Our TIPS Partnership with Israel

For more than twelve years, the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle has had an important partnership with two communities in southern Israel, Kiryat Malachi and Hof Ashkelon.

We work as part of the TIPS (Tucson, Israel, Phoenix and Seattle) Partnership to bring volunteers together from these Jewish communities with the people of Kiryat Malachi and Hof Ashkelon to help develop and support one of Israel’s most economically challenged regions. Learn more about the specific projects we support.  TIPS is one of more than 46 partnerships developed by the Jewish Agency For Israel to help world Jewish communities connect to Israelis as partners working together and not in the traditional donor-recipient model.

Stay Connected

You can stay connected to news and programs related to Kiryat Malachi and Hof Ashkelon by viewing our TIPS blog http://tips-kmha.blogspot.com.

Volunteer

There are many ways to become part of this special connection:

  • Host a visiting Israeli, for several weeks during the summer or several days during the school year
  • Join the local TIPS committee, or
  • Spend time volunteering in Kiryat Malachi

For more information on volunteering in Israel or locally with TIPS, contact us at Volunteer [at] JewishInSeattle [dot] org

About Kiryat Malachi

Kiryat Malachi is centrally located between Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Beersheva. It was set up in 1951 by the Israeli government with new immigrants from countries including Romania, Iraq, and Morocco, to supply labor to the surrounding farms. Approximately 22,000 residents live in the town, with more than 25% having immigrated from Ethiopia. The percentage of children living in families that receive supplementary income or welfare services is more than twice the national average. Though economically challenged, the town has a wonderful mix of cultures and very friendly caring people.

About Hof Ashkelon

Hof Ashkelon is a region of 20 rural communities, 19 moshavim and kibbutzim plus one “temporary” town of émigrés from the Gaza Strip. It is located from just north of the Gaza Strip north until Ashdod, with 13,000 people in the area. The difficult security situation and economic depression in the region have had a major impact. After the summer 2006 war in the north between Israel and Hezbollah and the unilateral pullout of Israel from Gaza, missiles from Gaza into Hof Ashkelon had been a daily occurrence. After the Gaza Action in January of 2009, the rocket attacks have decreased dramatically, but more rockets have been stockpiled in Gaza. The people there are upbeat and will not leave because Hof Ashkelon is their home, and a beautiful area it is.

To learn more about the two areas in Israel, the TIPS partnership, and to read about what volunteers have done, please check out the TIPS blog at http://www.tips-kmha.blogspot.com

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