CELEBRATE ISRAEL’S2GETHER!PARTNERSHIP 70TH 2GETHER A Look at Leading P2G Programs Across Israel and Around the Globe
Summer 2018 Table of Contents Celebrate Israel’s 70th 2Gether! 4 Partnership2Gether/Global School Twinning Network Interconnections Conference 6 Facing the Future of Jewish Peoplehood: A Strategic Collaboration with the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs 6 Sharing Across All Partnerships: P2G Learning Sessions 7 Global school twinning network 8 Extending the Partnership with the Ministry of Education & Ministry of Diaspora Affairs RoboTwin: The Eilat-Eilot—Toronto STEM Program Partnership2Gether: Update on New Initiatives 10 248 Community Action Network G2: Global Intergenerational Initiative My 5! Support for Religious Streams 14 A Look at Leading P2G Programs Across Israel and Around the Globe 16 Formal and Informal Education 16 Kiryat Gat-Lachish-Shafir—Chicago: Israeli Children Zone Dimona—Network of Independent Communities: Lunch and Learn Center Zichron Yaakov—South Palm Beach: School Twinning Shoham—Memphis: School Twinning Yerucham—Miami: Robotics Philadelphia—Netivot–Sedot Negev: StudioLab Teens and Young Adults 20 Western Galilee—Central Area Consortium: Young Adults and Tikkun Olam Modiin—Rochester: Journey for Identity (JFI) Beit Shemesh-Mateh Yehuda—South Africa: Youth Movement Seminar Central Arava—Australia: Limmud Arava Rehovot—Minneapolis: Alternative Spring Break Art and Environment 24 Nesher—Broward: Music2Gether Kiryat Malachi-Hof Ashkelon—Tucson: Light Trail Karmiel-Misgav—Pittsburgh: Waldman International Arts and Writing Competition Leadership Development 26 Tzahar—Palm Beach: Young Leadership Hadera-Eiron—Southeast US Consortium: Leadership2Gether Shoham—Venezuela: Budapest Study Seminar for Young Adults Greater MetroWest—Ofakim-Merchavim: Negba Peoplehood Project Montreal—Beer Sheva-Bnei Shimon: Young Leadership Summit Nahariya—Northern New Jersey: Emergency Response Teams Sovev Kinneret—Milwaukee, Madison & St. Paul: Stories from the Poriya Medical Center Mexico-Northeastern New York—Eshkol: Mechanchei Israel Community Development 32 Sha’ar Hanegev—San Diego: SouthUp Beit Shean-Valley of Springs—Cleveland: “St. Clair” Project Western Galilee—Dallas: Taste of the Galilee Celebrating “The Yoms” 34 Northern Galilee—Great Britain: Magic Moments Kfar Saba—Columbus: Remembering Together Rosh Ha’ayin—New Orleans: Joint Yom HaAtzmaut Celebration Service Year Shlichim (Shin-Shinim) 36 Netanya—Cincinnati: Chaverim M’Israel Afula-Gilboa—Southern New England Consortium: Shin-Shinim Summer Camp 38 Yokneam-Megido—Atlanta-St. Louis: Kefiyada Yoav—Lehigh Valley : Young Counselors Central Galilee—Michigan: Israeli Camper Program Celebrate Israel’s 70th 2Gether!
Ways to participate Take a selfie or a group shot with your friends or colleagues holding print-outs of one of these colorful P2G star icons. « Upload your picture to Facebook, and be sure to use the tag #2Gether4_il_70! « Upload your picture into our “big picture” mosaic, by going to www.bit.ly/p2gmosaic. « Get your community involved by using the #2Gether4_il_70 Activity Kit, appropriate for all ages. It includes a card deck with the P2G star icons, cards to write your “7 Words of Wishes” to Israel and your “7 P2G Moments.” Instructions for group facilitation are included. « Print the kit yourself by clicking here « Purchase high-quality kits with festive packaging Join thousands in wishing Israel a happy birthday, through P2G ($10 per kit plus shipping). P2G-style, through the #2Gether4_il_70 Campaign, individually, locally, and globally! For more information contact Dr. Ravit Ochayon at [email protected]. PARTNERSHIP2GETHER 2018 Online Learning Sessions
Sharing Across All Partnerships: P2G Learning Sessions P2G’s first online learning session was successfully launched on June 7, 2018 focusing on how to increase engagement in P2G. Participants from some 20 partnerships took part – lay and professionals – Israeli and Diaspora participants. Presentations were made by representatives from Netanya— Cincinnati, Beit Shean – Valley of Springs- Cleveland , and Nahariya—Northern New Jersey. Partnership2Gether/Global School Twinning
Network Interconnections Conference PARTNERSHIP2GETHER The two-day conference was held in Newark, New Jersey in March 2017 and 2018 Online Learning Sessions 1 2 3 included 170 participants from 28 Federations, representing 26 partnerships and 17 schools. Participants came from North America, Israel and even Budapest, Hungary.
