Eleanor Rubin, cochair of the Ness Grants Committee, meets with Israeli President Shimon Peres during a Central federation mission.
January 24, 2008
Israeli President Shimon Peres thanked the Jewish Federation of Central New Jersey last week for its efforts to help revitalize Arad, its sister city through the Jewish Agency’s Partnership 2000 program.
A delegation from Central New Jersey met with Peres Jan. 16 at his official residence in Jerusalem in an effort to increase cooperation between his office and the federation.
The federation funds various efforts to spur economic development and improve the quality of life in Arad and the entire Negev region.
Peres, who has made developing the Negev one of the cornerstones of his presidency, said he was impressed by what the Jews of Central New Jersey were doing to improve the region and asked that the federation maintain its commitment. “Some people think that politics is more sexy, but it’s what you are doing that really matters,” Peres told the delegation. “We need a special effort to save Arad. It was once beautiful. It’s an important project to make it more attractive to people again. Please do whatever you can to save Arad.”
The group included federation executive director Stanley Stone, assistant director of financial resources Jessica Mehlman, Jewish Community Relations Council cochair Gordon Haas, and former federation presidents Eleanor Rubin and Gerald and Marilyn Flanzbaum of Warren.
The delegation took advantage of the meeting with Peres to deliver an invitation from Gov. Jon Corzine to visit New Jersey and attend a special State Assembly meeting that will be convened in honor of Israel’s 60th anniversary. They presented Peres with a book chronicling the history of the Jews of New Jersey and described the success of the federation’s ongoing partnership with Arad.
Rubin told Peres the story of Mack Ness, the reclusive Watchung farmer who unexpectedly left a fortune to the federation in 2004. She described the success of the Mack Ness Loan Fund, which has already helped 82 businesses in the Negev.
Mehlman and Haas spoke to the president about the vigor, the commitment, and the “Zionist spirit” that they saw in the people of the Negev.
“There is a strong burning flame of Zionism in the young people down there,” Haas said. “There are those who say that Zionism is declining among young people, but after seeing the young people in the Negev, I know that can’t be true. They are a breath of fresh air.”
Stone said he appreciated the vote of confidence the group received from the president. He said that Peres’ endorsement was a helpful step in advancing the federation’s efforts.
“While the role of the president is largely ceremonial, he is also the conscience of the country,” Stone said. “We certainly walked away feeling confident that he feels passionately about the Negev. Lending his name and voice will spur our activity, provide positive reinforcement, and help us bring in more philanthropists.”
The main reason for the Jan. 12-16 trip was to allow Stone and the rest of the delegation — who make up the Ness Grants Committee — to monitor the progress of the loan fund and three new Negev projects launched by the federation in June with funding from Ness’ estate.
The Central federation group was scheduled to visit businesses that have received loans from the Ness fund in the beleaguered Israeli town of Sderot, but the trip was canceled due to a barrage of rocket attacks. Some 25 rockets fell on the town by 10 on the morning the group was set to visit.
“We regret not being able to go to Sderot, but the army thought it wasn’t in anyone’s best interests to be going there,” Stone said. “We have been in touch with the businesses there that have received loans from us. They are concerned for their workers’ safety, and they are struggling to keep up with their orders, especially when workers don’t come.”
To advance the loan fund, the delegation met with representatives of the David Mirage Foundation and the Israel Venture Network. The Mirage Foundation will cooperate with the federation in a revitalization project in Beersheva.
The IVN is a philanthropy network of high-tech entrepreneurs, business executives, venture capitalists, corporations, and philanthropists in the United States and Israel.
Stone said the IVN could provide mentoring services for businesses in the Negev that are already operational and have received assistance from the Ness fund. He said the IVN could also work with coaches employed by the fund to help them develop better business plans.
The first new project involves revitalizing the Old City of Beersheva, a neighborhood in the Negev’s largest city. In the last six months, project organizers have received matching funds from other sources and made a thorough plan and timetable. The delegation met with a group of students who have taken residence in the Old City as part of the program and heard from them about their ideas for establishing businesses.
Peres peruses a book on Jewish New Jersey, presented by the Central delegation.
The second effort consists of developing a stronger entrepreneurial cadre in Arad by convincing young professionals to remain in the area, instead of moving to more affluent and centrally located areas. The people involved in the project have created databases of local jobs, of young people approaching employment age, and of cultural and social activities in the area.
The final project, called Be’atzmi (Hebrew for “by myself”), aims to assist unemployed problem teens in Arad. The project includes a five-week boot camp to build up self-esteem and reinforce the importance of coming to work on time. Israel’s Social Affairs Ministry will provide information on companies with entry level jobs that have room for advancement.
“The goal of Be’atzmi is to give its participants a sense of hope and help them leave poverty and build a life for themselves,” Stone said. “All three of the projects are beginning to get their act together, to show results, and to meet our expectations.”