Dozens of women began their studies last month, mostly in the field of social work. The track was specially designed to allow full participation of religious women by holding classes during specific hours and separating male and female students.The college is offering full tuition assistance and stipends to those eligible.Safed Academic College president Aharon Kellerman said of the new program, “The college set the goal of serving all sectors of the population in the Galilee and to also allow haredi women access to higher education. We are aware of the great desire among men and women from the haredi community in the Galilee to acquire knowledge.”Most of the women began their studies in a preacademic program. Director of the program Dana Daniel said, “Women in the haredi sector have shown great interest in the unique and custombuilt curriculum, providing access to higher education while providing an optimized track adapted to their needs,” the Local website reported.Education Ministry’s Northern District wins awardThe Education Ministry’s Northern District has won the National Award for Excellence. The award is based on the improvement of government services in compliance with criteria set by the European EFQM Excellence Model.Dr. Orna Simhon, the director of the Education Ministry’s Northern District, said of the award, “Quality and excellence are the lifeblood of public service.” She explained that “the theory of quality and excellence in education is passed on in part in human capital development and the improvement of human resources – and we in the North do it every day and every hour as an integral part of our regional organizational culture. I salute all the workers from the Northern District Office and am proud to receive the award honoring the excellence, professionalism, dedication and quality in daily work serving a community, which is not an easy task.”Acre kids get bicycle-riding schoolChildren in Acre may have a larger presence in bicycle competitions in the coming years thanks to a new training center opened last weekend.Raya Strauss Ben-Dror, the Peres Center for Peace and the Acre Municipality have opened a bicycleriding school in the city as part of Ben-Dror’s “Let’s go to the Western Galilee” project aimed at promoting and advancing the Western Galilee.The project aims to have top professional cyclists from around the world teach riding skills to local Arab and Jewish children. Brian Reese was chosen to head the community service project – the first of its kind in Acre.The riding school was set up at the former location of the IDF’s Naval Officers school, which was refurbished as a school including areas for bicycle storage, classroom facilities and a professional cycling track. Architect Shlomi Ben- Shoshan of the Hilla Group donated his time to design the facilities.CENTERTA cancels fees for small ralliesOrganizers of rallies and protests that draw fewer than 5,000 people will no longer be required to reimburse the Tel Aviv-Jaffa Municipality for costs the city incurs during the events. While no fee as such was levied for putting on such public events in the past, the municipality did require event organizers to cover expenses incurred by the city as a result, such as lighting, cleaning, security and supervision during rallies and protests.Last week, the city’s finance committee decided to abolish the fees for events with fewer than 5,000 people except in special cases incurring such expenses as the setting up of checkpoints, emptying or filling of pools and ponds or putting up special decorations.The decision came in light of a court case filed against the municipality by the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, after which Tel Aviv decided “to serve as a model for all local authorities in Israel,” the city said in a statement.“The Tel Aviv-Jaffa Municipality has always seen the great importance of preserving freedom of expression and the freedom to protest in public spaces, while maintaining a proper balance between those freedoms and maintaining public order and the lives of the city’s residents,” the statement added.TA mayor asks PM to deal with asylum seekersWith south Tel Aviv having become the primary destination for asylum seekers, foreign workers and economic migrants, the Tel Aviv-Jaffa Municipality turned to the highest levels of government in a plea for help last week.Tel Aviv-Jaffa Mayor Ron Huldai wrote directly to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, calling on him to address the phenomenon of African refugees and migrants in the city.