Six Pittsburgh families arrived in the Carmiel-Misgav Region on July 11th for a Summer Hebrew Ulpan, sponsored by the Partnership 2000 program of the Jewish Agency.

The families are here to participate in a weeklong Hebrew Ulpan (Language Study Center) this is being conducted especially for them at Kibbutz Moran. This is the project's first year under the auspices of Partnership 2000.

The primary objective of the project is to strengthen the relationship that exists between the Jewish Community of Pittsburgh, the State of Israel and the Carmiel-Misgav Region in particular through means of "hands-on" activities and personal acquaintances with area residents.

During the week, adults and children studied Hebrew throughout the morning hours and spent the afternoon touring and taking short trips in the Galilee. The families (all closely accompanied by Israeli host families from the region) planted trees in Carmiel, toured the Misgav Regional Council (together with Deputy Mayor, Baruch Rosen), went whitewater rafting on the Jordan River and visited the Golan Heights Winery in Katzrin, the Grottos of Rosh Hanikra and Tzafat. The group also participated in the opening and closing ceremonies of the annual Carmiel Dance Festival.

On Thursday (July 15), the adult members of the group volunteered a few hours of their time organizing food packages for the needy at the "Open your Heart" ("Pitchon Lev" in Hebrew) Food Distribution Center in Carmiel.

The Pittsburgh families spent the weekend with their Carmiel-Misgav host families.

Partnership 2000 is a Jewish Agency sponsored program for the creation and development of contacts between Negev, Galilee and Jerusalem area communities and Jewish communities abroad. The Carmiel-Misgav-Pittsburgh Partnership has been in existence since 1995.

  Av 5764 - July 2004