AACI to host the General Assembly this year in Jerusalem
AACI looks forward to hosing the participants of the upcoming General Assembly of the United Jewish Communities, to be held November 1619, 2008. 

We have begun recruiting volunteers for this large conference, which brings Jewish community leaders from all over North America for a varied program of lectures, presentations, day trips and events.

If you are interested in volunteering for at least one four hour shift, please email frontdesk@aaci.org.il with GA Volunteer in the subject line.

WHAT EVERYBODY SHOULD KNOW ABOUT AACI 

AACI CARES

AACI provides a wide range of services and programs to meet the needs of its membership whether new immigrants or English-speaking long-time residents:

Professional counseling on Aliyah and Klitah (absorption)
Employment Resource Center

Emergency, mortgage and small business loans

Support groups
Advice Sessions: tax, banking, translation and more

Legal consultations

Blood bank privileges 

The AACI Cohen Library for the Visually Impaired

Senior Outreach

AACI ACTS

AACI can move mountains when its members' welfare is at stake.  AACI:

Lobbied successfully to modify the effect of new Israeli tax laws on immigrants; 

Produced and distributed a free Emergency Handbook and held gas mask demonstrations prior to and during the Gulf War;

Confronted the social, economic and psychological pressures affecting its membership through the Seniors Outreach Project.

AACI BUILDS COMMUNITY

AACI offers a warm and welcoming environment, with special programs targeting families, young adults, mid-lifers and seniors. Members participate in:

Welcome Home events for new olim (immigrants)

Home Hospitality

4th of July/Canada Day & Thanksgiving Celebrations 

AACI Travel Experience & Study Vacations

Social and Cultural Programs, 

Lectures and more

AACI, a voluntary, non-profit organization, was established in 1951 to help North American immigrants acclimate to Israeli society and to build strong ties between North American Jewish communities and Israel.  AACI’s services are available to all English speakers.  AACI is governed by a lay board and administered by a professional staff.  Its many activities are financed through the support of foundations, annual membership dues, an annual fundraising drive and private donations.

There was a nice article about me in the newspaper accompanied by a wonderful cartoon, drawn by a young cartoonist named Charlie McGill.  A short time later I was given the original cartoon at a school assembly; afterwards it was framed & hung on a wall in my parent’s house for many years.  It’s now in the “rogue’s gallery”, along with many other old pictures of my wife’s & my family, on the wall of our home at Kibbutz Ginosar on the shores of the Sea of Galilee in northern Israel.

One day about a year ago I received a letter postmarked the USA, which turned out to be from a sister of one of my teammates from my football days.  Opening the envelope I took out an article from the Record which celebrated 50 years of Charlie McGill drawing
the Athlete of the Week.  As I read the article I learned why the cartoon of me from so long ago was featured so prominently in the middle of the article about Charlie.  Only then did I realize that I was the very first cartoon that Charlie drew for this newspaper feature & that he would continue doing it for more than 50 years.  I framed this article & it’s hanging on the wall just below the original cartoon.  I tried to get in touch with Charlie McGill to no avail & as time went by I forgot about it.

A couple of months ago I received an email from an Israeli journalist writing as Abigail (Abby) Klein, who had worked for the Record before she immigrated to Israel.  The paper knew that I lived in Israel & asked Abby to interview me for an article they were planning about the “Athlete of the Week” and, of course, Charlie McGill.  Abby came from Jerusalem to our home where she interviewed me, asking many questions about the time when I played football & my life adventures.  This article will come out in June & I’m anxiously waiting to see it.  

Abby gave me Charlie McGill’s phone number & we had a wonderful conversation.  I learned that he was only a couple of years older than I was when he drew the historic cartoon of me.  He had just graduated from art school & as a freelance graphic artist he proposed the idea to the Record & received $25 for it!

