People to People

Like many Jewish communities across the world, the East Bay Jewish community has developed a strong people to people relationship with a region in Israel. The Jewish Community Federation of the Greater East Bay’s Israel and Overseas Committee works year round to develop support for the new immigrants and young people in our sister region in Israel; Kiryat Malachi and Hof Ashkelon.

The small city of Kiryat Malachi is located several miles southeast of Ashdod, one of Israel’s two main port cities. The town was founded in 1951 to replace a “tent city” that housed refugees from Arab countries. Kiryat Malachi, which means “Angel’s Town,” has absorbed more than 2,000 immigrants in the past decade--including many from Ethiopia and the former Soviet Union--bringing its total current population to 20,100.

Hof Ashkelon is located on the coast (hof in Hebrew) of the Mediterranean Sea just next to Kiryat Malachi. It is the home of many kibbutzim and moshavim, and is Israel’s major honey exporter.

Over the years, our Federation has sponsored exchange programs with our partnership region and supports projects that provide leadership development for the region’s youth. If you would like to join us in this hands-across-the-world effort, contact riva@jfed.org or call her at 510.839.2900 x253.

Thank you for your interest in people to people. By living generously you will have done a world of good!

To learn more about the Kiryat Malachi-Hof Ashkelon partnership with the Jewish Community Federation of the Greater East Bay, go to http://www.partner.org.il/malachi/.