April 7, 2010 / 23 Nissan 5770

Partnership 2000, the Jewish Agency and the Ofakim Community Center joined forces in a fundraiser for the Isha (women's) Club in Ofakim.  The fundraiser was an energetic march in which 70 women participated, including women from Okafim’s Partnership 2000 twin city MetroWest, New Jersey whose generosity led to the rebuilding and renovation of the club.

Mayor Tzvika Greenwald greetings “jumpstarted” the march that began at the Isha Club and ended at the Ofakim Community Center, where the women flexed their muscles in a brief aerobic workout led by Ilana, the Community Center’s athletic coordinator. The event ended with a presentation by Alona Shechter on the topic of awareness and beauty.

Every woman who took part in the march received a fleece scarf bearing the club’s logo, “Shevet Nashim Gam Yahad,” which was distributed on behalf of Partnership 2000.

The club, which is scheduled to open at the end of May, will include a “warm home” for young women at risk, as well as activities and assemblies for all women’s groups in the city.  Participants in the event included representatives of women’s groups in Ofakim; representatives of the Education Department; Education Department head Mr. Avi Bitan; municipality director Mrs. Miri Vaknin; principals, staff members and parents of the city’s elementary schools; staff members of the Jewish Agency’s Youth Futures program; representatives of the National Service in Ofakim; representatives from the Rashi Fund; women from throughout the city of Ofakim; and representatives from the communities of the MetroWest region of New Jersey, whose generous donation enabled the renovation of the club’s facility.

A debt of gratitude is owed to the Ofakim Community Center, representatives of the MetroWest community, the Rashi Fund, Mayor Tzvika Greenwald, and all the women who came and showed their support and solidarity.