After 13 days of our UJC Mission to Israel we finally came to Arad.

We visited with the two families the Marlboro Jewish Center adopted. We interviewed youngsters who will be spending time in Marlboro this summer. Best of all, we renewed our personal relationship and fell in love again with Israel!

Arad/Tamar are the Partnership 2000 communities of the New Jersey-Delaware Jewish Federations. It is a City of 28,000 people. As you approach the City, you see tall modern structures on the horizon. As you look to the right and left you do a quick leap back in time. Camels are in the fields and Bedouins are busy tending their sheep. You actually look for Abraham sitting in front of his tent greeting guests.

Iris and I were given a twelve hour tour of Arad. We visited the Democratic School, which is an educational facility run by the students attending the school. It is the school's philosophy that children know what they want to learn and will be self motivated to study. The formal educational structure is stifling. What I thought was particularly interesting was that children decide which teachers contribute to the system and which teachers should leave. There is no tenure in the system. We also visited various facilities for the aged. We had the opportunity to see a school for emotionally and physically handicapped children. We visited the Conservative Synagogue and the local Market Place. The fruit and vegetables are unbelievable. We ended the day with the best Chinese food I have eaten in years. Remember all of this is in a Community of only 28,000 inhabitants.

Arad is also the home of Michal and Koby. We spent two hours visiting with Michal and Koby and their families. We fell totally in love with them. Michal and Koby have been adopted by the Marlboro Jewish Center. Michal is 19 and Koby is 21. Koby had just finished two years of study to become an engineer and was preparing to enter the Army. Michal was already in the Army. Both were on a bus in Tel Aviv when a Palestinian attempted to enter the bus. He was stopped by the driver but not before he detonated an explosive charge which killed him and many passengers on the bus and severely injured Koby and Michal. Koby's arm was mangled and shrapnel damaged Michal's retina. All of their dreams have been put on hold.

The Marlboro Jewish Center, Temple Rodeph Torah, Freehold Jewish Center and the Federation of Greater Monmouth County have funded the airfare for nine children from Arad to spend time with families in Monmouth County New Jersey this summer. They are tentatively scheduled to arrive on July 1 and stay for fifteen days. Michal and Koby will be acting as chaperones. We look forward to personally meeting our adopted families. Michal and Koby wish to speak about their experience. We will be announcing the time and date when the Community can personally greet them and hear their story. In addition, I would like them examined by doctors here in the United States. If doctors reading this article can volunteer a few hours to set up an appointment to examine these two wonderful people, please e-mail me at mwallack@earthlink.net . In addition, as of today, we are still in need of host families for the children. If you want to have an unforgettable experience and do a Mitzvah by hosting these children, please contact me immediately.

In conclusion, on behalf of the Federation of Greater Monmouth County I invite everyone to go on a Mission in November to Israel. Do not make a mistake and put off this visit. Nothing is more important right now then showing support for our homeland. This Mission will be tied in with the 2003 General Assembly, which is being held in Israel. The General Assembly is the annual gathering of the movers and shakers in the Jewish World who come together to network, learn and shape the Jewish calendar for the coming year. Participants on this Mission might be eligible for a subsidy of $1,000. It is an opportunity to not only see Israel but to meet and study with some of the great Jewish scholars of today. Do not say you are too busy or now is not the time. Sign up as soon as you see the announcement.

See you in Jerusalem.

Martin Wallack
Chair, Israel and World Jewish Affairs
Marlboro Jewish Center

Sivan 5763 - June 2003