At first glance, it’s just a group of kids in a room, holding up their creations. Laughter. Flour on the tables. Small hands proudly holding what they made.

But that room is special. The Dekel Children’s Building in Kibbutz Carmia didn’t always look like this. And these moments didn’t just happen. They were built with intentionality.

Through a partnership between our Federation and Jewish Columbus, Dekel was renovated and reopened as a place for after-school life. A place where kids show up tired from the day, and leave holding something they made with their own hands. Thanks to this shared commitment, we were able to power the renovation of the building. Through our partnership, Dekel now serves as a welcoming home for after-school programs where children can learn and create.

Moments like this baking club reflects core Jewish values: arevut (mutual responsibility), tzedakah, and standing with our partners in Israel, not only in words, but in action.

This is what partnership looks like. A warm room. A shared table. Children who feel safe and supported. Because when we invest in children, we invest in the future.