Ariel is a microcosm of Israel. Home to almost 20,000 residents and another 11,000 students, the city's population includes all walks of life. Every age group is represented and every origin of Israelis and immigrants join together to make up the population. Over ten years ago the city saw an influx of a large Russian aliyah (immigration), today representing half of the city's residents. This aliyah was highly successful, adding much to the cultural and educational levels of the city. In the many different neighborhoods that make up Ariel, there is a keen sense of interaction and harmony. One of the city’s unequivocal strengths is its emphasis on community.

 

The mark of a vibrant community is its activism. The city of Ariel is blessed with a wide variety of different communities, each of which works in coordination with the others. The communities in Ariel are developed around different themes. Some are developed around cultural themes while some are around religious themes. Some communities focus on sports and recreation while others focus on leadership development. Some communities are neighborhood oriented while others are spread throughout the city. No matter what the theme, the many communities that are alive in Ariel represent a strong human resource for the city and all of its endeavors.

 

Ariel’s Interdisciplinary Center for Recreational and Sport Culture exemplifies eclectic community planning. The Interdisciplinary Center offers Ariel’s residents structured encounters with the world of music, dance, the arts and recreation. With the highly skilled staff, the Interdisciplinary Center constantly initiates innovative programming for the cultural advance and general welfare of the residents of Ariel and its environs.

 

Another example of innovative communities is prevelant in the integration between different so-called "demographic groups". Although members of the observant communities in Ariel number not more than 20% of the city’s population, the budding religious communities have had a very positive impact on Ariel’s day to day living. Community members dedicate their time to the social welfare of their neighbors, to city-wide programming focused on religious occasions and to making a Jewish life more accessible to those who want to learn more. A strong sense of community responsibility, coupled with a respect for the various types of Israelis residing in Ariel, make the religious communities a welcome asset to the City of Ariel.

 

More important than the variety of communities throughout the city of Ariel is their ability to work hand in hand. Perhaps it is the city of Ariel’s inherent significance. Perhaps it's just the nature of the people who are drawn to live here. For one reason or another, community activism in Ariel tends to be contagious. Inter-community coordination is the standard operating procedure. Whenever programs are advertised in the city the fliers inevitably bear the logos of a variety of participating organizations. When the municipality runs a project you will always see community members pitching in. Fortunately, the cooperation between various community groups creates a lasting and productive impact on the people of Ariel, on their value systems and on their futures.

 

Ariel's new residents are always told that if they want to make something happen, then Ariel is the place to do it. Every idea is welcome, every effort is blessed. Communities that encourage residents to take upon themselves leadership roles are available both for youth and for adults. In an era when the average individual tends to focus on his own personal lot, the people of Ariel are occupied and concerned with the wellbeing and the future of the State of Israel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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