We were energized 2Gether though several experiences: As always with P2G conferences, we walked away feeling JUNE 7 SEPT. 4 DEC. 4 exploring programmatic opportunities and new P2G part of something bigger than ourselves, bigger than Increasing Long-term Young initiatives; launching the #2Gether4_il_70 campaign; our home communities, and bigger than our individual sharing successes and challenges; and hearing Partnership Partnerships. We will continue our conversations from the Communal Engagement Adults GEM TED talks and other speakers. conference in three video conference calls in 2018. Engagement Generate, sustain Attract and engage and grow passion future generations in P2G and commitment to Partnership and to Partnership. develop leaders. Facing the Future of Jewish Peoplehood: A Strategic Collaboration with the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs The Partnerships Unit is convening a series of seminars to raise awareness in Israeli society about the complex issues faced by overseas Jewry. Plug into the P2G network and learn
The target audiences for the seminars are Israeli leaders how to drive your Partnership forward. and opinion-shapers who wish to learn more about the current state of Jewish Peoplehood and overseas Jewry. The seminars are a strategic collaboration between the Please mark the next two scheduled sessions on your calendars, for September Partnerships Unit and Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs to advance our shared mission of ensuring a strong and 4th and December 4th. Following each session, materials and the contact united Jewish people based on shared understanding of information for presenters will be uploaded to our Knowledge Center. each other.
For more information contact: For more information contact: Check out the Partnership2Gether Dr. Ravit Ochayon at [email protected]. Dr. Ravit Ochayon at [email protected]. KNOWLEDGE CENTER
6 7 GLOBAL SCHOOL TWINNING NETWORK
The Global School Twinning RoboTwin: The Eilat-Eilot—Toronto Network currently includes some STEM Program 300 schools in Israel and 300 Two years ago, the Global School Twinning Network Activities in the pilot in Eilat-Eilot Toronto schools in Jewish communities launched a new opportunity for twinned schools to build have shown that STEM twinning provides worldwide. More than 2,000 overseas friendships through STEM studies. (STEM stands exciting value-add to the schools: teachers and 55,000 students of for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.) The pilot • Strengthening Israel-Diaspora connections through all ages participate. program in eight primary and middle schools in the Eilat- ongoing dialogue Eilot—Toronto partnership has been very successful. • Project-based activities that develop critical thinking These twinned schools chose to focus specifically on the and independent problem solving area of robotics. • Activities that teach skills in working as part of an This initiative stemmed from needs on both international team sides of the ocean: • Promoting peer interaction, networking, and sharing of Extending the Partnership with the best practices between faculty members internationally • To fulfill the goals of Partnership – connecting Jews of all • Increasing the knowledge and tools of the science Ministry of Education & Ministry of ages from Toronto with their peers in Eilat – in a way that teachers and the students feels fresh, relevant and exciting to children. Diaspora Affairs • Acquisition of advanced equipment • Israel continued to produce outstanding scientists, but • Developing two-way benefits for both sides of the We started 2018 with a new strategic partnership with the decline in students who choose to “major” in science Partnership through reciprocal sharing of knowledge Israel’s Ministry of Education and Ministry of Diaspora in high school led to fears that Israel would turn from a • Increased cooperation between the Partership Affairs for a major expansion of the Global School Twinning “start-up nation” to a “nation in a slowdown.” Additionally, communities, and expansion of the circle of partners. Network. the periphery deals with a constant shortage of science Beginning in September 2018, the respective Ministries It should be noted that in both Eilat and Toronto the teachers, and existing teachers need more avenues will provide extensive funding to expand the Network’s RoboTwin project is part of a larger effort to upgrade to keep up with changes in the field. STEM Twinning global reach and enhance our educational pedagogy. We science and technology education. For example, the provides opportunities for children in the periphery to extend our deep gratitude to the Government of Israel for Partnership also arranged for 11th and 12th graders to its support. receive the same type of high-tech education as those complete research projects under the guidance of senior in central Israel – paving the way for their professional The new collaboration will enable more day schools and researchers from the Ilan Ramon Center of Ben-Gurion afternoon Hebrew schools in your communities to build a futures - and for teachers to have equal opportunities University. to develop professionally. direct relationship with Israel and Israelis. Outside the Partnership, the Eilat schools are having If you are interested in having a school in your community • On the North American side, parents and students middle school students teach science to elementary join the network, or if you have any questions about increasingly show interest in STEM excellence, and school students, and the schools are working to integrate School Twinning, contact the director of the network, there is a movement in schools to strengthen their children with learning difficulties into mainstream science Merav Shany, at [email protected]. STEM curricula. For Jewish day schools wishing to classes. Thus, RoboTwin is a valuable part of the mosaic of simultaneously strengthen their Israel education, STEM science education in these schools. twinning is a win-win. 8 9 Partnership2Gether: Update on New Initiatives
