First KH Playground Dedicated in Lod

Mrs. Estera Lewkowicz-Korenberg: "As a child who was hidden during the Holocaust and who lost much of her family, I was always aware of the miracle of Israel and the importance of Israel's continuity" 

At a heartwarming ceremony that brought joy to the hearts of all participants, a large, beautifully designed adventure playground was dedicated in the City of Lod by Mrs. Estera Lewkowicz-Korenberg of Keren Hayesod Brussels. Minister Ruhama Avraham-Balila, in charge of Israel's 60th year festivities, and acting Mayor of Lod, Mr. Ilan Harari, expressed their deep appreciation and heartfelt thanks to Mrs. Lewkowicz -Korenberg for her generosity in providing this important and very significant gift to the children of Lod, who until now had desperately lacked such a playground.

            Victor (Vico) Levy                                  Estera  Lewkowicz-Korenberg,
     Chairman, Brussels Campaign                            visibly moved, at the  Dedication

Mr. Victor (Vico) Levy, Chairman of the KH Brussels Campaign, expressed his pride and thanks to the donor and stressed the unconditional support of Belgian Jewry for the State of Israel. He emphasized that education and memory are part of Keren Hayesod's mission and stressed the symbolic value of dedicating this project in Lod, where so many new immigrants begin their new lives. Referring to Mrs. Lewkowicz-Korenberg, he added: "She is a person for whom the must important word is "yes", "yes, I will do it", and when she says she will do something she does it".

Mrs. Lewkowicz-Korenberg responded by saying that as a child who was hidden during the Holocaust and who lost much of her family, she was always aware of the miracle of Israel and the importance of Israel's continuity. For this reason she and her late husband had always contributed to Israel, even as a young couple with little money. She said that her heart went out to the children of Lod and she wished them much benefit and enjoyment from the playground.

Attended by hundreds of Lod's children, parents and grandparents, together with the participants of the Keren Hayesod 2008 World Conference, including Mark Leibler AC, Chairman of the Keren Hayesod World Board of Trustees, Amb. Avi Pazner, Keren Hayesod World Chairman and Director General Greg Masel, the dedication culminated with the ceremonial ribbon-cutting by the donor. As soon as the ribbon was cut, the children released 60 blue and white balloons into the air and excitedly filled the playground, climbing, sliding and jumping on the apparatus midst peels of laughter, as parents, dignitaries and Keren Hayesod attendees looked on, visibly moved by the spectacle. To many of Lod's parents and grandparents, Mrs. Lewkowicz-Korenberg of Keren Hayesod Brussels was the hero of day and several French speaking Lod residents of North African origin eagerly approached her to personally express their thanks in French. One of them summed the general feeling of Lod residents attending the event by saying simply "You are an angel".

The children of Lod already enjoy the playground

From l. to r.: (front row) Minister Ruhama Avraham-Balila; Estera Lewkowicz-Korenberg, her daugther Renee Lewkowicz and Victor Levy -  (back row): Yaacov Moreno, Deputy Director for Europe; Ambassador Avi Pazner, Keren Hayesod World Chairman and Mr. Ilan Harari, Mayor of Lod