“We need to take immediate emergency action to guard the state’s borders from illegal immigration and infiltration, as is expected from all sovereign countries,” Huldai wrote in a letter to the prime minister. “At the same time, the state must take responsibility for immigrants already inside the country and grant the necessary resources to treat them and also the harsh conditions residents of [their] neighborhoods must deal with during their absorption.”TA leads in youngsters injured in motorbike accidentsMore youngsters were injured in two-wheeled motor vehicle accidents in Tel Aviv than any other city in 2011 (January through October), according to the Or Yarok Association for Safer Driving in Israel.During those months, 141 youngsters between the ages of 15 and 24 were injured while riding motorcycles and scooters. Nationwide, 12 youngsters in this age group were killed in two-wheeled traffic accidents, an increase of roughly 30 percent, the organization reported based on data from the Central Bureau of Statistics.Or Yarok director-general Shmuel Abuav noted that riders of two-wheeled vehicles, especially younger ones, are a high-risk population.“Motorcycle and scooter riders in general, and young people in particular, must take more care when riding twowheeled vehicles,” the organization said.Abuav cited the data in calling to raise the minimum age for obtaining a motorcycle driving license from 16 to 17 and for changing the way education for licensing is carried out.“All riders are personally responsible for their own safety, but the State of Israel has a responsibility to provide riders with the tools for safer driving,” Or Yarok said in a statement.Coming in behind Tel Aviv in the number of casualties was Jerusalem with 72 injuries, Petah Tikva with 41, Holon with 30 and Netanya and Bat Yam with 22.TA’s Yigal Allon Street temporarily closed Due to infrastructure workYigal Allon Street in Tel Aviv- Jaffa will be closed to southbound traffic between Moses and Totzeret Ha’aretz streets until December 14. The city asks that drivers find alternative routes while the work is taking place.SOUTHEilat shares 2011 ‘Beauty Banner’ prizeThe Eilat Municipality was honored with a “Beauty Banner” award from the Council for a Beautiful Israel last week. The city, which shared the award with Netanya and Yokne’am, competed against 119 towns and cities for the top award in the competition.Eilat Mayor Meir Yitzhak Halevi said of winning the award: “Designing and cultivating the face of the city affects the consciousness of one’s surroundings and the quality of life, and creates a more beautiful city for Eilat’s residents and its visitors – an inviting city that prevents violence.”He added, “Winning the ‘Beauty Banner’ is an addition to the many resources the city invests and is no doubt a [source of] pride.”
Safed college opens track for haredi women
Education Ministry wins award; TA cancels fees for small rallies; Eilat shares prize.
Dozens of women began their studies last month, mostly in the field of social work. The track was specially designed to allow full participation of religious women by holding classes during specific hours and separating male and female students.The college is offering full tuition assistance and stipends to those eligible.Safed Academic College president Aharon Kellerman said of the new program, “The college set the goal of serving all sectors of the population in the Galilee and to also allow haredi women access to higher education. We are aware of the great desire among men and women from the haredi community in the Galilee to acquire knowledge.”Most of the women began their studies in a preacademic program. Director of the program Dana Daniel said, “Women in the haredi sector have shown great interest in the unique and custombuilt curriculum, providing access to higher education while providing an optimized track adapted to their needs,” the Local website reported.Education Ministry’s Northern District wins awardThe Education Ministry’s Northern District has won the National Award for Excellence. The award is based on the improvement of government services in compliance with criteria set by the European EFQM Excellence Model.Dr. Orna Simhon, the director of the Education Ministry’s Northern District, said of the award, “Quality and excellence are the lifeblood of public service.” She explained that “the theory of quality and excellence in education is passed on in part in human capital development and the improvement of human resources – and we in the North do it every day and every hour as an integral part of our regional organizational culture. I salute all the workers from the Northern District Office and am proud to receive the award honoring the excellence, professionalism, dedication and quality in daily work serving a community, which is not an easy task.”Acre kids get bicycle-riding schoolChildren in Acre may have a larger presence in bicycle competitions in the coming years thanks to a new training center opened last weekend.Raya Strauss Ben-Dror, the Peres Center for Peace and the Acre Municipality have opened a bicycleriding school in the city as part of Ben-Dror’s “Let’s go to the Western Galilee” project aimed at promoting and advancing the Western Galilee.The project aims to have top professional cyclists from around the world teach riding skills to local Arab and Jewish