Abby also asked my wife a number of questions & at the end of the interview she said “you’re quite an interesting couple”. I told her that every couple immigrating to Israel has an interesting story.  Abby said that she would, if we agreed, propose a story about us to the Jerusalem Post, a daily English language newspaper in Israel.  We agreed & a short time later a wonderful article appeared about us in the weekend magazine section of the Jerusalem Post.  We sent out the internet link to the article to our family & friends here in Israel & in the USA & we’ve received a multitude of answers ranging from humorous to quite serious.  It gives us a warm feeling to know that so many people read the article & took the time to respond to us.

Meanwhile the story continues.  The Record is having a dinner in June in honor of the Athletes of the Week.  Charlie McGill will be there of course.  They asked me to prepare a 2-3 minute video relating how I felt so many years ago when I was “the Athlete of the Week”.  I sat by the computer & pondered what I could say to a younger generation of athletes.  I came up with a 3 minute talk, put on my “43” football jersey & with my wife’s help I prepared the video presentation.  We did it in our living room with the original cartoon & the Record article in the background.  I hope that the guests at the dinner enjoy it as much as I enjoyed preparing it.

This has been a year of wonderful conversations, terrific memories & unforgettable events that were unpredictable but certainly enjoyable. I hope that my wife & I will have many more interesting events in the years ahead; all because I was a good 17 year old football player, because Charlie McGill drew his 1^st cartoon of me & because the Record honors Charlie & myself.

Shai (Sy) Schwartz
15 May 2008
Kibbutz Ginosar

U.S. Independence and Canada Day Celebration

Thursday, July 3^rd

 Table Reservation Form

Name:_________________________________________________

Address:_______________________________________________ 

Phone: W:____________________M:____________________ 

Email:______________________________________________ 

Cost of Table is NIS 300 

Product to be sold:______________________________________

Number of Tables:__________

Total Amount to Be Paid:___________________________

No Refunds Will Be Made After May 22^nd. 

Please note: 

AACI provides 1 table and 2 chairs per registration. Vendors will be entitled to bring one extra person free of admission charge to help with sales. No food items are to be sold!

The event Thursday, July 3^rd begins at 15:00 and will close promptly at 19:00

Vendors will be allowed to start unloading and preparing at 13:30

Please bring your own sun shade.

The management will not be responsible in case of theft. You are requested to look after your own belongings. 

Vendor’s signature:______________________________________

TABLES ARE RESERVED ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVE BASIS. 

SPACE IS VERY LIMITED.

NO RESERVATION WITHOUT PAYMENT.

WE CAN ONLY RESERVE TABLES UPON RECEIPT OF THIS FORM WITH PAYMENT.

(Final permission reserved by the Biblical Zoo and AACI)

Send payment to 6 Mane St. Jerusalem

P.O. BOX 4394, Jerusalem 91043

For more information please call: 02-561-7151

AACI Photo Safari In Jerusalem

Digital Camera Workshop
With Professional Photographer 
Evan Kotel
Monday 21 July 2008
10am to 9pm

Jerusalem is a photographers  paradise. Join Evan Kotel for our photo safari on location in Jerusalem. Evan Kotel turned a photography hobby into a profession in the mid 1980's.  He specializes in public relations, portrait and wedding photography. He also has enjoys nature and travel photography in Israel and abroad.

Places we will visit include:  The Bell Garden, Windmill, Yemin Moshe, Machaneh Yehuda and the Midrachov where we will learn about nature, close-up, landscape, portrait, architecture, street shooting, and night photography. 

As well as photo shoots our program also includes two seminar sessions. 

Photography

þDifferences between film and digital photography

þDifferent types of digital cameras

þBasic camera operation and controls

þ Camera modes (auto, program, shutter priority, aperture priority, manual, portrait, snow, night etc)

þComposition-using camera viewfinder and monitor 

þHow to read the monitor and create better photographs

þLearning to see photos

  Processing images 

þDownloading files and backing up data

þSetting up a filing system in your computer

þBasic photo correction using Photoshop

þCropping, adjusting color, contrast, Black and White

þCorrecting problem photos

þPreparing images for printing

þChoosing a color lab

Price: AACI members NIS 280
Non members NIS 310
Price does not include transportation.
For details and to register please e-mail:  judith@netanyaaaci.org.il
or phone 09-8330950