ESCA Members

In this section, we will feature, from time to time, one or two of our members.

Miriam's direct connection with Israel began in 1955 in Ottawa, Canada where she met and married Zvi who had recently arrived from Israel.
 
1965, she worked for the Israel Government Tourist Office in Chicago, where her husband was cantor at Rodfei Shalom Or Chadash synagogue for many years. Miriam's duties included writing articles about Israel, press releases and contacts with travel agents as well as arranging meetings for VIP's visiting from Israel
 
Miriam and her husband arrived in Ashdod with their two daughters Rona and Ora, in July 1972. She was employed by the publication "Israel Magazine" in Tel Aviv until the family moved to Jerusalem. There she worked for the Ministry of Tourism as a Feature Writer. She was director of special events for the Jerusalem Region, organizing the annual international Concert of Choirs from Israel and abroad. Her final position before retiring was Deputy Director of Public Relations. The Jerusalem Post published many of her articles including a week-end spread on Ashdod. While a member of the Ministry of Tourism, she created the program "Musical Tours to Israel" whereby musical groups from abroad would visit Israel entirely at their own expense and perform free of charge. Under Miriam's direction, the Ministry provided publicity and arranged meetings with Israeli personalities. Mayor Zvi Zilker met many of these groups as did the late Teddy Kollek.  One group from the USA visited Ashdod and Chana arranged home hospitality for the participants
 
Upon her retirement from government service she returned to Ashdod and became active in ESCA.  She was elected to take over the reins from Chana and oganized ESCA's 10th Anniversary celebration. Due to ill health, Miriam was forced to return the honour of Chairlady of ESCA to Chana after a short period but she keeps in touch regularly from her home in Hadera, where her daughters and five grandchildren also live. Miriam says she will always remember and praise the members of ESCA for their support during her illness and wishes us all continued success in all our endeavors.

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We present a fairly recent addition to our group, but a pair that have been movers and shakers from the moment they arrived.
Paul and Susan Liebhaber met in June 1980 in the Ulpan of Kibbutz Adamit. Their story sounds best when told in Susan's own words:
We married in NJ and found our way to California. From 1982 - 2000 our home was a downtown San Francisco high-rise apartment. Paul worked as a substitute teacher, while he achieved a Chess Expert Rating, winning many tournament games.  Susan studied and worked as an aerobics instructor and martial arts instructor, as well as other jobs, while earning her black belts in Tae Kwon Do and Tai Chi Chuan. During these years, Paul and Susan earned several college degrees.  San Francisco was certainly fun! 
Then after a few years in Florida, we saw a newspaper article on Nefesh B Nefesh, and we knew it was time to return to Israel to complete our lives. Making Aliyah to Ashdod was one of the best decisions of our lives, so far. We are looking forward to another wonderful Mediterranean summer with the wonderful people of Ashdod.

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Chicago-born Sarah came to Israel in 1959. At Kibbutz Nahal-Oz she met and married husband Aharon Levin, with whom she has raised two daughters (and lately, grandson Itamar). After a brief return to the U.S. they settled in Ashdod where Sarah taught English for ten years, served on the City Council for a while, and then was elected Executive Director of Na'amat, which position she held for twelve years. At her "retirement" she took over the Council for the Elderly which, during thirteen years, she has built up and developed into a major institution for social services and assistance to the elderly.
This year she was given a national award in recognition of these 13 years of devoted volunteer work. In addition she was chosen as "Yekirat Ashdod" (for outstanding - no, extraordinary - contribution to the City).
As a long-time member and supporter of the Etz Haim Conservative Synagogue Sarah has rendered important services, and she is a valued veteran member of ESCA.

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These two, Ruth and Avraham Schwadron, are among our most veteran members - true "chalutzim". Ruth came to Israel in 1948 from Philadelphia, PA. after training for the hard life in the Israel of those days. Avraham also underwent preparations before leaving the Bronx, New York in 1949. Married since March, 1949, they raised their children in Kvutzat Hasollelim until moving to Ashdod in 1961.

Ruth and Avraham have given the meaning of "retirement" a new dimension. They are rarely to be found relaxing. Both can be found most mornings at a local swimming pool, doing laps and keeping fit. They volunteer for many programs in town and are a familiar fixture in the volunteer community. When they find time for themselves they enjoy traveling, studying new things and finding new challenges. We're proud to have them in our group.

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Rivka Tzidkony arrived in Israel just a few years after the birth of the nation. She spent 9 years at Kibbutz Hasolelim in the Lower Galilee, and later had a front-row view of the 6-Day War from her flat in Kiryat Shmona. Life was hard but full of hope. In Ashdod since 1971, she built a long and successful career in teaching.
This amiable mother of three, proud grandmother of 5, now retired, can be seen almost any day taking a daily constitutional along the western-central part of town. She is a volunteer in various causes, attends many of the local cultural activities and is an enthusiastic participant in ESCA events.