The program includes four main elements: 248 Community Action Network • An exploration of the big issues 248 is an evolving global network made up of Israeli and Diaspora Jews aged facing world Jewry late-20s to mid-40s. These ambitious young professionals are interested in Jewish • A hackathon week in Israel, where issues and the power of the Jewish collective, and wish to create outreach and participants develop innovative engagement projects that can be replicated in any Jewish community. initiatives that connect people and build community 248’s goal is to build local Jewish and Israeli communities program cycle with the first ever Global Summit hosted values nowadays through organizations and initiatives while encouraging the replication of innovative ideas and by our partners in Minneapolis. It was attended by some such as One Table, Laba Lab, Repair the World, and • An implementation phase in the practices globally. Indeed, the name “248” represents 100 people. At the summit, our Jewish Doers showcased Moishe House. participants’ local communities the replication of a successful idea (i.e. it is adopted by their inspiring initiatives and shared their 248 journeys. We also participated in a lively learning session with Prof. • An annual global summit in North 2, then 4, then 8 communities) as well as the number of Topics such as Judaism and nationhood, replication Jeffrey Gurock, a professor at Yeshiva University affiliated America positive commandments in Jewish tradition. of ideas, technology and the start-up mentality were with the Ruderman Program for American Jewish studies. Program graduates will remain active in the emerging examined, and the 248niks demonstrated how they were The third element of the Global Summit week were 48- network through a digital platform, web-based brought into play through their own local projects around hour P2G experiences held simultaneously in the North discussions, and annual meet-ups. The network’s first the world. American communities of Broward County Fl., Cleveland, week-long face-to-face mifgash (encounter) was held in The evening culminated with a panel highlighting what Northern New Jersey, and Minneapolis. Sde Boker in the Negev in January in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv Israelis are learning about the North American Jewish Based on the practice of home hospitality, these P2G and Beer Sheva, and exceeded expectations with its experience, and with speakers who emphasized the visits deepened the amazing relationships formed during remarkable energy. uniqueness of the 248 approach, among them the the program, and are now inspiring our graduates to The highlight was a 248 Do-A-Thon conducted in Minneapolis Federation’s Executive Director James continue their connection through active participation in Sde Boker in the Negev where participants further Cohen and incoming Jewish Agency’s Finance and Budget the global 248 Network. developed and presented their emerging initiatives Committee Chair Beth Kieffer Leonard. projects. Shira Ruderman engaged us in an inspiring Prior to the event, our Israeli participants spent three conversation; we thank the Ruderman Foundation for days in New York City to learn first-hand about the being our partners in 248. Jewish-American immigrant experience, and to discover In May, we celebrated the completion of our first 248 how Jews are expressing their connection to Jewish 10 11 The educational components of this Program achievements thus far: year-long program include: • Mapping of needs and existing solutions • Monthly sessions in which grandparents • Establishing a regional network of dozens G2: Global and grandchildren come together locally for My 5! of partners, authorities and organizations; innovative and exciting Jewish programming, The MY5! program was established in promoting inter-sectorial emergency Intergenerational offering opportunities for grandparents discourse in the Western Negev; developing to share their life experiences, values, and May 2016 by The Jewish Agency and “regional emergency thinking”; pooling Initiative heritage, as well as inspiring the younger JDC, based on the lessons learned by regional resources; optimizing existing An Innovative Jewish Experience for generation with a commitment to Jewish municipal solutions for select target community and Israel. these organizations during Operation populations. Grandparents and Grandchildren Protective Edge. • Defining gaps in regional emergency • Adventures that deepen the relationship preparedness among target populations. between grandparent and grandchild, putting The program is funded by the Jewish Federations of Today’s grandparents are heavily involved in their Jewish values into practice. North America (JFNA) and is managed by a joint steering • Establishing a Citizen Spokespeople course grandchildren’s lives and have incredible potential in – so Jewish communities worldwide can passing down Jewish values to the next generation. • A week-long trip to Israel as the culmination of committee. The program currently operates in ten local hear the voices of residents during times of authorities in the Western Negev: Hof Ashkelon, Sha’ar G2: Global Intergenerational Initiative creates a ‘grand’ the program for all G2 participants from around emergency. the globe. Hanegev, Sdot Negev, Bnei Shimon, Merchavim, Eshkol, opportunity for valuable intergenerational communication Rahat, Sderot, Netivot and Ofakim. • Nurturing some 35 relience-promoting and relationships. initiatives by young communities, and • The use of cutting-edge technological tools, The initiative’s goal is to raise regional community The pilot launched in December 2017, and uses the giving grandparents the opportunity to another 15 municipal initiatives, totaling resilience in the Western Negev by establishing a network some $400,000. grandparent-grandchild relationship as a vehicle for connect with each other as well as with other of organizations and authorities to optimize solutions strengthening Jewish identity in fun and meaningful ways. participants from around the world. during emergencies for older adults, people with The program is built on four pillars: meaningful disabilities, youth, and young people. grandparent-grandchild relationships, shared Jewish values, inspiring the next generation, and connections with Israel and Jewish peoplehood.
