Infrastructure Complete, Building May Begin
The new neighborhood of Wahat al-Salam Neve Shalom reached an important milestone in July. All of the infrastructure works that needed to be undertaken before the families can begin building their homes were completed. That included water pipes, electrical and communications lines and roads. It was a cause for celebration: From the earliest, planning stages, of the project through the approvals process to the actual construction took nearly a decade.
Rita Boulos, Chairwoman of the Municipal Society, had overseen much of this effort, and she was there in her capacity as Chairwoman to welcome people to the site and open the ceremony. She thanked, in her speech, the contractors and workers, the various village representatives who had a hand in the project, and the representatives of the new families who are joining the village. She reminded those present that the work was collaborative, and that this is, indeed, the only way to be able to complete such a complex project.
The village children were on hand for the ceremony, and they were invited to cut the ribbon to the new neighborhood. As they cut it, they invoked the friendships that are sure to blossom as the number of children in the village increases.
Among the representatives of the new families who attended the event were Carmi and Yossi Wazana have nurtured dreams of becoming part of Neve Shalom Wahat al-Salam for over two decades. They said that their children will likely not live in the home they will build, at this point, but they harbor the hope that if not their children, then their grandchildren will grow up in an environment enriched by multiculturalism and bilingualism, fostering partnership and mutual respect.
Toshi Fukushima and Assaf Yalovsky, journalists for the leading Japanese newspaper, “Yomiuri Shimbun” were on hand to record the event, and to speak with Chair of the Educational Association Board Ariela Bairey-Ben Ishay about the village and its history.
For more pictures from the event please click here.