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Nehemiah Engberg, native of San Diego, California, Nehemiah has been in Israel since 1984. An Orthodox rabbi, Nehemiah devotes much of his time to study and quiet assistance to others.
He is a welcome participant in many of our activities and in later years has provided prayers and background piano music for our annual Food Night.

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Stan Kay, a native of Pennsylvania, is an 11 year veteran in Ashdod. His rich teaching career included the founding of the first teacher's union (AFT) in Coachella Valley, California. He also served on the boards of leading political and social active groups. As a journalist he contributed articles about Jewish life in America to numerous publications.
Stan is a former program chairman of ESCA and in this capacity he provided many innovative programs. He originated our "Chai" feature and was the first to publicize us in the Jerusalem Post.
He and his Persian-born wife Gila are parents to Philip, who is serving in the IDF (Golani).

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Yitz Hochstein was born in the Bronx, U.S.A., Yitz fulfilled his Zionist dream in the kibbutz before settling down in Ashdod along with Chana, Danny and Navah. For over a quarter of a century Yitz selflessly volunteered his time and efforts to the "Mishmar Ha-ezrachi". He was a familiar figure not only in Ashdod but in the widespread network of Folk music lovers throughout the country.
Yitz was always ready to lend a helping hand to newcomers, and many owe their successful absorption to his efforts. An avid banjo player and semi-professional Chinese chef, you could always count on Yitz to have a good and amusing word for you.
We miss you.

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Raymond Abraham was born and raised in Bombay, India. He was Secretary of the Halutz movement when the first Jews came to Kibbutz Afikim back in 1949. He was also active in the Tzeirei Yisrael movement.

In India Mr. Abraham worked for Air India. He lived in Israel from 1949 to 1952, but returned to India. In 1974 - on the heels of the rest of his big clan - he moved his own family here to stay.
While in Israel he worked for the Air force at Tel Nof in materiel management. He retired from active employment in 1992, but has been active in volunteer work helping others who have come after him. He is to be seen regularly at ESCA functions, and is an enthusiastic contributor in many ways.

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Diana Martin was the quintessential New Yorker - smart and sassy. She came on aliyah in 1982, and was among the original founders of our ESCA group. She was there when the group first began to coalesce. When retired, Diane has become a fixture at Cafe Eden and, indeed, around town. She was an irrepressible critic ("What’s on my lung is on my tongue") and said all those things that other people may be thinking but are too timid to say.

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Bryna Franklin made aliyah in 1983 from St. Louis, Missouri. She moved to Ashdod in 1988. She has been a member of our club since Ellen Dunn introduced her to Chana Hochstein.

After retiring in 1994, she taught English in China for four years, but spent her summers in Israel. Completing her China mission, she studied at Beit Midrash "Yakar" in Jerusalem for a deeper understanding of Judaism and "a closer connection to Hashem". Bryna speaks about "awakening my inner depths of journey" with her studies of Jewish Meditation and Spirituality.

Bryna faithfully kept the traditional, American Thanksgiving feast alive and well in Ashdod through all the years, bringing together lots of friends, serving food to standing - room - only crowds, and opening her home and heart to warm conversation and hospitality.

She has volunteered as a waitress at the La Sova soup kitchen in Tel - Aviv and taught English to special needs students at the Mistair School.
"This is my 20th year anniversary of living in Israel. The past twenty years have been the most wonderful, magnificent years of my life and each day I wake up with a blessing living in Israel."

From November Bryna has gone for an extended trip to India. We await her return to hear about her latest adventures.

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Ruth, a former Committee member, is a thirteen-year resident of Ashdod. She hails from Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Back in Rhode Island Ruth was active in the local HADASSAH. She served as president of her chapter and as vice-president of the Western New England region.
Her Zionism was inspired by years of summer camp with the Young Judeah, from age ten to eighteen.
She began her aliyah at an absorption center in Tel Aviv, and later worked for the Ormat Company in Yavnah.
She is a dedicated volunteer with Yad Sarah in Ashdod. Now retired, Ruth is socially busy around town and around the Central Area, and contributes ideas, support and time to our ESCA programs.

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Bat-Sheva, a native of Philadelphia, PA. has been an active member of our ESCA committee for years. She is our telephone expert, gal Friday, and all-around gofer. She is also one of our strongest supporters, rarely missing an ESCA event.
Bat-Sheva is married to Said and is the mother of three children. She recently became the grandmother of Avishag. A large measure of ESCA's success rate is due to her, and we salute her!

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Anita Raymond is a baby boomer from Paterson, New Jersey, who has been having fun in the sun the Israeli way for over thirty years. She first arrived here in 1971, starting her career as a biochemical technologist and winding up as - what else? - an English teacher.

She has been married to Asher (also known as Roy), who hails from Bombay, since 1972.

