By Judy Yuda, Partnership Director

The grand opening of the "City Dance" – Yokneam Multi-Culture Youth Center was a very emotional event. Among the guests were representatives of the Jewish Federations of St. Louis and Atlanta, Rabbi Yehiel Eckstein Chair of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews , Representatives from the Israel Community Center Association, Sacta Rashi Foundation Rep's, Members of the Yokneam City council and of course, many, many young teenagers.

The artistic portion of the evening included dance performances by the "Tedessa" Ethiopian dance troupe, young singers from Yokneam and the City's own youth orchestra. These performing groups are supported by funds from the Jewish Federations of St. Louis and Atlanta.  The entire ceremony was produced and directed by the teens themselves, many of whom also performed during the course of the evening.

The Mayor of Yokneam, Simon Alfasi, was very touched by this wonderful event, and announced: "This building is no standard clubhouse. I can promise you all that creative thinking and initiative for the entire community will come from here! It is here the program for involvement, democracy and giving will be forged! And exemplary citizenship will also grow and develop from within this facility!"

Mayor Alfassi mentioned several times in his speech how the Jewish Federations of Atlanta and St. Louis have been involved in the planning and implementation process of the center and its activities throughout the years.  The initial funding for the Multi Culture Youth Center was approved through JAFI Partnership 2000 budgets at a joint steering committee meeting that was held in June, 2003.  The Tedessa Ethiopian Dance troupe is part of the outreach program to the Ethiopian Community of Yokneam.

The Federations continue to support youth activities in Yokneam through programming relating to the "Outcomes Process" taken on by all partners two years ago.  Some of these programs supported by the Federations in addition to the Yokneam Multi-culture Youth Center include Beit Rimon Youth Center for Ethiopian Immigrants, Achari, Scholastic Reinforcement, and more.

Choking with emotion, The President of the Friendship Fund, Rabbi Yehiel Eckstein, related how as a child he had always dreamed of coming to Israel and help build and be built by her. "I see my daughter in the audience, so Thank G-d I was privileged to see my dream come true," he said. "I am so excited and moved today. I see a Mayor who cares about his youth and whose priorities are straight and in the right place. The only blessing I can give you is that you all continue to be blessed right here in Yokneam!" Visibly moved, he announced that he would be donating another $100,000 to help cover costs of operations and programming in the new center.

The Director of the Youth Advancement Branch of the Ministry of Education, Mr. Yossi Ki-Tov, told the audience: "I remember how ten years ago, Mayor Alfasi decreed that there would be no gambling or alcohol in Yokneam! And now, 10 years later, here we are building programs of excellence, values and leadership. And indeed, there is no gambling or alcohol among our youth!"

According to all accounts, the event was an unprecedented success, and now all of Yokneam's youth are cordially invited to come home - the wide range of activities has begun, and the dream has come true!