By Simon Griver

Lori and Joel Abramson always knew that they would one day return to Yokneam. The California couple has always considered the northern Israeli city their “second home” after working there as volunteers more than 20 years ago. Now the Abramsons are finally in Yokneam on a permanent basis after making aliyah in August with their children Molly, 13 and Benjamin, 9.
 
“The people here have a warmth and vibrancy which we found very special,” explained Lori. “We have retained close friendships with people in Yokneam over the years and always dreamed of returning here to live.”

The Abramsons were clearly enchanted by the generous hospitality of the residents and scenic landscapes of the Yokneam-Megiddo region – attributes, which have been at the heart of the success of the Jewish Agency’s Partnership 2000 Program (P2K), which has twinned Yokneam-Megiddo with the Jewish communities of Atlanta, Georgia and St. Louis, Missouri for more than a decade.

In fact the Abramsons officially became P2K volunteers in October when they hosted two St. Louis students studying in Israel for a Shabbaton encounter in Yokneam. “I hope this will be the beginning of an ongoing involvement,” explained Lori. “As a Jewish educator in the U.S. I heard a lot of good things about Partnership 2000 and the important role it fulfills in bringing American Jewry and Israelis together.”

The Abramsons will be sorely missed in San Jose in the Bay Area in California where Lori, 47, was Head of School for the Yavneh Day School in Los Gatos and Joel, 53, was guitarist in the Joel Abramson Orchestra. Despite relocating to the other side of the world, Joel will continue to manage his music business long distance.

“I send out various orchestras and DJs,” he explained. “I guess you’d say I’m a music agent and producer. At the moment I get phone calls and e-mails with requests for bookings and people have no idea that I’m so far away. During high seasons I’ll be commuting back to California to make personal appearances with my band.”

The Abramsons are delighted at how easily their children have settled in Yokneam. “The schools are great and very attentive to our children’s special needs as new immigrants and Molly and Benjamin have had no problems in making friends,” Lori explained. “They’re also enjoying the freedom of moving about much more independently than they could in the U.S.”

Lori and Joel have very fond memories of the six months they spent in Yokneam on Sherut La'am (a volunteer program run by the Jewish Agency) back in 1988 when they were attached to a local community center. At that time Lori used to sing along with Joel and she remembers they played for both former Prime Ministers Yitzhak Shamir and Shimon Peres when they visited Yokneam Megiddo.

“The city has changed so much,” reflects Joel. “It has grown and developed in a very positive way. But one thing that remains positive is the warmth of the people.”

Lori and Joel themselves are in an advanced Hebrew ulpan, improving their Hebrew. Joel hopes to extend his music business to Israel where there is a flourishing potential market for bands and DJs. In particular he would like to tap into the large number of American Jews arranging bar/batmitzvahs and other celebrations in Israel.

“Three months after our aliyah things are going very well,” says Lori. “We’re settled here in Yokneam and we’re very happy. It’s great to be living alongside all our old friends who have been very supportive.”

For so many years the Abramsons considered Yokneam their second home. Now it is most definitely their first home.