By: Anat Steinberg - Our Emissary to Delaware

I'm sitting in my favorite place, at my favorite time of the week, and the weather is almost my favorite. I'm at the corner of Marsh and Silverside, Sunday afternoon, at the only coffee shop in the city. The weather is bone-chillingly cold, and although the sun is out, I can see that snow is on the way.

The smell of the coffee sharpens all my senses, floods me with memories of home, cooking in the field on Saturday morning way out in the Negev or the northern part of the country, a group of friends sprawled around the campfire, with Turkish coffee bubbling in the coffeepot. I take a deep breath and fill my lungs with the far-off scent, the sun's rays peep in through the window to my left, and a familiar tune starts to play in the background - David Brosa.

I open my eyes and come back to reality: I'm in Delaware, in the United States.

Why did I pick myself up, pack a suitcase (actually two suitcases) and five packages (over 200 pounds) to come to one of the smallest places in America?

Every day brings reinforcement of the reason that I'm here:

I HAVE A MISSION!

It has been six months since I came here. In some ways it feels like forever, in others it seems like just one day.

I hardly finish working on one event and at the same time I'm already starting the next one. Days and nights run into each other.

As time passes and the seasons change, I'm learning more and more. The right words come to me more easily, I find myself smiling all the time, and I'm more energized every day.

So let me tell you why I'm really here:

A few days ago I was teaching a lesson in one of the supplementary Jewish schools. I showed a photograph of a Bedouin, and when I asked the class to tell me who they saw in the photo, one of the children said that it was the Jewish Santa Claus. Before replying, I waited to see if anyone would correct him, and when no one did, I asked the rest of the class what they thought. Out of a class of twenty children, no one thought that there was anything wrong with this answer. On another occasion, when I was sitting with the younger kids and talking about making a contribution by doing things, and working on related activities leading up to the "Mitzvah Day", I asked them at the end of the day what they thought they could do to make a contribution to Israel. There were many diverse suggestions, but the main focus was on financial contributions. One of the children even brought in his piggy bank the next day and wanted to donate the three dollars that he had saved in small change. They really want to contribute something. I explained to the children that there are other ways to contribute to Israel, by doing things, by supporting the country, and by strengthening and encouraging its residents.

Today I know that I've made a difference in that there are a few more children who will consider contributing to Israel not only with a check; there are families that know why and how we celebrate Tu B'Shvat in Israel; there are classes of children that know about that there is a little country way out in the Middle East, where you can find camels, but you can also find more modern vehicles, and they will also know how to tell the difference between a Bedouin and Santa Claus.

I'm here as a reminder that the generation that established the State of Israel is slowly fading away and everything is now coming into our hands. We are the generation that has to preserve and develop. We hold the power to build or to destroy. I'm here as a reminder that the State of Israel loves all of its children, and there is always room for the sons and daughters from far away; we just have to make sure that we remember.

A few weeks ago I spend a weekend with young Jewish people, with converted Jews, and those with one Jewish parent. It was a powerful emotional experience to see 300 young people singing for the young State, in Hebrew and in English, saying prayers and showing much knowledge.

And once again I was reminded why I am here:

The amazing readiness, understanding and cooperation throughout that entire weekend, regarding Israel and Judaism, the independence with which they carried out Jewish texts, the knowledge that they exhibited in their rhetorical remarks and the future that grew before our eyes, all this proved to me once again that there will always be someone, across the sea, who will remember.

And to the family in Israel, you the dear residents of Arad and Tamar, I'm happy to tell you that the Birthright delegation recently returned from Israel, are still talking about you and about great time and wonderful hosting they experienced in the region. I'm also happy to tell you that we have a few more people interested this year in programs that will bring them back to Israel and to the Partnership region, in various volunteer capacities. And I'm also happy to say that the Pen Pal project began a few weeks ago, and has been growing at a dizzying rate. The response in Delaware has been greater than expected, and I'm pleased to see that there are Israeli children that want to connect with American children - well done!

For all of these reasons, and for many others, are why I am here.

I welcome new ideas, initiatives, or anything that you would like to offer. You can contact me at anat.sht@gmail.com or by telephone at 302-7661848