December 31, 2009 / 14 Tevet 5770

Nearly 100 people celebrated Jewish cultures around the world at the Cultures of Israel Day at the Jewish Agency Raanana Absorption Center on December 29, 2009.

Young participants make clay pots at the Ethiopian table at the Cultures of Israel Day.

With each table representing a different world community, participants were able to make clay pots with immigrants from Ethiopian and paint paper babushkas with immigrants from Russia. They also tasted Turkish delights and fragrant rice dishes from Iran. Other countries represented included India, various countries in South America, South Africa, Belgium, and France.

Elanith Waskar, from Mumbai, India, shares her story with the crowd at Cultures of Israel Day.

Elanith Waskar, from Mumbai, India, shared her story with the crowd. She, her husband, Yigal and their two children made Aliyah earlier this year, shaken by the terrorist attack on the Chabad Center and determined to give their children a better Jewish life and Jewish future. "We saw signs that read, 'Kill a Jew and go to heaven' on our way to synagogue and knew we had to leave," she said.

"I was moved to tears by Elanith's story," said Susan Alcott from Larchmont, New York, who attended the Cultural Day with her husband, Mark, and their granddaughters, Sasha, Julie and Rachel.  "We are so thrilled we were able to be here today with our granddaughters."

Special Ethiopian music was performed by a band from the Mervasseret Zion Absorption Center. The crowd was also treated to modern and dance performances by the MASA Dance Journey.

"We loved this experience!" said Carole Schlessinger of Sydney, Australia, who attended Cultural Day with her husband, David.