Last week, Opher Aviran, the Consul General of Israel to Southeast USA visited Yokneam with his family. This visit was a result of the ongoing connection between the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta and the Israel Consulate based in Atlanta.
Their visit started at the Yokneam based high tech company Given Imaging where they received a review about the medical technology factory which develops and manufactures swallowed imaging capsules for endoscopy and visited one of the production lines.
As Opher and his wife Tali and daughter Adi arrived at city hall, the Mayor of Yokneam Mr. Simon Alfassi was honored to host them.
After sharing the story of Yokneam and its unique development in the last 20 years, the Mayor shared the city's remarkable feat of absorbing new immigrants from the Former Soviet Union between 1990 – 2000 as well as its continuation of absorbing Ethiopian immigrants today.
From the mayor, Consul General Aviran learned about the 250 Ethiopian families who live in Yokneam today and the efforts being made together with the Jewish federations of Atlanta and St. Louis to integrate them as best as possible.
The Mayor highlighted the city's partnership with the Jewish Federation of Atlanta throughout the last 15 years and the Federation's important contribution to the absorption and the education system.
“One of the greatest achievements of our partnership” Said Alfasi “is that the support provided by the Federation has enabled these children an equal opportunity in obtaining high quality education and community services.”
He also sent the Consul General with a personal message from him to the Jewish community of Atlanta and said: “I would be happy to see more delegations come from Atlanta and create more opportunities for personal relationships”
In return Consul General Aviran stated he was very glad he had the opportunity to learn first hand about the partnership and will definitely advocate for more visits.