12 13 The Jewish Agency’s support to the streams over three decades is the main resource that enables them to maintain and expand their presence in Israel.
Among the programs supported are:
Educational Youth Leadership and programs: movements: intergenerational TALI schools TELEM programs: (Conservative), the (Reform), NOAM Reform and Conservative Reform network (Conservative) and of kindergartens NCSY (Orthodox) and elementary Pre-army schools academies: Reform and Conservative Support for
Religious Streams Bar/Bat Mitzvah Ordination of Congregations: programs: Israeli Rabbis: 50 Reform, 84 for youth with disabilities Hebrew Union Conservative In 2017, The Jewish Agency allocated nearly (Conservative), for deaf College (Reform) $2.7 million to educational programs offered and hearing-impaired and Schechter Divorce-refusal youth (Orthodox), and Rabbinical Seminary prevention: by Reform, Conservative and Modern Orthodox youth from the geo- (Conservative) Orthodox institutions in Israel. economic periphery (Orthodox) Clubs for at-risk youth: These programs drew over 834,000 Orthodox participants in 2017. The organizations we support lead the political This year the BOG Allocations Subcommittee, together with the Professional and public awareness of pluralism in Israel. Evaluation Committee and the professional team, decided to re-examine the vision, mission and criteria for allocations to the Religious Streams upon which future decision making of allocations will be based. This process reflects the ongoing environment and needs of our times.
14 15 A Look at Leading P2G Programs Across Israel and Around the Globe Around the world, the Partnerships build creative and meaningful ways to nurture peer-to-peer cross- cultural relationships and develop our Jewish communities.
Formal and Informal Education
Kiryat Gat-Lachish-Shafir—Chicago: Israeli Children Zone This is the fourth year that the partnership is operating the in the region, while working hand in hand with its partners to create heterogeneous groups from all strata of the Israeli Children’s Zone. This past year, the program ran in 16 in Revadim, Morasha, and Youth Futures to ensure the population. elementary schools in Kiryat Gat, Lachish and Shafir, training continued success of ICZ after the conclusion of the The Lunch and Learn Centers provide a warm, supportive over 300 teachers and providing over 5,500 students with scheduled funding. educational framework that supplements school activity. small-group and individual assessments and instruction. Connections have already been made with various The children spend time at the Centers with their friends, Over 250 families were supported through counseling, government ministries, as well as with municipal councils, and pass the afternoon hours enjoyably. home visits, and parental guidance. in order to identify ongoing support for the project. An evaluation of the program carried out this year indicated Data collection has already commenced to support an in- significant progress in school principals’ satisfaction, teacher depth evaluation of the program’s outcomes within each performance, and students’ academic achievements. of the schools, which will continue next year. Looking ahead to the fifth year of the project, the partnership plans to continue its work in all of the elementary schools Yerucham—Miami: Robotics Dimona—Network of Independent Communities: Lunch and Learn Center Robotics is a highly developed field in Yerucham; children Third graders in nine different Miami schools are 435 elementary school children from 12 schools from all of the brink of risk, who have to deal with various difficulties, from pre-school to high school study it. The staff of the experimenting, building robots based on models, the differ ent sectors of the community – secular, religious, such as low socio-economic status, single-parent Yeruham Science Center are bringing value to the Miami and improving their technical and creative skills. Orthodox and members of the Black Hebrew community families, new immigrants, parental dysfunction and Jewish community by helping provide a variety of projects Additionally, robotic summer camps are held at three – participate in the Lunch and Learn project. social difficulties. Approximately 20% of the children wherein Miami’s children can learn about robotics, build Miami community centers. About 80% of the children are classified as at risk, or on in the project come from normative families, in order their own robots and compete in local competitions.
