The Young leadership group of the Haifa-Boston connection is a group which has been meeting since the beginning of this year, twice a month with an emphasis on different topics - leadership, Jewish identity, our role in the community and, of course, the Haifa-Boston Partnership.

The group, which includes 25 young citizens of Haifa, was invited to join the annual Boston-Haifa steering committee meeting this May in Boston.

On April 5th, nine of us left on a flight from Tel Aviv to Boston (some of us with a short unexpected delay in Canada on the way) to what turned out to be both a true Jewish American adventure and a pure fun experience in Boston.

Young Bostonian professionals who are involved in CJP had opened their houses (and hearts) and hosted us for a five day "sleep over party".

During our visit, we not only joined the different meetings of the Boston-Haifa committees, but also had a separate schedule to help us to get to know different aspects of the work of CJP, which hopefully opened our minds and inspired us with fresh ideas to take back home with us.

From a visit to the Boston Food Bank , and to a visit to the Jewish Vocational Service, and even a little sing along we gave in an elderly house - the visit was intensive and planned to the dot. Or, as our Bostonian friends would have said: "AMAZING".

One of the most significant and moving experiences of the trip was the Holocaust memorial ceremony in Faneuil Hall. Specifically, singing the Hatikva with such pride, and being joined by such a huge group of American Jews - is a memory we will forever cherish.

Personally, my own understanding of Diaspora Jewry and of Boston Jewish community is now much deeper.

Recently, I wrote in an email to one of my new Bostonian friends: "I feel as if this trip has answered for me many questions, but has also revealed new ones. I do know for sure I have now a better grasp of my commitment to the society I live in, and the role I play as a young Jewish - Israeli woman in the future of my country."

I would like to thank all the Bostonians who have welcomed us so warmly and made us feel that even though we traveled nine hours by plane, we were still - very much at home.