Dear Friends and Partners,

Two and a half years have passed since the end of the 2nd War in Lebanon in which our communities became the battlefront and once again we find ourselves in the midst of yet another war. This time however we are watching with concern and supporting the residents of Israel’s southern region who for the past 8 years have “lived” under a daily bombardment of missiles and rocket fire sent from Gaza by the Hamas terrorists and their cohorts!

With the conclusion of the 2nd War in Lebanon, the country began an intense process of learning and drawing conclusions relative to the functioning of local municipalities, government ministries and the army. As Israelis, we have come to see that the lessons of the 2nd War in Lebanon have been learned and internalized. This time around, we are happy to see and report that the country was better prepared and better organized to handle the situation. This broadcasts a sense of pride and security to the people both in the affected region and throughout the country.

Israelis throughout the country and residents of the south in particular, support the government and the army, praying for the safety of our soldiers fighting in Gaza and hope that with the conclusion of military activities we will finally achieve a long-awaited quiet and tranquility.

Community leaders and residents from the Karmiel-Misgav region, who have experienced “living under the fear of falling missiles and rockets” decided to take action and offered their assistance to the residents of the south.

In a letter distributed to the residents of Karmiel, Adi Eldar the city’s mayor wrote, “our hearts and souls go out to the residents of the south, we too experienced what they are experiencing today and now we want to do whatever we can, even the smallest of gestures, to ease their plight”.

The City of Karmiel, through its City Information Center has begun accepting requests from those families from the south who wish to have a few days of peace and quiet in the north and matches them with host families from Karmiel. Our guests from the south are invited to use the various sports facilities throughout the city, send their children to the city’s educational institutions, participate in various community center activities and enjoy a variety of cultural activities. Many restaurants throughout the city have even invited our southern guests to enjoy meals at symbolic costs.

In Misgav, through the region’s Volunteer Activity Unit that was assigned the job of coordinating the region’s aid efforts to the residents of the south, the following activities have been organized:
• A group of 34 parents and children from Kibbutz Re’im enjoyed three days of “pampering”, including a two-day trip to Masada, Arad, the Golan Heights and Katzrin as well as hospitality from a number of families from the residential community of Mitzpe Aviv, the home of the region’s mayor Ron Shani, who also took time to meet with the group.

• The residential community of Rekefet hosted a group of 21 residents from Ashkelon

• Dozens of families from the south found refuge in the B&B at Kibbutz Moran

• Misgav social workers were available for any visiting resident of the south who needed assistance

• Families from Gilon and Tzurit hosted families of employees from Bank Hapoalim branches in the south

• A group of Misgav young people from 10th-12th grades at the Misgav Regional High School prepared to host their counterparts from the south

• An offer was made to host family pets from southern communities at a kennel in Yuvalim “for the duration”

• People and organizations from throughout the region offered their help in hosting, transporting, entertaining and serving as tour guides for guests from the south.

We have no doubt that this is “Israel at its best”. Just like during the 2nd War in Lebanon and other crises that we encountered, we are witness once more to the numerous stories that in spite of our own daily difficulties, in times of crisis we are One People and will do what we can to help one another!

We pray that Operation Cast Lead will come to a speedy conclusion and will bring all of us peace and tranquility.

To learn more about what the residents of the south are experiencing, go to the Jewish Agency’s website at www.jewishagency.org/JewishAgency/English/Home .

Sincerely yours,

Yael Raych
Director of the Karmiel-Misgav-Pittsburgh Partnership 2000 Program
JAFI