Sep 17, 2013

Bentata Family’s Visit Makes a Difference in Yerucham

Leonardo Bentata celebrated his Bar Mitzvah in Israel with an act of loving kindness that will have a positive impact on the lives of residents of Yerucham, Miami’s partnership city in the Negev. On July 11, the family visited Yerucham to see the impact of their donation of Gymboree equipment for the city’s newly renovated Community Store. The shopping cooperative offers better prices on food and household goods for residents, lowering the cost of living. The Gymboree equipment provides children with safe play activities while parents learn how to spend wisely and become educated consumers.

After hanging a small commemorative plaque in the store, Leonardo and his family helped stock the store’s shelves with various products. Leonardo received a Kiddish cup, a meaningful gift from the Miami-Yerucham Partnership presented to every Miami Bar or Bat Mitzvah celebrant who is involved with mitzvah projects in Yerucham.

This was not the first time the Bentatas participated in community development projects in the city. In 2012, they were part of a group that painted a fence outside a kindergarten complex and sponsored a pool party for the Youth Futures, a program for at-risk youth. Two years ago, they returned and built a deck at the city’s Ayalim student village.

“We already know some locals and our kids have friends there, too,” said Ariel Bentata, Leonardo’s father. “It feels like having a place in Israel that is closer to your family and to your community. This gives our visits to Yerucham a very special feeling.”

Leonardo's father also credited Greater Miami Jewish Federation staff with helping his family arrange an inspiring travel itinerary in Israel. In addition to experiencing Yerucham, the Bentatas visited some of Israel’s vital social-service agencies that are supported by the Annual Federation/UJA Campaign. One of those agencies, the Jaffa Institute, serves thousands of underprivileged Israeli children from Jaffa, South Tel Aviv and Bat Yam. “A large segment of these children are poor and come from families of recent immigrants,” he explained. “The Jaffa Institute provides them with activities and mentors that encourage healthy living.”

Miami’s Jewish community established a partnership with the city of Yerucham in 2007. The purpose of the Miami-Yerucham Partnership is to build meaningful connections to strengthen both communities, and to foster and develop a love of Judaism, Israel and the Jewish people. The Partnership encourages people-to-people relationships between residents of Miami and Yerucham. It also promotes mutually supportive initiatives, connecting resources and expertise to achieve sustained spiritual, social, cultural and economic growth for both communities.

For more information about the Miami-Yerucham Partnership, contact Dahlia Bendavid, Director of Federation’s Israel and Overseas Department, at [email protected] or 786.866.8445.