I have been to Israel before, but during my trip earlier this month I visited the Arad-Tamar region for the first time. Naturally, I had heard many wonderful things about the Dead Sea and the surrounding region from friends and family who have visited, but for some reason during past visits to Israel I never made it to Arad-Tamar. In fact, initially this trip did not include a visit to Arad-Tamar. The purpose of my trip was to participate in two UJC missions, with four days to myself between the end of the first and the start of the second. As my plans took shape, prior to my departure, I realized that I could not be in Israel without visiting Arad-Tamar. There were several reasons for this.

We are a New Jersey community, part of the P2K New Jersey-Delaware Cluster that is partnered with Arad-Tamar. As the new Executive Director of Jewish Federation of Cumberland County, I could not, in good conscience, visit Israel without visiting our P2K community. As compelling a reason as this was, however, it was not the only reason to include the region in my visit.

Our community was fortunate to host two special women from Arad-Tamar following the Washington-13 leadership conference this past February. You sent us Estee Barak, of Neot HaKikar, and Ella Symonitz, of Arad, and you could not have sent two better emissaries to represent you. Estee and Ella truly built bridges between our community and yours that will a last a lifetime. They are the reason I came to Arad-Tamar; I had to see my new friends and the part of Israel they call home.

Once the decision had been made, I contacted Shmuel Kaplan, the P2K Living Bridge Coordinator in Arad, and that was that. I did nothing else; Shmuel planned a wonderful, meaningful and very memorable visit for me. I saw and learned more of the region in four days than I would have in a fortnight had I planned my own visit. No detail was overlooked, and I had a wonderful time.

Before Shabbat, I visited the many projects at the Dead Sea and surrounding area with Estee and the local councilman Ofir Cohen. I spent a warm and joyous Shabbat with Estee, her wonderful family and friends, in Neot HaKikar, and ate a delicious meal cooked by Estee's son, Omri.

Motsei Shabbat I was collected by Yuval Shefi, whom I had met only briefly in the U.S., and taken to Arad, welcomed into his home by his wife, Lily, and their two children. Later that evening, after a delicious meal prepared by Lily, Yuval and I met up with Shmuel at Muza. What a blast! To see so many people, young and old, out and having a great time. I felt so at home, and introduced Shmuel to Long Island Iced Tea - proof that, despite his accent, after thirty years he is no longer an American!

After a long night at Muza, my favorite spot in Arad, Sunday was an early start. Shmuel was tour guide extraordinaire! We visited the Democratic School, the MeLev VaLev Day Center & Book Bindery, Beit Gilad (where I was photographed in front of a minibus donated by the New Jersey-Delaware cluster), the Yafit Absorption Center and Hotel School, and the World Union of Jewish Students (WUJS) - all this before lunch!

After lunch, we visited the Sea of Life factory, toured the Over & Above projects, visited the Orly Absorption Center, the Matnas and the Science & Communication Center. By the end of the day, I was exhausted, but also exhilarated and impressed by the many commendable initiatives of the Jewish Agency.

Sunday night, I spent a wonderful evening in the home of Ella and Ronen Symonitz, and enjoyed my first-ever Israeli barbecue. Ella, Ronen and their two adorable sons were wonderful. After dinner, we met up with Shmuel for drinks at, yes, Muza - where, it seems, many locals are found each evening. Later that evening, Ella wrapped my ankles in cabbage leaves to reduce the swelling caused by the heat - and it worked! How did I repay their kindness? The following morning, I am embarrassed to say, I bid farewell after flooding almost their entire home with water from my shower. I was beside myself when I came out of the bathroom to find Shmuel (who was there to pick me up) and Ella frantically mopping up the deluge - and Ella, bless her, was gracious to the end.

Most evident from my visit to the region is that there are many needs to be met and much work to be done, particularly in the United States, to ensure that the amazing accomplishments of our very special partnership with Arad-Tamar continue and expand. There is great potential that can only be met with help from the United States, now more than ever, as the economic effects of Palestinian violence against Israel continue to erode funding for special services, even in a region as relatively untouched by the violence as Arad-Tamar. There may be very few terrorist attacks, but the economic effects are very visible in a region that is largely made up of new immigrant groups.

This was made clearer on Monday morning when I met with Monica Zelingher, Director of the regional office of the Jewish Agency, Topaz Carmi, Director of the Economic Development Unit, and Bezalel Tabeeb, Mayor of Arad. There are a great number of very valuable initiatives planned that can not begin because of lack of funding. Many of these initiatives have long-term value that will improve the quality of life in the region, for the entire population, through job creation and economic development. It is important that we do whatever we can to ensure that these initiatives see the light of day. This is only possible through greater cooperation between all of the Jewish Federations in New Jersey and Delaware, locally, and with our partners in Israel.

I look forward to visiting Arad-Tamar again in the future - officially for the P2K Budget sessions in October, and, yes definitely, on future personal visits. I must visit Muza again, and say hello to the very special people I am so very fond of.

Av 5762 - August 2002