MEMBERS – ESCA

Doreen, ob”m and Jeff Geffen

casdu — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 14:32:02 +0000

Between two children, four married grandchildren and four great-grandchildren it is no wonder that Doreen and Jeff are busier than ever they were when he was a practicing pharmacist and she a high school English teacher. Jeff (who is the cornerstone of the Ashdod Badminton Club lo! these many years) and Doreen play badminton together, volunteer at the Handicapped Soldiers’ Home together, and have been happily married together for 57 years. They help to sponsor newcomers to the Land as well as remain staunch friends to many old timers.
‏Originally from South Africa, they have carved a niche for themselves in Ashdod and are known to people from all walks of life. Jeff collects stamps and coins, while Doreen romps from one helpful project to another. We are proud to have these two estimable people in the ranks of our veteran members.

Since this writing Doreen has passed away.

Shalom and Tirza Levinsohn

casdu — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 14:30:32 +0000

Here are two people who have been ESCA supporters almost from the start. Shalom, a former kibbutznik comes from South Africa and Tirza, who met Shalom when she was a volunteer at the kibbutz comes from Holland. Together they have resided in Moshav Orot since their marriage in 1961. Shalom is best known for his gourmet cookery at passed Lag B’Omer feasts and Tirza simply lights up the room wherever she is. These days, in addition to their farming and growing pomegranates they travel and volunteer their time to help others and are a welcome addition to any club activity. They also devote time to their beloved children, many grandchildren and two dogs.

Miriam (Ages) Ben-Shalom

casdu — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 14:28:15 +0000

Miriam‘s direct connection with Israel began in 1955 in Ottawa, Canada where she met and married Zvi who had recently arrived from Israel.

1965, she worked for the Israel Government Tourist Office in Chicago, where her husband was cantor at Rodfei Shalom Or Chadash synagogue for many years. Miriam’s duties included writing articles about Israel, press releases and contacts with travel agents as well as arranging meetings for VIP’s visiting from Israel

Miriam and her husband arrived in Ashdod with their two daughters Rona and Ora, in July 1972. She was employed by the publication “Israel Magazine” in Tel Aviv until the family moved to Jerusalem. There she worked for the Ministry of Tourism as a Feature Writer. She was director of special events for the Jerusalem Region, organizing the annual international Concert of Choirs from Israel and abroad. Her final position before retiring was Deputy Director of Public Relations. The Jerusalem Post published many of her articles including a week-end spread on Ashdod. While a member of the Ministry of Tourism, she created the program “Musical Tours to Israel” whereby musical groups from abroad would visit Israel entirely at their own expense and perform free of charge. Under Miriam’s direction, the Ministry provided publicity and arranged meetings with Israeli personalities. Mayor Zvi Zilker met many of these groups as did the late Teddy Kollek. One group from the USA visited Ashdod and Chana arranged home hospitality for the participants

Upon her retirement from government service she returned to Ashdod and became active in ESCA. She was elected to take over the reins from Chana and oganized ESCA’s 10th Anniversary celebration. Due to ill health, Miriam was forced to return the honour of Chairlady of ESCA to Chana after a short period but she keeps in touch regularly from her home in Hadera, where her daughters and five grandchildren also live. Miriam says she will always remember and praise the members of ESCA for their support during her illness and wishes us all continued success in all our endeavors.

Susan and Paul Liebhaber

casdu — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 14:26:43 +0000

We present a fairly recent addition to our group, but a pair that have been movers and shakers from the moment they arrived.
Paul and Susan Liebhaber met in June 1980 in the Ulpan of Kibbutz Adamit. Their story sounds best when told in Susan’s own words:
We married in NJ and found our way to California. From 1982 – 2000 our home was a downtown San Francisco high-rise apartment. Paul worked as a substitute teacher, while he achieved a Chess Expert Rating, winning many tournament games. Susan studied and worked as an aerobics instructor and martial arts instructor, as well as other jobs, while earning her black belts in Tae Kwon Do and Tai Chi Chuan. During these years, Paul and Susan earned several college degrees. San Francisco was certainly fun!
Then after a few years in Florida, we saw a newspaper article on Nefesh B Nefesh, and we knew it was time to return to Israel to complete our lives. Making Aliyah to Ashdod was one of the best decisions of our lives, so far. We are looking forward to another wonderful Mediterranean summer with the wonderful people of Ashdod.

