Jewish Values Shiur
Rabbi Dr. Nachum Amsel will be teaching a class in Jewish Values at the Central Synagogue of Afridar. The class is held on Wednesdays at 7:30 PM. Each week we cover a new topic, independent of the others. The class is meant for men and women and is taught in English. Light refreshments are served. Rabbi Dr. Nachum Amsel currently works with Rabbi Berel Wein and the Destiny Foundation as the Director of [...]
Parasha Banners
Every week we send out a newsletter with information on davening times and upcoming events at the Central Synagogue of Afridar. The banner is changed every week to reflect events in the parasha or an upcoming holiday. Some are missing, but when we get to them this year, we hope to create new banners for those parshiot. Thanks to Debbie B. for noticing! Parasha Banner Bereishit Noach Lech-Lecha Vayeira Chayei Sarah [...]
New in Ashkelon: the not-so-new sport that is taking America by storm
In 1965, a few families on Washington's Bainbridge Island created a game to keep their kids from being bored. The game used table tennis paddles, a wiffle ball and a badminton net. A while later, a name was found for the game and "pickleball" was born. According to Joan Pritchard, wife of one if the inventors: "The name of the game became pickleball after I said it reminded me of the pickle boat [...]
What dangers lie ahead for Diaspora Jews?
Date: Tuesday, November 22, 2022 Time: 7:00 PM Place: Central Synagogue of Afridar 2 Yekhezkel Zonabend Street, Ashkelon The חוג התרבות is delighted to invite you to a free program featuring Emanuel Rund. What dangers lie ahead for Diaspora Jews? Is it time for Jews to leave the Diaspora? Judaism has an institutionalized, collective memory that has guided us through both good times and bad times. We mourn our historical losses and celebrate our [...]
Evenings to Meet the Parties
With the Israeli election just three weeks away, many people are still unsure who to vote for. So here is your chance to ask questions, in English, from representatives of the major parties. The plan is to organize a series of "chug bayit" evenings in Ashkelon where we can meet the different parties. We have heard from some parties that they will only send candidates if there are enough people attending. Please take [...]
A Guide to Yom Kippur for Visitors to Israel
Yom Kippur, also known in English as the Day of Atonement is the holiest day of the year in Judaism. It occurs annually on the 10th Day of Tishrei, the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar. In 2022, Yom Kippur starts on the evening of Tuesday, October 4. Primarily centered on atonement and repentance, the day's observances consist of full fasting and ascetic behavior accompanied by intensive prayer as well as sin confessions [...]
Approaching Tisha B’Av
Before making Aliyah, I could not have understood the vast differences between life in the “old country” and our new home in Israel. I knew that living in Israel meant we’d have the “feeling we're not in Kansas anymore”, but after 16 years, I keep on seeing more and more differences that I did not see when we first arrived. While living abroad, I did not fully appreciate the incredibly strong bond that [...]
Beach Flags in Ashkelon
A common question from Ashkelon residents is "What color is the flag at the beach right now?" The system of flags is meant to guide people as to the conditions in the water. At all times, follow the instructions of the life guards and wear sun screen! Thanks to Akiva for the summary of conditions. Flag Condition Generally calm seas, safe for swimming. Rough seas, could be under-tow or rip tides. Exercise caution [...]
Tikkun Leil Shavuot 2022 at Central Synagogue of Afridar
The countdown begins! Tikkun Leil Shavuot at the Central Synagogue of Afridar ALL SHIURIM ARE IN ENGLISH The entire community is invited to attend the Tikkun Leil Shavuot program at the Central Synagogue of Afridar. The shiurim will be given in English to men and women and light refreshments will be served. The program will be over by 12:30 am. Address: Yekhezkel Zonabend St 2, Afridar 10:15-11:00: Zeev [...]
Hebrew Workshop for Anglos 2.0
Last year's Hebrew workshop for English speakers was very successful. Besides learning the basics, we delved into the world of Hebrew slang . The city has again offered to start a weekly workshop for English speakers in Ashkelon. The propose of the workshops is to give English speakers a chance to learn more Hebrew and about different topics related to living in Israel, in a relaxed atmosphere. This is a wonderful opportunity to practice [...]
Informational Calls and Tours of Ashkelon
Ashkelon has experienced tremendous growth over the past decade and continues to be one of Israel's fastest growing cities. What is the secret that is drawing so many people to move to Ashkelon? Lots of green spaces, bike-friendly, affordable, close to the center, historic, great transportation connections, top healthcare, schools and of course, miles of amazing beaches. We published an article, Why 50+ Anglos are Moving to Ashkelon, and since then, many people have been [...]
Arranging Arnona for a New Euro Apartment From the Kablan
Welcome to your new home in Ashkelon! This is a guide to help you register your apartment with the Iriya in order to pay your Arnona (municipal taxes). We have included as much information as possible. We suggest that you read through this entire guide before starting. You will need information and scans or photos of different documents. Take a look at the last page of this document for a list of items that [...]