children. Brian Reese was chosen to head the community service project – the first of its kind in Acre.The riding school was set up at the former location of the IDF’s Naval Officers school, which was refurbished as a school including areas for bicycle storage, classroom facilities and a professional cycling track. Architect Shlomi Ben- Shoshan of the Hilla Group donated his time to design the facilities.CENTERTA cancels fees for small ralliesOrganizers of rallies and protests that draw fewer than 5,000 people will no longer be required to reimburse the Tel Aviv-Jaffa Municipality for costs the city incurs during the events. While no fee as such was levied for putting on such public events in the past, the municipality did require event organizers to cover expenses incurred by the city as a result, such as lighting, cleaning, security and supervision during rallies and protests.Last week, the city’s finance committee decided to abolish the fees for events with fewer than 5,000 people except in special cases incurring such expenses as the setting up of checkpoints, emptying or filling of pools and ponds or putting up special decorations.The decision came in light of a court case filed against the municipality by the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, after which Tel Aviv decided “to serve as a model for all local authorities in Israel,” the city said in a statement.“The Tel Aviv-Jaffa Municipality has always seen the great importance of preserving freedom of expression and the freedom to protest in public spaces, while maintaining a proper balance between those freedoms and maintaining public order and the lives of the city’s residents,” the statement added.TA mayor asks PM to deal with asylum seekersWith south Tel Aviv having become the primary destination for asylum seekers, foreign workers and economic migrants, the Tel Aviv-Jaffa Municipality turned to the highest levels of government in a plea for help last week.Tel Aviv-Jaffa Mayor Ron Huldai wrote directly to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, calling on him to address the phenomenon of African refugees and migrants in the city.“We need to take immediate emergency action to guard the state’s borders from illegal immigration and infiltration, as is expected from all sovereign countries,” Huldai wrote in a letter to the prime minister. “At the same time, the state must take responsibility for immigrants already inside the country and grant the necessary resources to treat them and also the harsh conditions residents of [their] neighborhoods must deal with during their absorption.”TA leads in youngsters injured in motorbike accidentsMore youngsters were injured in two-wheeled motor vehicle accidents in Tel Aviv than any other city in 2011 (January through October), according to the Or Yarok Association for Safer Driving in Israel.During those months, 141 youngsters between the ages of 15 and 24 were injured while riding motorcycles and scooters. Nationwide, 12 youngsters in this age group were killed in two-wheeled traffic accidents, an increase of roughly 30 percent, the organization reported based on data from the Central Bureau of Statistics.Or Yarok director-general Shmuel Abuav noted that riders of two-wheeled vehicles, especially younger ones, are a high-risk population.“Motorcycle and scooter riders in general, and young people in particular, must take more care when riding twowheeled vehicles,” the organization said.Abuav cited the data in calling to raise the minimum age for obtaining a motorcycle driving license from 16 to 17 and for changing the way education for licensing is carried out.“All riders are personally responsible for their own safety, but the State of Israel has a responsibility to provide riders with the tools for safer driving,” Or Yarok said in a statement.Coming in behind Tel Aviv in the number of casualties was Jerusalem with 72 injuries, Petah Tikva with 41, Holon with 30 and Netanya and Bat Yam with 22.TA’s Yigal Allon Street temporarily closed Due to infrastructure workYigal Allon Street in Tel Aviv- Jaffa will be closed to southbound traffic between Moses and Totzeret Ha’aretz streets until December 14. The city asks that drivers find alternative routes while the work is taking place.SOUTHEilat shares 2011 ‘Beauty Banner’ prizeThe Eilat Municipality was honored with a “Beauty Banner” award from the Council for a Beautiful Israel last week. The city, which shared the award with Netanya and Yokne’am, competed against 119 towns and cities for the top award in the competition.Eilat Mayor Meir Yitzhak Halevi said of winning the award: “Designing and cultivating the face of the city affects the consciousness of one’s surroundings and the quality of life, and creates a more beautiful city for Eilat’s residents and its visitors – an inviting city that prevents violence.”He added, “Winning the ‘Beauty Banner’ is an addition to the many resources the city invests and is no doubt a [source of] pride.”