With the backing of Partnership 2000 five delegates from Arad Tamar departed for Washington to participate in the Young Leadership Conference.

The conference was attended by some 3000 young Jewish leaders from all over the United States and about 30 Israeli delegates. The conference addressed issues such as the challenges of being a minority group, the fear of growing assimilation and the need to preserve Reform, Conservative and Orthodox Jewish life in America. Issues that get very little attention from most Israelis.

Delegates from our partner communities received our group with great warmth and love accompanying us to lectures, meals and events. The close connection and the warm friendship that embraced us in Washington was the envy of other Israeli delegates most of whom "felt lost" in the large crowd.

After the conference, we split to go visit the communities. Three of us went to Delaware and Cheryhill and the other two went to Central New Jersey and North New Jersey. During these visits, we met with leaders and members of the community, visited schools and interacted with children. We were also engaged in discussing current projects and reviewing ideas for new joint projects.

Every place we visited, we spoke of the situation in Israel and of our Region (Arad-Tamar). We met many people who love Israel and are looking forward to enhanced cooperation.

Throughout our visit we were received with great warmth by our hosts and the children we met. Many remembered previous visits made by people from our Region - the string orchestra, the young athletes who participated in the Young Macabbi Games and the Tamar Youth Choir.

The lay leadership long hours of dedicated volunteer work deserves special mention. It is important to get to know World Jewry and ensure that enduring contacts are maintained.

This experience made us realize that reciprocal visits of lay leaders, in the Region and in the partner communities, are essential to maintaining continuity. Once personal contacts are made - there is someone on the other side to talk to and work with.

Iyar 5762 - May 2002