The joint steering committee of "Partnership 2000" meets yearly for the winter sessions. In this year's sessions, which were held on January 2002, participated 8 representatives from the US and 40 Israelis. From Baltimore and Pittsburgh came "Partnership 2000" chairs, Essie & Harold Garfinkel (Chair P2K Pittsburgh), Nancy Kohn-Rabin (new Chair P2K Baltimore), federation representatives and JCC managers.
The Israeli P2K Chair is Adi Eldar, Mayor of Karmiel, and from Misgav Scott Mann is the new lay-leader for P2K, replacing Erez Kreisler, Mayor of Misgav Regional Council (former chair P2K Misgav). Both mayors, as many volunteers and professionals from the region, took park in the steering committee discussions.
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Steering Committee representatives join in Bar Mitzva Ceremony for new immigrants
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The steering committee discussed the current situation in the 4 communities and participated in a lecture given by an IDF spokesperson regarding security situation in the area.
The guests visited the new Women's Health Center in Karmiel (donation of NAAMAT Pittsburgh), "First Steps" project in Hussnia, ORT Braude College and more. The steering committee representatives participated in a Bar Mizva ceremony for Ethiopian and FSU immigrant children, the moving ceremony held in a synagogue in Tiberias. This ceremony is the highlight of the Bar-Mizva project, which provides a basis for connection to Judaism and Israeli heritage for new immigrant children in the region.
Yael Raich, manager of Karmiel-Misgav region for JAFI, reports that the steering committee members were attentive to the needs of the hour and decided to invest funds in new programs, related to the current situation in the area.
What is "Partnership 2000" involved in?
1. "Living Bridge" programs:
Hosting visitors and groups from the communities (children, youth, adults)
Sending delegations from the region to the communities (children, youth, adults)
Sending counselors form the region to summer camps in Baltimore and Pittsburgh
Joint women's forum
Operating an English summer camp (Kefiada), with counselors from all 4 communities
Adult activities to develop regional volunteering leadership
Sending athletes from the region to the Maccabia games in the communities
2. Social and Educational programs:
Support of programs for children with special needs
Programs for the prevention of violence amongst youth and adults
Guidance of young mothers in the Beduin sector in Misgav
Bar Mizva program for children, immigrants and Israelis
Promoting immigrant athletes from FSU and Ethiopia
"Circles of Identity" - a program aimed to develop the personal and social Jewish identity
Co-Existence programs - Children of Peace, development of leadership in the Beduin sector
"Shutafim" - learning one's personal and collective Jewish identity and creating connections through e-mail
Development of connections between adults with special needs (Kishorit)
Operating programs to promote issues of women's health
3. Regional Development programs:
Assistance to start-up companies (MATI Lev-HaGalil)
Regional marketing, development of academic cooperation between ORT Braude College and academic institutes in the communities, "Business for Community" project, economic regional development
Promoting regional tourism
Shvat 5762 - February 2002