For four months, we have been planning the first ever encounter between Israeli and American Jewish high school students who emigrated from the FSU. We began articulating the vision on Feb 24, and: Tonight it's happening!

Nine students from the Bosmat High School in Haifa are leaving for a seven day visit to Boston. They are very focused on their mission. They will be presenting their Israel as a mosaic of personal Haifa stories. They will tell the stories and relate the experiences from their daily lives.

The Haifa students already know their American hosts from email contact and video conferences. They are most excited to meet them face to face - finally.

The American team has been working around the clock in anticipation of the arrival of the Israeli students. A rich, diverse, exciting program suitable for this unique group of students is waiting for them.

OREN - the Dept. for World Jewry of Shdemot at Oranim College worked intensively with the Israeli students in preparation for the trip. Along with educators from OREN, the students dealt with a range of topics, including: the nature of the American Jewish community, Jewish and Israeli identity, Jewish peoplehood, culture gap, Arab-Israeli conflict etc. Israelis participated in intense Hasbara workshops which included sessions on public speaking and presentation. They also created audio-visual materials.

The students are taking with them to Boston a very full tool kit including their own video film and a power point presentation on Haifa.

Upon return, the Haifa students will begin the third part of their program, namely: volunteering in Haifa. This will take the form of an intense leadership orientation seminar. Then, they will begin working as assistant young leaders in the Hazofim (Israeli Scouts) summer camp.

But, this is not the end! In fact, it is only the beginning. We believe this kind of work is important. Personal connections, specific projects and promoting peoplehood are the things that we most believe in. We are looking forward to the time (God willing) that our Boston hosts will visit us in Haifa! We would like the opportunity to return their generous hospitality. In addition, we would like to introduce them to Haifa - through our eyes.

For me, this project - with the special connection with Boston and an incredible group of young leaders from Haifa - has been a high point of this past year. It also gives me ideas of other things we can do in the future. I am ready to begin discussing some possible directions for next year.

I would like to thank some of the people who were so helpful in making this delegation happen. And I see them as excellent partners for some of the things I would like to begin building for the future. They all gave generously of their time, help and advice. Specifically: Irene, Alla, Ena, Karen and Irina in Boston, and Guri, Yemima, and Ariel in Israel. (And, of course, my friends and colleagues at OREN.) Many thanks!

Kol tuv,

And behatzlacha le-kulanu,

Gadi Raviv