16 17 Shoham—Memphis: School Twinning
Yerucham—Miami: Robotics
Zichron Yaakov—South Palm Beach: School Twinning
Formal and Informal Education (continued)
Zichron Yaakov—South Palm Beach: School Twinning The School Twinning program creates ties between hold joint video conferences, send videos, work on counterparts from the Yahalom Junior High School. The available. For their part, the teachers have already begun classes and schools in Israel and classes and schools in the joint assignments, etc. The feedback from teachers and Shoham students presented their school and its different discussing and considering a longer stay for next year's Diaspora. This year, 20 classes from 13 different schools students in both communities are enthusiastic; there programs to their American friends as the two sides broke visit. took part on both sides of the ocean. Seven schools were is a high level of participation and a desire to build a the ice and got acquainted. A teachers' delegation is scheduled to arrive in Israel in from Zichron Yaakov and six from South Palm Beach. meaningful relationship between the schools. Our vision From there the entire group traveled to Ne’ot Kedumin, December for a joint seminar that will be both educational This project was chosen to build the new Partnership is to create long-term bonds of friendship so that each for an activity on the theme of leadership. At the end and enriching for participants. We look forward to further school will serve as a second home to the other. infrastructure. It connects about 500 students and 50 of the day students from both sides expressed just how growth and new developments in this program and in the teachers and principals from the two communities. To celebrate Israel’s 70th Independence Day, both meaningful this visit was despite the short time that was entire Partnership. Each school and class is twinned with a school and communities exchanged movies, which were shown at the class from a different country, and they are in contact celebrations. The movie made in Zichron Yaakov was done Philadelphia—Netivot–Sedot Negev: StudioLab throughout the year. As part of this relationship, students with the cooperation of the school twinning participants. In order to prepare young adults and teens for a more Participants in the StudioLab are children in 7th-9th Shoham—Memphis: School Twinning dynamic work environment in the future, the focus of grade who conduct scientific research and add a “digital education should shift from what the students know to package” to it in the form of a short animation video and/ The School Twinning program between Memphis and and hesitant Skype conversations. These first steps in what the students can solve and initiate. Alongside the or a digitally augmented experience (Augmented Reality). Shoham, like this still young Partnership, is still in its early building the new partnership were tiny and cautious. But core technological training in STEM education, we see a The aim is to create an end product that tells the story of stages of development—which means that everything already, in the program’s initial stages, regular encounters need for creative and artistic education. This approach is their scientific work in a communicative and compelling is open for new opportunities and ideas. Eight teachers, between the schools have been organized. In April 2018, known as STEAM (A = arts and design) education. way. four from Shoham and four from Memphis, took their a delegation of eighth graders from the Bornblum Jewish The StudioLab is an innovative STEAM program initiated Each year, groups of children in Netivot and Sdot Negev are first steps into what was for them a totally new world. It Community School in Memphis took a 19-day trip to by the Philadelphia—Netivot–Sedot Negev Partnership challenged with a different subject. They plan and conduct began with questions, greetings, and relayed information, Israel, and the last day was dedicated to meeting their that is the first of its kind in Israel. the research together, and come up with a solution. 18 19 Western Galilee—Central Area Consortium: Young Adults and Tikkun Olam Beit Shemesh-Mateh Yehuda—South Africa: Youth Movement Seminar
Modiin—Rochester: Journey for Identity (JFI)
Teens and Young Adults Modiin—Rochester: Journey for Identity (JFI) Western Galilee—Central Area Consortium: Young Adults and Tikkun Olam The joint Rochester-Modi’in youth delegation will leave This is an educational project based on group learning and In April 2018, the Young Adults Committee in the Western In the last two years, they have initiated and for a tour of Poland following a joint preparatory seminar the creation of meaningful interpersonal ties between Galilee Partnership held a Building Bridges Seminar for participated in different activities, such as: in the US and will complete the Journey by reviewing the youth of different backgrounds. experience during a tour of Israel (about one week in the Young Adults attended by 27 Americans, Israelis and • Joint monthly video conference calls with their peers They participate in a common formative experience with US, one week in Poland and one week in Israel ). long-term effects. Hungarians aged 25-45. • An art workshop in the spirit of Hanoch Piven The purpose was to enable young adults from different • Chanukah candle lighting communities to connect and learn about the challenges • An ecological Tu Bishvat Seder Beit Shemesh-Mateh Yehuda—South Africa: Youth Movement Seminar and opportunities of each community. • Sending Purim baskets to their friends in Fort Worth, In October 2017, the Beit Shemesh-Mateh Yehuda—South The aim was to learn from and about each other in a The Young Adults Forum in the Western Galilee Budapest and the Western Galilee Africa Partnership launched an initiative to foster co- constructive forum, in order to establish a platform of Partnership is a group of 10 individuals from the region operation between the communities. tolerance and understanding despite religious and who participated in the past in partnership programs and • Contributing to lone soldiers in our region through 100 participants from Habonim Dror and Bnei Akiva in South political differences. wanted to stay engaged. fundraising Africa and Bnei Akiva, HaTzofim, Ariel, Ezra and Diller teen Avraham Infeld addressed the seminar, giving insight • Makeover for kindergartens in Acre with Birthright fellows, took part in the inaugural Inter-Youth Movement into each aspect of his Five-Legged Table theory: Family, participants from the communities Gap Year Seminar. Memory, Language (Hebrew), Covenant, and Israel. Furthermore, three members of the Forum visited They had a unique opportunity to discuss and debate their The participants held interactive sessions before and Budapest, to forge relationships and develop joint personal views on aspects of Judaism, Jewish peoplehood, after his presentation that stimulated conversation and programming with the Young Adults in that Jewish Israel and Zionism. community. explored different views.
