girls, both clubs
throughout the summer. The program, aiming for of Central New Jersey who saw the summer camp for youth at risk and other projects, some of are also
children ages 13-17, has three main goals: to instill in action as "an excellent example of how the funded by the Partnership, such as Gesher - Teens
Jewish values; improve English skills and develop Partnership2GETHER connects Jews from New Jersey Leadership Development in Arad, New Jersey and
personal empowerment, through talent-building and Jews from Israel in significant ways". Delaware . They will be closely supervised by Idit
workshops and field trips; fun. YU Projects Director Gila Rockman remarked that Shor from Tsameret, who will also join them in the
wonderful work they are doing in the city.
The staff is comprised of YU students and volunteers “Counterpoint is a meeting place between Israel
from the United States. The program in Arad began and the Diaspora, emphasizing ‘togetherness’ for
in 2011 with 50 students from the Ort High School. the benefit of the partnered communities”.
www.jewishagency.org
The Jewish Agency for Israel is a nonprofit funded by communities and donors throughout the world