Israeli Mayor Visits Myrtle Beach

Chabad Jewish Academy in Myrtle Beach South Carolina held a festive luncheon in honor of Tiberias Mayor Mr. Joseph Ben-David and his deputy Mr. Dror Lalush.

The Tiberias mayor was accompanied by the mayor of Myrtle Beach, John Rhodes, and Horry County chairman Mark Lazarus and other city officials and representatives and they enjoyed lunch with students and teachers of the school.

After a two-year process to explore a sister city relationship between the two cities, for the first time, the Tiberias mayor and his deputy came in a official visit to Myrtle Beach.

The similarity between the two cities is obvious, since they are both located on the seashore, and most of their income is generated by tourism. Their size is similar but there is a huge difference in age, Tiberias at least two thousand years old and is one of the holy cities in the land if Israel, and Myrtle Beach just recently celebrated its seventy-fifth year.

Citizens and dignitaries in the southern city were motivated to do this also to show their alliance and support for Israel. They said that they would like to send a message to Israelis, that as citizens of the United States, they do not identify with what is recently being heard from Washington.

VIDEO: Students report “live” from Tiberias

Mayor John Rhodes said that he also wanted to express his gratitude to the Israeli community in his city, who contributed to the economy of city and are an important part of its development.

The children sang songs related to Israel and the holy city of Tiberias. All attendees were moved by the program full of passion and emotion. Mr. Ben David said he was grateful to the Rebbe’s emissaries who have contributed to building this bridge between the cities, and spoke of the importance of Jewish education that chabad gives the children. “Who knows where they would be of not for your school?!” said the Tiberias mayor.

He was pleased to meet a teacher and shlucha, Dini Aizenman, who is the granddaughter of the famous rabbi of Tiberias, Rabbi Asher Werner, zatzal.

Rabbi Doron Aizenman concluded by mentioning the teaching that Mashiach will appear in the Galilee, and Tiberias will be the first place of the renewed Sanhedrin, may it be very soon.