Due to limited available space throughout Israel, there is a great need for communities to provide multi-purpose facilities that meet the varied social and recreational interests of their residents. Magbit Canada has helped establish community centres, auditoriums, youth clubs, sports halls, and swimming pools, all of which serve as focal points for residents in dozens of communities across the country.

Community Centres

We have helped establish 15 community centres in areas stretching from Kiryat Shmona in the North to Eilat in the South. Primarily built once the basic needs of community residents have already been met, these centres significantly upgrade the quality of life for the populations they serve. Canadian support has led to the creation of some of Israel’s finest community centres, including those in Kfar Yona, Gan Yavne, Mazkeret Batya, Kfar Gvirol, and Nes Tziona.

Auditoriums

Magbit Canada, representing the Canadian Jewish Federations, has helped establish auditoriums in various communities throughout the country. Usually acting as the only facility of its kind in the area, these auditoriums have become a central and unique gathering place for residents. The facilities, which seat up to 1,000 people, are located across Israel, including Kibbutz Malkia (Rose Auditorium), Kiryat Shmona (Phil Granovsky Auditorium), Yaffo Daled (Ennis Auditorium), Nes Tziona (Jack Posluns Auditorium), Sapir Centre (Rosenthal Family Auditorium), Or Yehuda (Linda Pearl Cartu Auditorium), and Kibbutz Kfar Menahem (Dwor Auditorium).

Youth Clubs

Since most Israeli pupils finish their school day by 2:00 p.m., a time when most parents are still working, there is a need for centrally located facilities that host extracurricular youth activities during the afternoon. Through the creation of youth clubs, Magbit Canada has made it possible for youngsters of all ages to find a suitable after-school framework.

We have established dozens of such clubs throughout Israel including in Kibbutz Yiron, Metulla (Paula Segal Hurwitz Club), Kiryat Shmona (Arthur and Ancie Fouks Club, Beit Vancouver Club), Kiryat Malachi (Atnikov Club), Ramle (Beit Walker Club), Safed (Seeter Club), Haifa, Ein Yahav, Ashdod, Amatzyah, Yaffo Daled, Mevasseret Zion, Kfar Sava (Medjuck Club), Yavne (Solomon Brothers Club), Yeruham, Be’er Sheva (Azrieli Club), and Bnei Shimon (Palmach Group Montreal Youth Village).

Sports Halls

We have helped establish over 15 sports halls across Israel to meet the recreational needs of entire communities, whether during school hours or through the afternoon, evening and night. Magbit Canada has been involved in the creation of sports halls in communities such as Metulla, Yesod Hama’alah, Or Yehuda, Mazkeret Batya, Arad, Asseret (Varga Brothers Sports Hall), Yerucham (Morton Brownstein Sports Hall), Beit Dagan, and Haifa (Allan Hoffman Sports Hall).

Swimming Pools

Given Israel’s balmy temperatures throughout most of the year, the need for community swimming pools, particularly in areas far from the Mediterranean coast, is great. However, due to the high cost of constructing pools, many local municipalities are unable to build such facilities on their own. Recognizing this constraint, Magbit Canada supports the establishment of pools in communities across the country. Once the pools are constructed, local authorities take over their operation, thereby ensuring an easily accessible and affordable recreational activity for the entire community.

Some of the public swimming pools we have helped establish include those in Metulla, Gan Yavne, Kfar Yona, Haifa (Allan Hoffman Swimming Pool), Mazkeret Batya, Yeruham, Beit Dagan, and Kibbutz Lotem.