This year as well, hundreds of neighborhoods across the country will mark the "International Neighbors' Holiday" initiated by EretzIr, the Joint Distribution Committee and the Community Work Service at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Social Security.
Neighbors' Holiday is celebrated annually in about 36 countries around the world. In Israel, the holiday will be marked today, in hundreds of locations throughout the country. As part of the Neighbors' Holiday events, hundreds of residents will take to the streets of the city and neighborhood to get to know their neighbors up close.
No fewer than 94 (!!!) municipalities registered this year to mark the holiday of the neighbors. This year there has been a 300 percent increase in the number of people signing up to host the Neighbors' Holiday, which attests to the existing need in Israeli society for unity and mutual responsibility, especially after the past year in which a deep social crisis emerged.
At the top of the list in the number of celebrants and maintaining its place at the top for the third consecutive year is the city ofAshdod. It turns out that Ashdods love the sense of unity, reciprocity and community. In second place is the city ofBe'er Shevawith a very respectable number of revelers and it also retains its second and honorable place for the third consecutive year.
Further down the list of participating cities isTel Aviv, which climbed to third place, and two surprising cities round out the top five this year: Haifa (fourth) and Jerusalem (fifth).
The most surprising figure is the increase in the number of municipalities participating in the Neighbors' Holiday this year – in 2022, only 22 municipalities were registered, while this year, as stated, no fewer than 94 authorities were registered.
Neighbors' Holiday 2023 (Photo: official website, photo - Moshe Biton)
Neighbours' Holiday first began in Paris in 1999, when feelings of loneliness, individualism and alienation between residents led a local group of friends to work to strengthen community by creating a new tradition of celebrating neighbors outside their homes. They put out a table, good food, music, festive atmosphere and got to know each other a little more. Since then, this tradition has become a global holiday, which is also celebrated in Israel and everyone can celebrate this holiday together with his neighbors.
This tradition has already been joined by quite a few authorities and dozens of communities in various cities in Israel, including Ashdod, Be'er Sheva, Haifa, Petah Tikva, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, the Krayot and more. Today, the holiday is celebrated in more than 36 countries around the world and hundreds of people take to the streets of the city and neighborhood to get to know their neighbors up close. The neighbors meet together in every city and town, go out into public spaces, yards and parks close to their homes with homemade food, tables, chairs, play social games, chat with each other and just connect.
Neighbors' Holiday 2023 (Photo: official website, photo - Moshe Biton)
The 2023 Neighbors Holiday takes place today, Tuesday, May 30, 5, in hundreds of different neighborhood locations across the country. It is a day when people gather with their neighbors who are so close to each other, but sometimes (and often) do not know each other at all. This blessed community initiative joins the tradition celebrated all over the world led by EretzIr, the Joint Distribution Committee and the Community Work Service at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Social Security.
Uri Carmel, CEO of EretzIr: "Beyond house committee meetings in the building or random meetings between neighbors passing by, most of us don't know our neighbors. The Neighbors Holiday is a wonderful opportunity to change our daily perception of life and even see our neighbors as partners in creating a local community that meets the human need of all of us: belonging, unity, a sense of togetherness and mutual responsibility. This year we upgraded even more, setting up WhatsApp groups for those who sign up to host the neighbors' holiday. In these groups, the hosts will receive a variety of ideas for social activities during the holiday, make suggestions for improvement and preservation, and it is a great platform for sharing great stories and making friends during the holiday. The hosts will receive all the tips and maximum support from us so that they can mark the holiday in the best possible way."
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