On February 20-28, 2002 a delegation from Ort Braude College and Partnership 2000 Karmiel-Misgav visited academic institutions in Baltimore and Pittsburgh, USA.

The members of the delegation were: Dr. Zeev Volkovitch of the software programming dept., Dr. Ditza Levin, senior lecturer, dept. of biotechnology, Dr. Giora Enden of the mathematics dept.

The purpose of this visit was to examine possibilities for academic cooperation between Karmiel-Misgav region, the college and leading institutions from the communities and to strengthen the connection with local Jewish communities.

The visit was sponsored by "Partnership 2000" Karmiel-Misgav of the Jewish Agency.

In Baltimore the delegation met with scientists of the bio-medical dept. in Johns Hopkins University, one of the best in the world in its field, as well as with professional of mathematics, physics, biology, software engineering and mechanics engineering from Maryland University and Loyola College. They also met with scientists from the National Institution of Health.

In Pittsburgh the delegation met with scientists of Carnegie-Mellon University, Pittsburgh University and the blood-substitutes lab at the McGowan Institution of Regenerative Medicine.

The meetings were very fruitful and contained discussions of possibilities for students exchange, internship of Israeli students in the communities, academic staff cooperation etc.

The delegation was greeted with great warmth by the Jewish community, which hosted the visitors for a Friday night feast at Ann and Sheldon Berman's residency in Baltimore and at Norman Higir and Marylyn Swimmer residency in Pittsburgh. In addition, the delegation met with members of the Pittsburgh Ort College, in which a presentation was made on Ort Braude College in Karmiel.

The Associated in Baltimore and the Federation in Pittsburgh had coordinated all meetings, with the assistance of Elizabeth Homans and Shari Edelstein, who represent the Baltimore and Pittsburgh communities in Israel.

Nisan 5762 - March 2002