The Chairman of the Atlanta Twin City Committee, Dr. Arnold Heller, recently came to Raanana for a 3-day visit, as part of the cooperative efforts between the twin cities, Raanana and Atlanta.  Mr. Heller visited Raanana in order to promote and strengthen the relationship between the two cities and to investigate new ways to expand the activity in various fields – education, culture, music, etc.

Mayor Nahum Hofree and City Councilwoman, Sima Perry- Chairwoman of the Twin Cities Committee, accompanied Mr. Heller on his visit and joined some of the meetings held in the city.

During his visit to Raanana, Mr. Heller visited the new municipal music center and was very impressed with the scope of activity and the high level of study at the center.  He promised to investigate the possibility of cooperation in the field and exchanging delegations of musicians.  Later, he visited the Bartov Elementary School where they discussed renewing the relationship between Bartov students and Jewish students from Atlanta in order to strengthen the things the children of Israel share in common with the Jewish community in the Diaspora.  He also met with representatives from the Education Division in order to renew the youth delegation exchange program.

Mr. Heller visited the city archives, the Raanana History Museum and the Founders’ Museum and met with the municipal curator, in order to include a Raanana artist in an art exhibition for Atlanta’s twin cities.

During his visit, Mr. Heller visited the city’s conservative synagogue –– where a decision was made to strengthen the relationship with Atlanta’s She’erit Yisrael community.  He also visited the Beit Issie Shapira Center, where cooperative efforts with Atlanta’s Marcus Center were discussed.  Marcus Center is considered to be a world leader in its field.

Raanana and Atlanta signed a twin city treaty a decade ago and since that time, they have promoted fruitful cooperative projects in the fields of education and municipal development.  Two years ago, the municipal representatives presented the Ahuza Street Upgrade Project at the green cities conference in Atlanta.

Raanana has signed treaties with seven twin cities around the world:  Poznan in Poland; Opsterland, Holland; Bramsche, Germany; Boulogne-Billancourt, France; Verona, Italy; Tainan, Taiwan; Atlanta, U.S.  Raanana has also signed a friendship treaty with the city of Goslar, Germany.

Mayor Nahum Hofree:  “Over the years, Raanana has wisely created brave and close relationships with its twin cities and every time a representative from one of these cities visits Raanana, it is a direct continuation of our joint efforts to expand the things we share in common and our cooperation.”

In the photo:  the Mayor, Dr. Arnold Heller and City Councilwoman Sima Perry.  Photo courtesy of the Raanana Municipality.