ESRA Magazine
ESRAmagazine
ESRAmagazine categories

A Moment to Cherish

Mayor of Sderot Alon Davidi (right) invited Adele Rubin to his bureau to congratulate her on her award. With Adele is husband Mike and Sderot Deputy Mayor Elad Kalimi. Photo: City of Sderot

On December 19, 2017, I was one of 60 recipients from five areas all over Israel representing municipalities to be honored for our contribution as old time immigrants to the community (I was the representative from Sderot). Can you imagine receiving an award in front of an audience of over 1000 at Binyanei Hauma in Jerusalem?

I am proud to have been among a wonderful group of people such as Shlomo Hillel (see article in ESRA magazine #192). The recipient from Arad was also an Anglo - Al Tannenbaum - who contributes to the youth of his town through sport,especially tennis. He inculcates values of fairness and develops their potential.

The award was under the auspices of the Ministry of Education,with emphasis on immigrants from the Middle East and North Africa who have succeeded in Israel. They made great contributions in spite of the hardships suffered by many of them.

The Israel Prize Winner for poetry, Erez Biton, who established the Biton Committee to spread the legacy of Sephardic and Mizrachi Jews,spoke on behalf of all the award winners. 

Adele Rubin with family and bouquets of flowers after the awards ceremony held in Jerusalem

 There were several reasons I was happy to be chosen, surprising as it was. My family everywhere enjoyed the ceremony or at least the video, especially my grandchildren. Also, I was pleased that as it was about my activities in Sderot, in the booklet of recipients ESRA received national exposure,as: "An English Speaking Organization volunteering together for the community". ESRA is given due credit for the Sewing Center and the authentic embroidery project in the Ethiopian community. Mezach, the Civil Rights program in Sderot, under the auspices of Sapir College where I volunteer, was also mentioned. And there was an article in the weekly local magazine featuring a photo of my husband Mike and myself with the Mayor.

I received more than I gave as an immigrant from an English speaking country. I felt I became an Israeli when I helped immigrants from other countries and cultures.

I want to thank Yigael Bracha, head of Netivim, who recommended me, and all those who came to Jerusalem to give me support.

 

Comments

No comments made yet. Be the first to submit a comment
Guest
Friday, 29 March 2024

Captcha Image

Israel

MagazineIsrael- 2019-homepage
There are pockets of coexistence
which kindle hope.
Old cities and very new cities with amazing stories
Find out about the Israeli art scene
The best tours in Israel with ESRA members