Now semi-retired, Anita devotes her time to playing the piano, organ and guitar, keeping fit. And if that is not enough, she also finds the time to knit beautiful clothes for Yotam, the new grandson, writing songs for ESCA meetings and for helping to put out the ESCA bulletin. What would we be without Anita!
 

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Sallie grew up in London, where she joined Dror, a Jewish Youth movement, and spent a year in Israel at the Institute for Youth leaders from abroad. After doing a first degree in England she came on Aliya,
living in Haifa and working as a programmer in Elbit. She met and married Avi Tangir, who worked in Zim, and the couple came to Ashdod, where she worked in Elta. With three small children they spent three years in Nigeria.

When they returned from Nigeria Sallie went to work in the Port (still with computers) and also became active in ESCA. She was on the committee, was the treasurer for many years, organized the refreshments, and helped Bryna start up the library.

Zim again sent Avi abroad, but this time to Madrid, and without the children who by now were grown up. After five years in Madrid, with occasional trips home to Ashdod, Sallie and Avi decided to move to Tel Mond, where they now live. However they still visit Ashdod, and try to keep in touch with all their old friends there.

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Those featured members were among the very first members of ESCA, and Lolly was instrumental in founding the club.
Lolly and Bob now reside in Texas, and wish you all "Shalom" from there.
They came to Israel to await the Messiah's arrival. They migrated to Ashdod to enjoy the Mediterranean Sea, with a suitcase full of puppets among their possessions. Lolly volunteered to put on a puppet show for children at Matnas Daled, and there she met Chana Hochstein, our present Chairperson. Lolly calls this meeting "a divine appointment." While Bob worked at the Ashdod library and volunteered at the high school with conversational English, Lolly and Chana began puppet performances at the library, at schools, ganim, moshavim etc.
ESCA began growing from a nucleus of twenty - five "Anglo-Saxons" who met at the Canada House in the Spring of 1983. It was Lolly who initiated the idea of establishing a permanent group for English speaking people in Ashdod, to provide them with a social and cultural framework.
The first official meeting was held around a bonfire, and later there was a beach party and puppet show.
In Lolly's words, "Ashdod today is no longer 'just a port city' but can compete with Tel Aviv for culture, social events and genuine fun." We owe our existence in part to the energy and drive that Lolly put into forming the club, thereby building the beginnings of a social network that would expand into today's group.

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Esther Beuthner is a native sabra. She was born in Jerusalem. Fred was born in Germany. They met in Palestine, where Fred had come with a youth movement. Fred lived first on a kibbutz, then a moshav. At twenty he joined the British Army in Palestine. Those were the dark days before the establishment of the State.

After marriage in 1948 they lived in Israel for ten years and then moved to the States. They raised three children and eight grandchildren, but Israel beckoned them and they returned here in 1968.

They have led an ambulatory life since then. In 1975 they returned to the United States, only to be drawn back to Ashdod in 1997. Here they found a warm circle of friends among the members of ESCA.

Sadly, they have once more returned to the U.S. - who can resist the call of children and grandchildren? During their stay here they gave a lot to us all. Fred was active at our library, and participated in our committee meetings, helping to plan and carry out our various functions. We all hope they will be back one day to share their adventures with us. But with ESCA on the web... they aren't really so far away now, are they?

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Ellen Dunn - One of the cornerstones of our social networking is our Friday morning get - togethers under the Banyan Tree. Ellen Dunn is the person who initiated the first gathering years ago.

Ellen came to Israel in 1982 from the USA. There she played the oboe professionally with the Rhode Island Philharmonic, Artists Internationale Opera, the State Ballet of R.I., the Cantelena Woodwind Quintet and a variety of other groups that straddle the professional musical spectrum.

Shifting her residence to the Middle East expanded her professional horizons. She has played with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Haifa Symphony Orchestra, Beer Sheva Symphonet and others including the well - known and multicultural "HaB'rerah HaTivit" group.

These days Ellen holds court in her flat in Ashdod, receiving an astonishing variety of friends, playing Scrabble with the pros, acting as mother confessor to countless souls and generally being one of the prime movers of our group. Thank you, Ellen, from us all.

Catch more about Ellen in Sam Orbaum's feature "Ashdod's Open Door" in his hilarious collection of articles "Eskimoes of Jerusalem (And Other Extraordinary Israelis)".

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Chana Hochstein - Chana, 25 1 / 2 years veteran Ashdodite originally from Holland, came to us via New York. It seems that Chana's home is almost always hosting someone from near or far who needs a meal, a shoulder to cry on, a home away from home, or maybe some advice from the LaLeche League. Chana is ESCA's chairman, public relations officer, president, social director, communications person and editor of the newsletter all rolled into one. She ceaselessly works to advance the standing and efficacy of our group.

Neither ESCA nor its members would be the same without Chana's friendship and selfless dedication. Yet, whenever someone tries to give her the recognition she deserves she typically says, "Oh, it's really not me." But we say, "It is you, Chana."

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