A virtually 300-member delegation from the Mixed Jewish Philanthropies of Better Boston (CJP) “Spark” Israel expertise arrived in Israel final week.
Members of the Boston Jewish Federation selected to return particularly to point out solidarity and assist for Israel. The expertise was designed to permit them to have interaction with a various group of Israelis and to share significant moments and experiences, in addition to be taught from each other.
The delegation commemorated Remembrance Day for fallen troopers and victims of terrorism, and Independence Day whereas in Israel. In addition they visited monuments within the three main cities (Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa) and met the President.
A 34-year partnership between Boston and Haifa
The delegation started its journey in Haifa, as a result of “Haifa-Boston Partnership,” a 34-year-old collaboration between Boston’s CJP and Haifa. The partnership goals to create an impression on areas of shared society, management, and Jewish peoplehood.
The welcome occasion in Haifa had over 400 attendees, the place Haifa Mayor Dr. Einat Kalisch-Rotem offered the Metropolis Medal to Boston philanthropist Bradley Bloom in appreciation of his assist and dedication to town of Haifa for a lot of many years. He is without doubt one of the founders of the Haifa-Boston Partnership, Chair of the Board of Governors of the College of Haifa, in addition to Co-Chair of the CJP Spark initiative.
Mayor Dr. Einat Kalisch-Rotem stated: “The impression of CJP and the connection of the Haifa-Boston partnership to our beloved metropolis of Haifa is past description. Our fruitful collaboration has caused revolutionary modifications in lots of facets of society.”
“Haifa is a singular metropolis characterised by a multicultural inhabitants represented by quite a lot of languages, traditions, and religions that coexist in a shared area in Haifa.”
Hilla Pearlman-Paniel
Rabbi Marc Baker, CJP President stated: “It is a important interval within the shaping of the State of Israel for your complete Jewish folks. In recent times, we’ve confronted unprecedented challenges, from a world pandemic to rising antisemitism in America, and we’ve witnessed extremism, incitement, and threats to democracy right here in Israel, in the US, and world wide. We stay sturdy and resilient within the face of those crises, due to our sturdy religion, mutual assist, and Jewish values, that are the frequent basis that unites us.”
Hilla Pearlman-Paniel, Haifa-Boston Partnership Director, stated: “Haifa is a singular metropolis characterised by a multicultural inhabitants represented by quite a lot of languages, traditions, and religions that coexist in a shared area in Haifa. Persons are the essence of what makes our work so particular – as a result of we do it in partnership with communities, professionals, and companions. We work in partnership to advertise the optimum absorption and integration of latest immigrants, to develop younger management, to advertise social equality and justice, and to strengthen the reference to American Jewry.”
The delegation had the particular alternative to spend high quality time with volunteers from a various set of demographics, Arab, Ethiopian, and Druze, in addition to spending a while with olim from Ukraine and Russia. The delegation then spent Shabbat in Jerusalem earlier than heading on to Tel Aviv for some extra studying and to expertise the seashores of Israel.
The delegation’s arrival within the midst of the State of Israel’s seventy fifth anniversary, even throughout turbulent instances, signifies the sturdy connection between American Jews and Israel and Israelis, creating a way of shared peoplehood.