Update from "Klita Kehilatit - MAALE ADUMIM

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MARCH 2011 NEWSLETTER
 
Dear Friends,
It has been fairly rainy so far this winter in MA but we are enjoying the cool air and the sunny interludes. Building in the newer area of Nofei HaSela is almost completed and we are looking forward to the many new olim coming to the city both from abroad and from other parts of Israel.
We are watching the developments in the Middle East just as you must be and hoping for the best.
Wishing you a "Purim Sameach" and looking forward to seeing you here soon in our beautiful city!
L'hitraot,
Shelley Brinn
Aliyah Project Manager
City of Maale Adummim

What's happening in the city?

New Educational Program for Religious Teen Olim
A new integrative program for junior high school olim ( boys) at the Yeshiva High School has been developed and publicized. This special program includes a 3 month intensive ulpan, slow integration into the regular Hebrew courses at the school, full integration into social programs and volunteering in the community. This program will help insure a successful integration for the teens and is a welcome addition to the already successful program at the girl's Ulpana Tzvia. Another great advantage is the school's location- 5-10 minutes from any location in MA. For more information about the Integrative Jr High School program or the very successful program at the religious girl's jr high/high school, e-mail me at
klita_ma@mam.org.il

New Egalitarian Kehila at the Community Center
The Masorti ( Conservative) Chavurah of Maale Adummim has expanded its activities to include a Shabbat morning egalitarian service. The Friday night Kabbalat Shabbat and Shabbat morning service take place at the Community Center and draw a mixture of Olim and native Israelis.

English Rapster Performs at this Year's Ahava Readathon Kickoff
As in previous years, the AHAVA organization for the advancement of English learning in the city, sponsored a city wide readathon to encourage both English and Hebrew speakers to read books in English. The kick-off , which took place at the MA Mall, included an English speaking rapper and story telling. For more information on the AHAVA English School and activities, contact Gaila Morrison, 02-5356532.

Garin to Nofei HaSela-About 20 young religious English speaking families have expressed interest in moving together as a group into the newer neighborhood of Nofei HaSela. Last Friday, the group came for a tour of the area, visited the local shul, pre-schools, and the home of an English speaking resident. Efforts are being made now to find housing for members of this garin.

New Supermarket Opens-A new supermarket, SuperSol Deal, has opened at the beginning of Mishor Adummim, between Nofei HaSela and the Industrial Area of MA.
As a result, price wars have begun between the 3 big supermarkets in the city. Let's hope it continues!

New Special Education School- A new school," Nirim", for children with emotional/behavioral disorders recently opened in the Tzemach HaSadeh neighborhood and services the entire city of MA. The school offers services for children from first to seventh grades, has small classes of up to 10 children, and provides  various therapies and treatments as part of the school day.

WHat's Happening with our New Olim?

Trip to the Star Observatory/Planetarium in MA
Approximately 20 Olim participated in a trip to the local star observatory and planetarium housed at the School of Space and Aeronautics. With the aid of new and powerful telescopes, the group viewed both the moon and Jupiter with amazing clarity. The guide, an astrology student at Hebrew University, explained to the group that the observatory in MA is one of a handful in Israel which conducts research and in addition has an amateur astrology club which is open to the public.

Trip to the Bible Lands Museum-Last week, a group of olim from MA took a guided tour together of the Bible Lands Museum in Jerusalem. The group learned about archaeological finds from the biblical periods and from countries mentioned in the Bible. The participants had a chance to connect with each other and made some new friends!
 

Gathering of English Speakers Living in Nofei HaSela-Ten families gathered at the local shul in Nofei HaSela to meet each other and develop joint programs. In addition, Esti Peretz, one of the original founders of the city, came and told the group some of the more interesting 
 
Beginners Ulpan to Continue-The beginners Hebrew Ulpan has received an extension by the Education Ministry and will be continuing twice a week for an additional 2 months. This year's beginners included English speakers, South Americans and Russians.

Pilot Tours-Many families came on pilot tours of the city over the last month an a half. It was my pleasure to spend time with Shayna-Rivka Rosenberg and Chaya and Avrumy Dickman  from New York, the Glowinsky family fromToronto, Emmanuel Kushner from England, Devorah Lieberman of North Carolina, and Stephen Sokolow from Hollywood, Florida.

Mazal Tovs

Mazal Tov to Nancy and Reuven Singer ( aliyah from Montreal 2009) on the engagement of their daughter, Atara !
Mazal Tov to Adam Shenker ( aliyah from London 2009) on his new job!
Mazal Tov to Valerie Emergui ( aliyah from Montreal 2009) on her new job!

For more information about aliyah to MA, e-mail Shelley Brinn at klita_ma@mam.org.il