By Yael Shapira, Atlanta and St Louis Jewish Federations' liaison in Israel

On what was one the rainiest days of the week, and probably the only day that it rained their entire trip to Israel, Ted Koplar and his family visited Yokneam-Megiddo.

For more than a decade the Jewish Agency’s Partnership 2000 has twinned Yokneam-Megiddo with the Jewish Federation of St. Louis and the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta.

Ted, President and CEO of Koplar Communications toured Israel with wife Nancy, their children Robert and wife Emily, daughter Alison and boyfriend Zach, and their sons Sam and Kevin.

Over a great lunch in Yokneams’ Tanduka restaurant the Koplars learned about the ongoing partnership between the Jewish community of St. Louis and Yokneam-Megiddo and had the chance to hear about the Ethiopian immigration to Israel first hand from Mazal, an Ethiopian Israeli social worker who shared her personal aliyah story from the days she lived in a hut village in Ethiopia through her journey to Israel, her absorption into Israeli society and until today when she is an accomplished adult who works to empower Yokneam Ethiopian families, thus giving back to her community. The program she serves in is funded by the Jewish federation of St. Louis.

Over lunch, the Koplars met with Arkady Hasidovich, Partnership’s Living Bridge coordinator, with Shosh Bagim, leading social worker from Yokneam and with Yael Shapira, Federation’s representative in Israel. The informal setting enabled us all to get to know each other and to hold a flowing conversation.

We then went to visit Bayit Cham, an after school care for the most at-risk children, who are one step near being removed out of their homes. These children find here a response to their extensive needs from 1:00-7:00pm, which includes a hot meal, tutoring, and meetings with professional social workers.

At Bayit Cham the Koplars’ met with the children and their staff,  and together they engaged in arts and crafts and received some mementos to take home to St. Louis from the grateful kids.

It was a pleasant afternoon to spend with new friends and we already want them to come and visit us again soon!