20 21 Rehovot—Minneapolis: Alternative Spring Break
Central Arava—Australia: Limmud Arava
Teens and Young Adults (continued)
Central Arava—Australia: Limmud Arava Rehovot—Minneapolis: Alternative Spring Break Limmud Arava was initiated by participants in Limmud the world, Limmud Arava creates significant learning Alternative Spring Break has been a very successful The students spend eight days in Israel and are hosted by Australia who are also volunteer activists in the Partnership. experiences for the participants on a variety of topics. initiative for the past 3 years in the Rehovot—Minneapolis Israeli students or post-army young adults from Rehovot. The goal of the project is to enable study of Jewish identity Our goals include integration of Jewish content into the Partnership. Every year, up to 10 students from the During their stay in Israel, they volunteer (at Leket Israel, issues among members of the Partnership communities daily Israeli routine, while examining the relevance of the University of Minnesota Hillel are chosen to take part, with kindergartens of asylum seekers’ children, the elderly, in Israel. Limmud Arava is a large annual conference that Jewish content studied to the general Israeli experience the promise of becoming activists at Hillel on their return. Ethiopian teens, etc.), and are exposed to the complexity was initiated by participants in Limmud Australia who are and to our local experience in the Negev and Arava, while Scholarships are provided by the Minneapolis Federation; of Israeli society as well as to the city of Rehovot. Our hope also volunteer activists in the Partnership. preserving the high level of diversity in expression of the students pay a participation fee and the rest is covered is that they will return much better able to explain Israeli Like the other popular, grassroots Limmud events around opinions. by the Partnership. Participants must have already been society to their peers on campus, as well as deepening to Israel at least once. their ties with their Israeli student friends.
22 23 Karmiel-Misgav—Pittsburgh: Waldman International Arts and Writing Competition Nesher—Broward: Music2Gether
Art and Environment
Nesher—Broward: Music2Gether Music is an international language. Jews all over the world big impact in the community. One of the highlights of this sculptures by Reuama Nachmias, a ceramic artist from share many songs in common and singing them or simply initiative is a joint concert that takes place simultaneously Moshav Kochav Michael who leads art classes for the listening to them together is a powerful experience. in Broward and Nesher and is broadcast live via Zoom. Partnership's flagship School Twinning Program. Each In particular, children begin to connect to their Jewish Musicians from both sides celebrate music in front of class designed a Totem sculpture telling the story of their identity through music. members of both communities. community. The Partnership’s steering committee designed a Broward residents had face-to-face experiences with These first-year activities are only the beginning. Each year, program called Music2Gether for sharing musical young, talented Israelis as they attended performances, we expect new groups of visitors and Partnership members experiences.It involves sending two musicians from thus bringing a softer side of Israel to them. to leave their innovative and diverse artistic marks on Nesher to the Broward community for one week, where The publicity associated with all events created a Partnership Point, ensuring that it will truly reflect the they perform at a variety of venues such as preschools, heightened awareness of the Partnership and how we connection between people and between communities. schools, events on campus for college students, Young work to strengthen Israel education in the Broward Leadership, senior centers and more, thereby creating a community. Karmiel-Misgav—Pittsburgh: Waldman International Arts and Writing Competition Kiryat Malachi-Hof Ashkelon—Tucson: Light Trail The Waldman International Arts and Writing Competition community members judge these pieces. In the spring of The “Light Trail,” a Hof Ashkelon Regional Council together. Eucalyptus trees welcome visitors and an area has a long history as one of the Holocaust Center of Greater 2018, the Israeli winners were honored at a community environmental project, covers 55 km. from the Nitzanim filled with wild vegetation offers a great opportunity for Pittsburgh's signature programs, engaging hundreds of awards ceremony in Karmiel and the first and second Beach in the north to the Zikim Beach in the south. storytelling and creativity. middle and hig h school students in the Pittsburgh region place winners traveled to Pittsburgh, where they visited The trail passes through the council’s diverse towns and During the past year, this Partnership Point has been and, for the past five years, also in Karmiel-Misgav, Israel. both Jewish and non-Jewish public and private schools, to various sites. The regional council allocated a “special place transformed and includes terraces, fire pits, sitting Students submit pieces in Visual Arts, Creative Writing share their winning work, connect with Pittsburgh teens, in nature” for the Partnership communities to develop areas and fruit trees, as well as art. These include Totem or Short Film. A panel of professional artists, writers and and talk about their life as teens in Israel. 24 25 Tzahar—Palm Beach: Shoham—Venezuela: Young Leadership Budapest Study Seminar for Young Adults
Hadera-Eiron—Southeast US Consortium: Leadership2Gether
Leadership Development
