Sara In Akko

This year has seen a continued growth of National Service participation among Arab youths within their communities. Akko has been awarded for the exceptional services offered by it's Arab youths in their dedication to their community.

I can't think of anything more important to emphasize than this achievement. Many Israelis and foreign onlookers are quick to criticize the community service offered by youths within the Jewish sector.

"Why don't they do more for all the residents of the entire city?"

I have heard this question before. This question implies that a teen who works in a Jewish school has neglected the needs of the Arab sector. This question also shows that it is being asked by a person who doesn't see the larger picture, the scope of need within a city quite like Akko. It is layered and complex and certainly not as simple as if one population is being served than another must be neglected.

I have often wondered how people could believe that a single solution would possibly fit for an entire city and it's many needs. There is no such magical one-size fits all solution to societal distress. It takes many partners to care for an entire city and it's varied population.

The rising number of Arab youths concerned about their own communities and volunteering to better the situations of children and families in need is exemplary. Its scope of impact, creating safe afternoon options for 70 children 5 days a week, is a service this city is truly in need of.

See the full article in Hebrew here

Actually... it's here.

We're building towards soemthing big to help kids in the city of Akko. We're saving money on the annual dinner budget and taking it to the Web! Join us, pass it on and most importantly...

Spread the Love; Ahavat Yisrael!

Living in a city with several thousand years of history it is easy to see the impact of a modern city living within ancient spaces. Right now the Old City is under constant construction. Building cranes and hard hats abound. It can be a bit difficult to navigate the streets with normal excavations uncovering Templar tunnels every time the city repaves roads anywhere in town but progress is good, or is it?

UNESCO threatened to remove World Heritage Site classification for Akko if the development became distracting or destructive to the nature of the city (Ynet article), but it would seem plans have been scaled back to an amicable compromise between all parties.

Israel's Antiquities Authority can be seen all over the city digging up, cataloging, photographic, and recovering with dirt until the next excavation but apparently they are receiving help from students from Israel and abroad. Save the Stones is a program that takes aspiring amateur archeologists to unearth and care for the treasures of the ancient city buried by centuries of semi-urban sprawl and the decay of time, sea water, and society on the time weathered constructions.