On the last “Good Deeds Day,” the courtyard of the Haifa Association for Immigrants Absorption was transformed—but something much more important happened: a sense of belonging was born.
Ulpan students, new olims who recently arrived in the city, gathered to clean the area and plant saplings together. From the outside, it may have seemed like simple work, but for them, each planted flower was a symbol of a new beginning. Every cleaned-up spot was a sign: “This place is mine too.”
“Suddenly, you realize that you’re not just living in the city—you are becoming a part of it,” shared one of the participants.
This day brought together people, cultures, the past, and the future. Most importantly, it gave the city’s new residents a sense of participation and the opportunity to influence the space they live in.
Kirill Karetik, a city council member and chairman of the Haifa Association for Immigrants Absorption, summed up the day with one phrase:
“New immigrants are not a burden; they are a value. When you see them acting with all their hearts, you understand: Haifa doesn’t just accept—it renews itself with them.”
A small day—with deep roots of change.
