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Café Europa
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There are close to 30,000 first generation Holocaust
survivors living in Tel Aviv. Some were young children during the war,
and upon arrival in Israel were placed in orphanages, others were teens,
arriving on immigrant boats and immediately joined the Israeli Army.
Others were liberated from the camps with few or no surviving family
members.
If we fast-forward fifty years, today many have retired,
their children have grown up, some live far away, even overseas, a
spouse may be deceased, and they have a lot free time. Many have less
income. Their transition to leisure life has been harder than most
people's. |
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Café Europa began as a pilot program in November 2001 in
one location at the Zucker Senior Citizen Center on Rashi Street in the
heart of Tel Aviv. Its success became immediately apparent from the
overwhelming response. With funds from the Municipality and private
donations, two other locations were opened.
These clubs meet every
Sunday, in two locations, from 4 to 7 p.m. Snacks (tea, coffee, cakes
and such) are served, light entertainment is provided, mostly music in
Yiddish. Strangers talk to each other; they circulate, sit down and chat
with each other. Sometimes they discover shared experiences and pasts
while speaking to one another.
Café Europa began from a small network of people making
phone calls. The first meeting attracted 55 people and through word of
mouth and referrals from Amcha therapists, the numbers grew to
520. They continue to rise. |
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Download the proposal for Café Europa |
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