WIZOReview Spring 2007 l No. 315 l www.wizo.org USA $3.50 NIS 14 WIZO in the Heart of JERUSALEM Ksenya’s Story Hadassim gives a lifeline Anne Argi WIZO Switzerland’s new president Solidarity Impressions from the Meeting of Representatives ISRAEL60 WIZ Investing in People for Israel's Future Save The Date! JANUARY 13 – 17, 2008 THE 24TH WORLD WIZO CONFERENCE (EGM) JANUARY 13 – 17, 2008 ISRAEL, HILTON TEL AVIV COME AND BE A LINK IN THE IRON-CLAD WIZO CHAIN COME AND MEET HUNDREDS OF WIZO MEMBERS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD COME AND TAKE PART IN THE IMPORTANT DECISION-MAKING PROCESS COME AND WITNESS SIGNIFICANT EVENTS IN ISRAEL’S HISTORY COME AND EXPERIENCE WHAT WIZO DOES COME AND INVEST IN ISRAEL’S FUTURE LECTURES, PANELS, DISCUSSIONS, MEETINGS WITH ISRAEL’S LEADERS, TOURS AND MOVING SPECIAL EVENTS. EXCLUSIVE EVENTS FOR AVIV PARTICIPANTS FOR MORE DETAILS, VISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW.WIZO.ORG OR CONTACT YOUR HEAD OFFICE Rebeca Sieff WIZO Center, Corner 38 David Hamelech Blvd. & Rebeca Sieff St., Tel-Aviv Tel: 03-6923805 Fax: 03-6923801 WIZOReview Internet: www.wizo.org Spring 2007 l N o . 3 1 5 l www.wizo.org E-mail: [email protected] Annual Subscription: U.S.$ 12.50, NIS 50. Single Copy: U.S.$ 3.50, NIS 14 7 15 20 Cover: A child in a WIZO day care center dreams about her Jerusalem 12 Contents 04 President’s Desk 20 “WIZO Bombarded us with 05 Chairperson’s Column Katyushas of Love:” Meeting of Representatives 2007 06 From the Managing Editor 24 WIZO Lapid International 07 Jerusalem the Golden Seminar 2007 12 Ksenya Finds a Home in 25 The View from Kiryat Shmona Hadassim 26 Aviv Now 15 A Special Swiss Story: Interview with Anne Argi 27 WIZO in Israel 18 WIZO in the News 30 WIZO Around the World Editorial Board: Zipi Amiri, Tova Ben-Dov, Idit Ben-Horin, Helena Glaser, Hannah סטודיו אורנה כהן Oren, Anita Jamitovsky-Rooz, Sylvie Pelossof, Cliff Savren, Elad Schneur, Studio Orna Cohen Tricia Schwitzer, Briana Simon, Iris Zohar-Pinhassi / Managing Editor: Ingrid Rockberger / Editor: Hillel Schenker / Graphic Designer: Studio Orna Cohen / www.ornaco.co.il Photos: Israel Sun SPRING 2007 | WIZO REVIEW | 3 President’s Desk This edition of WIZO Review definitely symbolize the constant bond and commitment of will reach you just before or the People of Israel to God and to Eretz Israel. just after Israel marks the 40th But my column would not be complete if I did not mention Anniversary of the Six Day War, that the 40th Anniversary of Jerusalem’s reunification and one of the moments the Jewish Israel’s 60th or Diamond Anniversary coincide with two very people will remember and important events for us – World WIZO’s 88th Anniversary, cherish forever. and the 24th World WIZO EGM whose motto is “Investing On the third day of the war, in People for Israel’s Future” that will take place between June 7, 1967, the paratroopers January 13-17, 2008. began an attack on the Augusta The EGM is a celebration of our work and a tribute to Victoria hills and the Mount of all WIZO chaverot, a festival of WIZO sisterhood and Olives, overlooking the Old togetherness, and a demonstration of WIZO strength and City of Jerusalem. After firing in unity. I know that many Federations are preparing to come the direction of the Lions Gate, one of the 12 gates in the with large delegations to take part, and I expect as many wall, the force from the East advanced forward very quickly WIZO chaverot as possible to participate in this major and broke through into the Old City. The paratroopers ran WIZO event. towards the Dome of the Rock, located next to the last The EGM program, that includes issues featuring on the remains of the Temple, the Western Wall, where, in the WIZO and the World Jewish agendas, visits to WIZO presence of the area commander and the deputy head of projects, meetings with dignitaries and cultural activities, is the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), General Shlomo Goren, a true WIZO Odyssey Week or in short a WOW. the chief rabbi of the IDF, blew a long blast on the shofar, Don’t be left out, I am looking forward to welcoming each the ram's horn, announcing the liberation of the Western and every one of you. Wall and the Old City of Jerusalem. Jerusalem, the divided capital of Israel, was reunited. Jerusalem Day is marked on the 28th day in the Jewish month of Iyyar, the day all of Jerusalem was returned to the People of Israel. Celebrations to mark the 40th anniversary of Jerusalem’s reunification will take place for a year throughout 2007 and 2008. This year Israel celebrated its 59th Independence Day after 2000 years of exile, and began preparing for next year's celebrations. Sixtieth wedding anniversaries are usually associated with diamonds, because many believe that the fire in the diamond symbolizes the constant