Education | Professional/Business Exchange Task Force | Women's Task Force | Haifa Naval Base | Adult Opportunities

Overall

As part of the overall development of the relationship between Broward County and Nesher, a Steering Committee of volunteers and professionals from both communities was created in 2005.  The committee meets via phone and has one face-to-face meeting annually.  This year, the committee has decided to focus on four areas:

1. Education
2. Adult Volunteer Opportunities
3. Women’s Programs
4. Business to Business

Programming for each of these areas is developed by a joint task force made up of representatives of both Broward County and Nesher.
 
Further, a special relationship has been established over recent years between the Federation and the IDF Naval Base located in Haifa.

During the war with Hezbollah in 2006, the Jewish Federation, through the Israel & Overseas Committee’s representation on the Foundation grants committee, supplied items needs by our partnership city, Nesher, to help them through this difficult time.  As Nesher is located in the north of Israel, they were under constant threat.  Our support meant a great deal to them.
 

Recent Overall Activities

In May of 2008, Broward members of the Nesher Broward Steering Committee met in Nesher to make plans for the coming year.

As part of the Federation’s Israel 60 mission, participants visited the Haifa Naval Base for an inspiring dedication of the Recreation Center, funded by the Jewish Federation of Broward County.  The mission also toured various social service agencies in Nesher assisted by our community. 

Steering CommitteeCo-Chairs:  Karen and Jeffrey Saster (Broward) and Dr. Arie Gutman and Dr. Avi Sharon (Nesher)

Education

The role of the Education Task Force is to promote partnered educational Jewish experiences within the Partnership. This task force addresses the needs and requests for formal and informal educational programming which occur in the partnership. The education task force develops a work plan and proposals including budgets for programming. The work plan is submitted to the joint steering committee. Examples of projects include: Trip by Nesher Teens to Broward each summer, Trip to Nesher by Akiva Leadership Teens from Broward in December, joint March of the Living participation, and the Shorashim (Roots) project engaged in by David Posnack 7th graders and Nesher 7th graders.  This project is followed up when Posnack 8th graders visit Nesher as part of their trip to Israel. Communication via conference calls are scheduled for once a month between members of the committee with interim communication via email and phone as required.
 
Task Force Chairs: Ava Phillips (Broward County) and Moshe Laufer (Nesher)
                                

Professional/Business Exchange Task Force:

The role of the Professional Exchange and Business Task Force is to establish living bridge professional connections that will promote lasting bonds and opportunity for exchange within the partnership. This task force addresses the needs and requests for programs related to professional and business exchanges within the partnership. The Professional/Business Exchange Task Force develops a work plan and proposals including budgets for programming. The work plan is submitted to the joint steering committee. Communication via conference calls are scheduled for once a month between members of the committee with interim communication via email and phone as required.
 
Task Force Chairs: Lisa Enfield (Broward County), Dr. Avi Sharon, Dr. Avi Sharon, Dr. Oded Sharon and Mr. Dani Almykayes (Nesher)
 

Women's Task Force

The goal of this division is to have women from both Nesher and Broward County connect through projects based on common interests, ideas and inspirations.

Task Force Co-chairs: Debra Gill (Broward) and Rinat Weinstein (Nesher)

As part of the women’s project, notes from each program of our series will be posted.

Broward/Nesher Women’s Task Force Photo Gallery and Notes/Impressions

Haifa Naval Base

Since the twinning of Ft. Lauderdale with the city of Haifa, the then mayor of Haifa, Amnon Mitza, asked for support to establish a recreational facility at the naval base. Mitzna commented that the facility would have a concrete impact on the quality of life for the young men and women on the base and make a positive statement of the Federation’s support of the sister city relationship and the community’s ties to Haifa and the naval base.
 
After visiting the naval base, it was recommended to the Federation that this project should be supported. Funds have been agreed to and the facility is being constructed, and should be operational by 2006.

During the 2008 Israel 60 Broward Federation Mission to Israel, the recreation center was dedicated. 
 

Adult Opportunities

The goal of this task force is to offer Broward County residents the opportunity to volunteer for one to two weeks in Nesher.  We are in the process of renovating an apartment, provided by the municipality, to house volunteers at a minimum cost per participant.  Volunteers will work at the Nesher Senior Center, Community Center, Child Care Center and within some schools.  This project is newly established and currently being developed.

Task Force Co-Chairs:  Marshall Goldberg and Bob Stivler (Broward); Ruby Abromovitz and Avner Uliel (Nesher).