During June 2009, three delegations from Pittsburgh visited the Karmiel-Misgav region, as part of the “Partnership 2000” program sponsored by the Jewish Agency for Israel.

The month began with its traditional group of 8th graders from the city's Community Day School (CDS). The delegation was hosted by 8th grade students from Misgav High School  for an interesting two-day visit (June 8-9). During their first day in the region, the delegation did some introductory games and activities.  

The next day they set out for a daylong trip to the Golan Heights that included a hike in the "Jalabon" mountain creek, a visit to the observation point at Mount Bental where they could see all of the Galilee and much of southern Syria and kayaking down the Jordan River. also, the two groups enjoyed a night of fun at the swimming pool at Kibbutz Hanaton using the time to all become better acquainted with one another.

After two days of fun and shared experiences, the two groups parted, the Israelis returned home to continue school until the end of the school year while the Americans continued to tour the breath and width of Israel.

The second delegation, numbering some 30 participants from the Reform Temple Sinai Congregation, arrived on Wednesday June 24 and enjoyed an afternoon with members of Karmiel’s “Yedid Nefesh” Reform Congregation. The Israeli and American groups met for a joint activity at the “Biblical Nature Walkway” in the Misgav community of Mechmanim. There they conducted a number of agricultural chores as they were done in biblical times such as harvesting wheat by hand.

The congregation’s rabbi, Rabbi James Gibson, who led the delegation, thanks the Israeli hosts and said they would be pleased to cooperate with and assist the Reform congregation in Karmiel in any way deemed viable and necessary by the congregations.
The following week, on Sunday June 28, a delegation of 16 individuals participating in the prestigious “Wexner Heritage Summer Institute” conducted a 3-day visit to the region. The group visited at Eshbal, Kishorit, the Misgav Technological Innovation Center and Tel Yodfat, etc.
Furthermore, the group was among the first American groups to experience a cycling trek along the recently inaugurated “Partnership 2000 Trail” that connects between Karmiel and Misgav.
During the visit by the delegation to the Karmiel Children’s Village, one of the delegation’s participants threw a giant pizza party for all of the children residing in the village. The reason for the party was the successful conclusion of another school year and the special ties that had been developed with one of the children as part of the “Pampering Families” program operated by the partnership. Attending the party were members of the Karmiel-Misgav YAD group, the partnership’s local young adult leadership development group that also has long and warm connections with the Children’s Village.

The group also met with Adi Eldar, the mayor of Karmiel and Ron Shani, the mayor of the Misgav Regional Council. The two local leaders shared with the delegation the various challenges currently facing the respective communities.

More Details about "Wexner" group' Visit to Karmiel- Misgav Region in  the following link: http://pittchron.com/bookmark/3019610