Betty, ob”m and Mike Shwartz

casdu — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 14:24:33 +0000

Holocaust survivor Mike Shwartz made his way to the shores of Israel to fight in the War of Independence. After being wounded in that war he went to the United States for rehabilitation and was reunited with his uncle in Paterson, New Jersey. In 1952 he met his future wife, Betty, a Bronx girl. Betty has always been an art enthusiast.
After marriage they headed west to Detroit, Michigan, where they lived for fifty years. They have two children, a son and daughter.
But the call of The Land brought them here. Now retired they take life easy and are beloved by our ESCA regulars. Despite occasional ill health they retain an important part of our hearts.
After fifty-four years of married bliss Mike and Betty feel certain that they can continue to make a go of it. According to Mike, “You don’t change horses in mid-stream.”

Since this writing Betty has passed away.

Sarah Levin

casdu — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 14:21:56 +0000

Chicago-born Sarah came to Israel in 1959. At Kibbutz Nahal-Oz she met and married husband Aharon Levin, with whom she has raised two daughters (and lately, grandson Itamar). After a brief return to the U.S. they settled in Ashdod where Sarah taught English for ten years, served on the City Council for a while, and then was elected Executive Director of Na’amat, which position she held for twelve years. At her “retirement” she took over the Council for the Elderly which, during thirteen years, she has built up and developed into a major institution for social services and assistance to the elderly.
This year she was given a national award in recognition of these 13 years of devoted volunteer work. In addition she was chosen as “Yekirat Ashdod” (for outstanding – no, extraordinary – contribution to the City).
As a long-time member and supporter of the Etz Haim Conservative Synagogue Sarah has rendered important services, and she is a valued veteran member of ESCA.

Ruth, ob”m and Avraham Schwadron

casdu — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 14:20:18 +0000

These two, Ruth and Avraham Schwadron, are among our most veteran members – true “chalutzim”. Ruth came to Israel in 1948 from Philadelphia, PA. after training for the hard life in the Israel of those days. Avraham also underwent preparations before leaving the Bronx, New York in 1949. Married since March, 1949, they raised their children in Kvutzat Hasollelim until moving to Ashdod in 1961.

Ruth and Avraham have given the meaning of “retirement” a new dimension. They are rarely to be found relaxing. Both can be found most mornings at a local swimming pool, doing laps and keeping fit. They volunteer for many programs in town and are a familiar fixture in the volunteer community. When they find time for themselves they enjoy traveling, studying new things and finding new challenges. We’re proud to have them in our group.

Since this writing Ruth passed away.

Rivka Tzidkony

casdu — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 14:18:24 +0000

Rivka Tzidkony arrived in Israel just a few years after the birth of the nation. She spent 9 years at Kibbutz Hasolelim in the Lower Galilee, and later had a front-row view of the 6-Day War from her flat in Kiryat Shmona. Life was hard but full of hope. In Ashdod since 1971, she built a long and successful career in teaching.
This amiable mother of three, proud grandmother of 5, now retired, can be seen almost any day taking a daily constitutional along the western-central part of town. She is a volunteer in various causes, attends many of the local cultural activities and is an enthusiastic participant in ESCA events.

Nehemiah Engberg

casdu — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 14:17:06 +0000

Nehemiah Engberg, native of San Diego, California, Nehemiah has been in Israel since 1984. An Orthodox rabbi, Nehemiah devotes much of his time to study and quiet assistance to others.
He is a welcome participant in many of our activities and in later years has provided prayers and background piano music for our annual Food Night.

Stan Kay

casdu — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 14:00:13 +0000

Stan Kay, a native of Pennsylvania, is an 11 year veteran in Ashdod. His rich teaching career included the founding of the first teacher’s union (AFT) in Coachella Valley, California. He also served on the boards of leading political and social active groups. As a journalist he contributed articles about Jewish life in America to numerous publications.
Stan is a former program chairman of ESCA and in this capacity he provided many innovative programs. He originated our “Chai” feature and was the first to publicize us in the Jerusalem Post.
He and his Persian-born wife Gila are parents to Philip, who is serving in the IDF (Golani).