Exciting news: We Now Have a Sister “JCC” in Tel Mond, Israel!
What does this mean? We are just beginning to figure that out. The exciting part is that this program will help us make personal connections with members of our sister JCC (in Israel they are called matnas) in Israel. We started off at Hanukkah by exchanging videos of each of our centers’ candle lightings. Soon we’ll have a lot more to share about how we will be bridging our communities together, but for now, let me tell you a little about their community:
Tel Mond is located just inland of Netanya en route to Jerusalem. It is considered a mini-city of approximately 10,000 people. The matnas there has all sorts of wonderful programming, including a vibrant after school program that seems very similar to our own JCC Kids program. They have a full sports center that offers a large range of activities, from Krav Maga to hockey, dirt bike and volleyball. They have a dance school based on the Martha Graham style of dance and a cultural arts hall for performances, lectures and film series. In addition, the Tel Mond matnas has a vibrant volunteer program that seems to be very similar to our Mitzvah Corps.
In November, we had the opportunity to meet Tel Mond’s former Mayor Carmela Feit, who was in Asheville attending a wedding. We sent her back to Israel with a challah cover as a gift for the matnas, and the Executive Director told me they’d be using it at their community Shabbat celebrations.
Stay tuned for more information and please let me know if you are interested in helping shape this program.
Rochelle Reich
Community Life & Events Director
rochelle@jccavldev.wpengine.com
253-0701 ext. 111
