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From Baltimore to Israel
Ashkelon Updates from THE ASSOCIATED

Jewish Education and Identity Building Agenda Progresses on Many Fronts

• THE ASSOCIATED has sold 3,000 "Acharai" bracelets! The "Acharai" bracelet represents the value of leadership, setting an example, and doing good deeds. The proceeds of the sale of this bracelet have already provided musical instruments, such as a keyboard and drum mikes, for the students at the Omanuyot Art School in Ashkelon. To purchase an Acharai bracelet, click here.
  
• In January 2005, 13 Hillel students from Johns Hopkins University, Goucher College and Towson University were hosted by families for four days in Ashkelon. Students participated in volunteer projects, and also spent time with immigrants who shared their first-hand accounts of coming to Israel. The students learned why these olim immigrated and about their progress in adapting to a new country. To learn more about their trip, click here.
  
• As part of their Early Childhood Education Conference for local educators, the Center for Jewish Education is raffling off 22 gift baskets. All proceeds will go to Ashkelon for playground equipment for Amutat Potchim Shaar, an Ethiopian Early Childhood Center.
  
• The Center for Jewish Education's Director of Early Childhood Education, DJ Schneider-Jensen, is going to Ashkelon for two days in late February to learn about Israeli Early Childhood Education and will bring back ideas to advance the partnership upon her return.
  
• Approximately 10 members of the Jewish Community Center staff are going to Ashkelon in early March for two days to learn about the city and the Matnas movement (Israeli community centers). Their fact-finding trip will help form the Partnership's future informal education agenda.

Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School Gets to Know Ashkelon More in March

• In early March, 12 Ashkelon high school basketball stars will be in Baltimore to compete in the Beth Tfiloh Weiner Basketball Tournament. As part of their trip they will speak to students in Beth Tfiloh's lower and middle schools about Ashkelon and will tour Jewish Baltimore with the Jewish Museum. Come see them play at any of the following times:
  
• Thursday, March 3rd at noon against the Essex Union, New Jersey Schechter team
  
• Friday, March 4th at 9:30 a.m. against the Hyman-Brand team of Kansas City or at 12:45 p.m. against the Community Hebrew Academy of Toronto
  
• Saturday, March 5th at 8 p.m. against Baltimore's Beth Tfiloh team
  To learn more about Beth Tfiloh's Weiner Basketball Tournament, click here
  
• 63 seniors from the Beth Tfiloh's senior class will spend two days in Ashkelon, March 30 and 31st, during their senior class trip to Israel and Poland. They will learn and share both with students from the Omanuyot Art School and with boys from the Ashkelon Basketball team that they met while in Baltimore in early March.

Sister City Agreement Moves Public Sector Management Agenda Forward

On January 13, 2005, Mayors Martin O'Malley and Roni Mehatzri signed a Sister Cities Agreement between the Cities of Baltimore and Ashkelon. This will help advance our public sector management agenda and promote further partnerships with Ashkelon and our city.

Project Administration

Sigal Arielly, Coordinator of the Baltimore/Ashkelon Partnership in Ashkelon, began work February 10. She previously worked as an environmental planner at the Ashkelon Regional Towns Association and is very familiar with Ashkelon and the municipality.

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