A Mission of about 250 persons from the Jewish Community of Detroit, Michigan arrived this week to express their solidarity with the citizens of the Central Galilee. Hosted by Israeli partners from Nazareth Illit, Migdal HaEmek and the Jezrael Valley Regional Council, the mission participants were able to see how the people in the Region deal with the disturbances that have been part of their daily life since Rosh Hashana.

Mission participants spent the last evening in the Region with hundreds of their Israeli hosts, Mayors and local public officials in a festive dinner at the Marriott Hotel in Nazareth Illit. Menachem Ariav, Mayor of Nazareth Illit, said that this expression of solidarity proves the importance of the relationship between the people of Israel and World Jewry in general and Michigan Jewry in particular. Eli Barda, Mayor of Migdal HaEmek and the Partnership 2000 Israeli Chair spoke of the excitement in seeing everyone assembled tonight and expressed his hope that similarly large missions would be paying visits to the Central Galilee, regardless of future events. Mr. Mark Hausner, President of the United Jewish Foundation of Metropolitan Detroit, spoke of his experiences on this visit. He assured all those present that the success and the relationships created during this visit, which was orchestrated under the heading of a "solidarity mission", ensures, regardless of future events, additional mission visits that will further enhance the ties with Jews in Nazareth Illit, Migdal HaEmek and the Jezrael Valley.

  Adar 5761 - February 2001