flame of love. Therefore, Israel’s 60th or Diamond Anniversary can Visit our website: www.wizo.org WORLD WIZO EXECUTIVE Helena Glaser, President Sylvie Pelossof, Atara Ilani, Chairperson, Deputies: World WIZO Chairperson, Organization & Parents' Home Janine Gelley, Deputy Raya Jaglom, Honorary Life Education Department Brenda Katten, Chairperson, Chairperson, Tourist Department President World WIZO Ruth Rubinstein, Public Affairs & NGO Orna Keren, Deputy Michal Modai, Honorary Life Chairperson Formal & Informal Department Chairperson, Formal & Informal President, World WIZO Education Department Lily Peyser, Chairperson, Education Department Tova Ben-Dov, Chairperson Tourism Department Saya Malkin, Head, Special World WIZO Executive Ruth Tamir, Chairperson, Projects, Tourist Department Miri Perlis, Treasurer, Dina Bar, Chairperson, Early Building, Maintenance & Esther Mor, Deputy Yochy Feller, Chairperson, Age Care & Education Division Purchasing Division Chairperson, Fundraising WIZO Israel Zipi Amiri, Chairperson, Department Ora Baharaff, Chairperson, Publicity & Information Nurit Pollack, Deputy Human Resources Division Department, WIZO Review Chairperson, Building, Celia Michonik, Chairperson, Elizabeth Einhorn, Maintenance & Purchasing Fundraising Department Chairperson, Beit Heuss Division 4 | WIZO REVIEW | SPRING 2007 Chairperson’s Column Winter is turning into summer, You will be proud to know that the WIZO Addisia Project has and our WIZO work is in full been awarded a prize by the Mayor of Afula for its contribution swing. At the center of our efforts to society. This project provides work for Ethiopian women is the belief in the importance who embroider beautiful articles using skills that were of strengthening the society handed down from generation to generation. And last, but of Israel and in particular, the not least, we are now beginning the countdown towards the women. Enlarged General Meeting, our EGM, which is to be held in We are continually receiving January 2008.. I know that you are already talking about the excellent feedback on the sizes of your delegations and I look forward to yet another courses that we have operated great EGM when we all come together, feeling our strength in the North on how to deal with and pride in numbers. post-war trauma. The WIZO The country is blooming and with it also the tourist industry. I day care center staffs are invite you to come and join us, to visit Israel, and particularly empowered to deal with any and every situation. We pray the Galilee which suffered so much last summer, to breathe that they will not be put to the test! the wonderful air and enjoy the unique experience that is We are doing our utmost to utilize to the full the precious Israel. In doing so you will be giving your support to the WIZO dollars that you send us. Unfortunately the strength People of Israel. of the Israeli shekel as opposed to the dollar has created As this magazine goes to press we will be celebrating problems, and we are unable to fulfill our commitments due the 40th anniversary of the Reunification of Jerusalem. to the decreased exchange rate. This is a deep cause of Jerusalem represents all our prayers and hopes for the concern to all of us. A detailed letter has been sent out to all future of our people so let us rejoice in its unity. our WIZO Federations, and I know that you will support our The State of Israel is currently dealing with the serious requests for covering the deficit. questions raised by the post-war Winograd Committee, a Even as the summer landscape turns Israel into shades reflection of the vibrancy of Israeli democracy. Our strength of yellow and brown, in WIZO we continue with our ‘WIZO as a people is that we are not afraid to put such questions Goes Green’ campaign, renovating and refurbishing our day on the table, and I am convinced that we can only be care centers, schools etc., with an emphasis on improving strengthened by this. We at WIZO know that our movement safety measures and environmental standards. remains an oasis of transparency and good governance, We are continuing to develop our infrastructure. Among 28 something that we can all be proud of. projects currently under way, the WIZO Youth Club building in the Palmachim Air Force Base is nearing completion, as is the new cafeteria in the WIZO Hadassah Canada Youth Village, Nahalal. In the WIZO Sherman Center for Girls at High Risk in Beersheba the new second floor has already been completed. BY VIRTUE OF THEIR OFFICE AS PRESIDENTS OR CHAIRPERSONS OF FEDERATION Argentina Clara Gersberg Dom. Republic Helen Kopel Israel Yochy Feller Lilliana Lemor Australia Jo Gostin Ecuador Ruthie Horvath Italy Ziva Fischer Portugal Dr. Elizabeth Austria Dr. Hava Bugajer Estonia Revekka Jamaica Jennifer Kahn Belgium & Blumberg (McAdam) Lin Singapore S.