Gillian Heron and Susan Kurnedz

“My immigrant friends still cannot manage their lives without it”, says Gillian Heron.

ESRA’s newest enterprise is a calendar which will become your own personalized "can't-live-without" household word. The idea and initiative has come from two English immigrants who met up at ESRA’s Netanya branch.

“The experience of leaving one's former life behind and coming to Israel on aliyah was daunting,” says Gillian Heron from Manchester. “What will the future hold? Where will I find my comfort zone and what will my social world be? My life in England had always been involved with supporting Israel, so one of my ambitions was to find a group with which I could identify. After a few unsuccessful attempts, I was invited to an ESRA meeting. It was held in the home of Susan Kurnedz, and immediately I felt at home. I remember half way through the meeting becoming very emotional listening to so many hardworking ESRA members from a variety of countries who had committed themselves to running so many varied local projects.”

Susan Kurnedz, who initiated and coordinates the ESRA Counseling Group says, “Six years ago, after making aliyah from Manchester, I joined the Netanya branch of ESRA where I met and made so many lovely friends that I’ve never looked back”.  

A few months ago Susan came up with the idea of cloning the Darom Wizo Calendar from Manchester, and Gillian was the first to applaud the idea.

“There are so many commodities to bring from one’s country of birth to create a comfort zone,” says Gillian. “One vital item was the Darom Wizo Calendar. My immigrant friends still cannot manage their lives without it.”

Susan consulted with the group producing this calendar in Manchester, which has been so helpful and cooperative, and finally brought the idea to the ESRA Executive. “Everyone thought it was a great idea, so now it has been born with the most amazing and dynamic team. I feel so proud to be part of this very exciting venture,” says Susan.

The calendar is going to be distributed free to all paid-up ESRA members, and funding will come from a sponsors’ page, a buy-your-birthday date, a gift-a-special-day and advertisements of commercial businesses on each calendar page. Imagine what fun it will be to open a particular month and see your name personalized on your birthday! Take a look at the advertisement on page….to see exactly how you too can become a part of this wonderful fundraising project.

“How coincidental” says Gill, “that some 40 years ago I was a member of the committee which initiated The Darom Wizo Calendar. We set up a group and depended on a variety of sponsors to launch a very attractive and functional calendar.  Each year the challenge got easier with the ongoing commitment of sponsorship.  It has been an incredible financial success as the list of sponsors grows every year.  All these years later the calendar is still making the most magnificent profit.”

“We are hoping for the same success as Manchester,” says Susan.

So, reserve your date quickly as we are only having one special person per day, become a sponsor yourself or gift a sponsorship to a special family member or friend – and you too can become a part of this exciting venture.