Tzahar—Palm Beach: Young Leadership This three-year program includes a group of 18 young The first cohort developed and implemented the English and Allocations and have joined the Partnership Steering congregations, organized fundraisers and promoted adults aged 25-40 from Tzfat, Hatzor HaGlilit and Enhancement project, together with a hired part-time Committee in Israel. They have also started new Reform Federation events through presentations to local boards. Rosh Pina, who participate in leadership development coordinator and a group of volunteers. sessions and Shabbat seminars as well as working with They also launched an Israeli-style TED, called 12 Minutes. Shoham—Venezuela: Budapest Study Seminar for Young Adults a consultant in order to develop projects for the benefit of This event will provide a platform for talented and to discuss leadership and consider possibilities for future For the past 20 years the Jewish communities of Venezuela their community. knowledgeable young people from the Tzahar region to cooperation. and Shoham have maintained and developed a series of The young leaders host the American Young Leaders (ELP) share their interesting worlds with the wider community. The diverse, active Jewish community in Budapest was connections between the two sides. In recent years, as from their Partnership region and in the third year they The second cohort launched a Jewish learning program a source of inspiration to the delegates. They toured the both communities have undergone major changes, so has visit Palm Beach, where they get a chance to learn about promoting connections between the three communities Jewish Quarter and met with President of the Hungarian the Partnership. (Venezuela is in the midst of a dramatic the partner community. of Tzahar called “Learning in a Neighborhood Backyard.” Jewish Federation András Heisler, and Israel's deputy economic crisis with tremendous food shortages and Ambassador to Hungary, Faris Saav. They also met with increases in crime. The government broke off relations Hadera-Eiron—Southeast US Consortium: Leadership2Gether leaders in the Budapest Jewish community who are with Israel in 2009, and the government-run media Leadership2Gether brings together both Israeli and culminates in a joint retreat in one of our Partnership actively striving for positive changes and renewal in their consistently shows an anti-Israel bias and pro-Iran stance.) American young Jewish leaders in a true partnership communities where the partners meet, and engage in community, as well as directors of social organizations and Under changing conditions and fueled by the desire to experience. Through one-on-one study sessions by meaningful discussions and activities to further enhance Federation officials. They took part in Chanukah events continue Partnership activities, a joint seminar for young phone and computer webinars, the Israeli and American the impact they can make in their communities. in the community and a Kabbalat Shabbat ceremony—in adults was organized in Budapest, Hungary. A total of partners engage in discussion about a wide variety The program has helped nurture community leaders. a tripartite celebration of Jewish heritage represented by 13 participants aged 25-45 traveled to Europe from their of Jewish topics, including their Jewish identity, their Alumni from this program have formed committees Jews from three continents. respective home countries in South America and Israel, leadership skills and their desires to use these skills to boost young leadership; they have stepped into to impact their own Jewish communities. The program Federation Board positions including Annual Campaign 26 27 Montreal—Beer Sheva-Bnei Shimon: Young Leadership Summit
Greater MetroWest— Ofakim-Merchavim: Negba Peoplehood Project
Leadership Development (continued)
Greater MetroWest—Ofakim-Merchavim: Negba Peoplehood Project Montreal—Beer Sheva-Bnei Shimon: Young Leadership Summit The Negba Peoplehood Project is a 2-year leadership encounter is hosted in New Jersey by the American cohort, The Young Leadership Summit, held in Montreal Montreal for a curated and intentional experience development program for adults (ages 30+) who wish and another encounter takes place in a third location in September 2017, was an immersive weekend of centered on the question, “In this interconnected world, to build living bridges between the Greater MetroWest (usually in Ukraine) in order to experience a different learning, professional development and brainstorming how do we create meaningful connections between community and the Negba partner communities in Jewish community. Toward the end of the project, the about Jewish identity, communities without borders, young adults in Montreal and Israel?” Israel (Ofakim, Arad, Merchavim Regional Council and participants initiate and implement projects that benefit and meaningful and engaged young leadership. Kibbutz Erez). The program uses experiential learning to their respective communities. The Summit was originally initiated in order to involve strengthen these relationships while developing valuable The main goal of the Negba Peoplehood Project is to young adults in the question of local and global young leadership skills. create living bridges, and to develop new leaders who Jewish leadership. Taking place immediately following The 4th cohort will complete the program in June 2018, are passionate and knowledgeable and who will help a local summit in Montreal (the GenMTL Exponential), and recruitment for the 5th cohort has already begun. To to engage the next generation on both sides of the this high-level summit brought together 19 leaders, date, almost 100 Israelis and Americans have participated. partnership. entrepreneurs and creative thinkers from Israel and The Peoplehood Project centers on a structured curriculum created and executed by the cohorts in New Jersey and Israel in tandem. Peoplehoodnicks participate in monthly workshops – some done separately and some are virtual meetings with both cohorts. Over the two years, there are three encounters (mifgashim) which deepen their personal relationships as well as their understanding of each other’s communities. One encounter is held in Israel and is hosted by the Israeli cohort, the second
