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 Hanukah Newsletter Leo Baeck Education Center, December 2015
 
Ein Ha-Yam Trail Project Wins Israel Rotary’s Tolerance Award
K:\סובב עין הים - תמונות\P1130646.JPGAt the 21st annual Israel Rotary Convention on Interfaith Tolerance in Haifa on December 18, 2015, Leo Baeck’s Ein Ha-Yam Trail Project was awarded Israel Rotary’s Tolerance Prize. Participants were given a tour of the Ein Ha-Yam Trail, its attractions and surrounding neighborhood, and entertained by Leo Baeck’s “Peace Drums” musicians (see item below in the Celebrating Pluralism section).
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité: Senior High School Solidarity Demonstration on Behalf of the French People
P1190366Horrified and shocked by the terrorist attacks in Paris on Friday, November 13th, Leo Baeck high school students and teachers gathered on Sunday, November 15, 2015, to demonstrate their solidarity with the French people and to express their sorrow in the wake of the tragic loss of over 100 lives.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Minister of Education Naftali Bennett Visits the Leo Baeck YEDA School in Kiryat Bialik
Bennett at KB 1Mr. Naftali Bennett, Israel’s Minister of Education, visited the YEDA-Leo Baeck Kiryat Bialik School on October 22, 2015. Joining Mr. Bennett was the Mayor of Kiryat Bialik, the municipality’s Superintendent of Schools, and the Haifa District Director of Education, among others.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Educator Ambassadors from the U.S. Inspire Haifa Teachers
U.S. Teacher of the Year Shanna Peeples at Leo Baeck
07-Shanna Peeples @ Leo Baeck (Group Photo) 8-31-15On August 31, 2015, The U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv provided Leo Baeck’s principals and teachers with a rare treat- a visit from the 2015 USA National Teacher of the Year, Shanna Peeples.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Leo Baeck Hosts Erin Gruwell, Innovative U.S. Teacher and Professional Developer
P:\יחסי חוץ\ביקור שגרירות 01.12.2015\IMG_9034.JPGOn December 1, 2015, Haifa educators enjoyed a previewing of a documentary film about the Freedom Writer Project followed by an inspiring presentation by Erin Gruwell, the innovative U.S. teacher on whose experiences the film was based.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Conference Calls
Leo Baeck Teacher Ruth Almog Participates in “Solidarity and Diversity” Conference in Mannheim, Germany
Ruth Almog addressing Mannheim Conference (2nd at right)Ruth Almog, an English teacher in the Leo Baeck Junior and High Schools, was invited to participate in a conference in Mannheim, Germany, on the theme “Solidarity and Diversity- a Challenge for the City?” that took place on October 9, 2015.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Leo Baeck’s Community Center Presented as National Model at URJ Federation of New York Seminar
IMG_8944On November 5, 2015, fifty members of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) Federation of New York participated in a seminar organized by the Leo Baeck Community Center, the Israel Association of Community Centers (IACC), and Shdemot- the Center for Community Leadership - Oranim College, hosted at the Leo Baeck Education Center in Haifa.
 
 
 
 
 
Celebrating Pluralism
Holiday of Holidays: Multi-Cultural Celebration of Jews, Christians and Moslems
http://www.haifa-israel.info/sitebuilder/images/timbre_hag_ha_hagim-354x465.jpgAs part of the Holiday of Holidays Festival in the month of December, the Leo Baeck Community Center has organized a multitude of events for adults and children. The Clore Center will host Jewish and Arab women to share holiday customs and stories, a meeting of residents and religious leaders to discuss common values, and tours of the Ein Ha-Yam Trail for senior citizens and for families. At the Community Center, a sports tournament will take place for parents and children in grades 4-6, and Jewish and Arab families with children aged 2-8 from Beit Ligdol Tov, Beit El, Sauwa Center, the Sports Center and Leo Baeck Preschools will  celebrate together at the Leo Baeck campus in creative craft and music activities and candle-lighting.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ethiopian Sigd Festival in Haifa
20151112_180542During November 2015, the Leo Baeck Community Center celebrated the annual Sigd holiday with the Ethiopian community living in west Haifa neighborhoods in two colorful and festive events that included personal stories movingly shared and voiced at this special opportunity.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Peace Drums Connect Jewish and Arab Students
Peace-Drums3A joint steel drum band of Jewish students from Leo Baeck’s Junior High School and Muslim and Christian students from Mar Elias High School in Ibillin (in the Galilee) will soon embark on a performance tour in churches, community centers and Jewish communities in the United States. The band was formed through the initiative of Harvey Pierce, an American Jewish musician who chairs an interfaith peace organization in Philadelphia. Mr. Pierce donated 24 Caribbean steel drums to the band, called by him “peace drums”.
 
Our Visitors
C:\Users\Administrator\Desktop\Neil Janes.jpgRabbi Neil Janes, Chair of the British Friends of Leo Baeck Haifa, and Rabbi of West London Synagogue visited on October 25th, and received an update from staff on Center programs and activities.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
C:\Users\Administrator\Desktop\Smilgs\IMG_20151011_114613.jpgJoseph and Jeremy Smilg of the UK and Edna Fast, Joseph’s niece from Tel Aviv, supporters of Leo Baeck, visited on October 11th. They met Elementary School students and saw them enjoying a table football game donated by Joseph Smilg. As Joseph said: “I think it is important that children be happy and enjoy coming to school so that they can thrive.”
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Jane and Gordon Greenfield from London’s Southgate Progressive Synagogue, supporters of Leo Baeck, visited on October 12th.
 
C:\Users\Administrator\Desktop\AYS\IMG_20151027_121413.jpgAlyth Youth Singers choir from London’s Alyth Synagogue met Leo Baeck students and delighted them with a performance at the Center on October 25th.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
To find out more about our projects and activities in the Leo Baeck Education Center and how you can support, please contact us on +972-4-8300571 or at dia@leobaeck.org.il
Visit our website: leobaeckhaifa.org
 
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