28 29 Nahariya—NNJ: Emergency Response Teams
Mexico-Northeastern New York—Eshkol: Mechanchei Israel
Sovev Kinneret—Milwaukee, Madison & St. Paul: Stories from the Poriya Medical Center
Leadership Development (continued)
Nahariya—Northern New Jersey: Emergency Response Teams EVP training (Emergency Response Teams) - 40 participants The Israeli training team included an IDF major from the believe that the message brought by the Padeh-Poriya among the Jewish as well as the greater public in the were trained and certified as emergency volunteers, Home Front Command, a representative from the Israeli representatives will foster greater appreciation for Israel Milwaukee-St. Paul communities. now ready to become first responders to an emergency Fire Service, a terrorism and explosives expert, and a situation in Israel in 3 different tracks: Firefighting, Medical doctor from the Western Galilee Hospital in Nahariya (Dr. and Community support. Moaad Faraj). Mexico-Northeastern New York—Eshkol: Mechanchei Israel This project, which was initiated four years ago, connects This initiative creates a new and strong bridge between Sovev Kinneret—Milwaukee, Madison & St. Paul: Stories from the educators in Mexico and Eshkol, and includes kindergarten, the two communities, both for the educators and the Poriya Medical Center elementary and high school teachers. volunteers. Over the past few years, the Sovev Kinneret Partnership population sectors. Poriya’s unique multi-cultural and The teachers from Mexico haven’t visited Israel for at least has been bringing visiting delegations to the Padeh- multi-religious staff and the mixed community that the 10 years, and when they arrive in Israel they experience the Poriya Medical Center for tours and meetings with staff hospital serves. For many Americans, it is eye-opening “real Israel”; they rent apartments, take buses and meet all members. to learn that Israeli Jews, Christians, Muslims and other sectors of the population. The teachers from Eshkol are educators for whom the connection with the Diaspora A delegation in 2017 was so impressed that they created denominations actually live and work together peacefully. is important and who are interested in sharing this a new project, Stories from Padeh-Poriya Medical But most outstanding, they shared the amazing story connection with their students. The personal meetings Centerwhich brought four of Poriya’s leaders to of how the Medical Center is caring for wounded and that takes place in Eshkol and Mexico involve home St. Paul and Milwaukee to share Poriya’s unique and traumatized Syrian civilians including many children, hospitality, classroom activities and learning about the important story. They spoke to a wide variety of medical despite Syria’s being an enemy state still officially at war host community, including its difficulties and successes. and community groups about the unique multicultural with Israel. These stories received wide media coverage, Most importantly, they build a joint project together. fabric that characterizes the medical center, both in terms which helped convey these stories to Americans who of the patients and the aspect of the staff from various otherwise often hear negative news about Israel. We 30 31 Beit Shean-Valley of Springs—Cleveland: "St. Clair" project
Sha’ar Hanegev—San Diego: Western Galilee—Dallas: SouthUp Taste of the Galilee
Community Development
Sha’ar Hanegev—San Diego: SouthUp At the beginning of 2015, a number of key figures from the innovation are important growth engines that will help During the visits, the participants enjoyed home preparatory process, conducted with the participation fields of education and employment in Sha'ar Hanegev realize the vision. hospitality by the community families, joint activities of all key professionals, and as a result of these moving joined with donors from the Jewish community in San Therefore, its activities are mainly dedicated to facilitating and creating direct and personal connections with the encounters, significant local initiatives were created and Diego to found SouthUp – a non-profit organization start-ups and high-tech companies in the region local population. Each trip was preceded by a fascinating strong friendships were formed. intended to formulate concrete solutions for creating surrounding Gaza, while integrating them with education employment, education and community growth in the and community activities. Western Galilee—Dallas: Taste of the Galilee localities surrounding the Gaza Strip. The ultimate goal is to generate economic, social and Ambition, creativity and new ideas make the SouthUp technological growth in the region. In order to fulfill this The Western Galilee—Dallas Partnership focuses “The Taste of the Gal ilee” is a farmers’ market and produce collaboration a fascinating entrepreneurial journey. The goal, the association works to create an economic, social on three main areas of activity: Social Mobilization, fair that takes place during the annual 3-day Western association is based on the belief that technology and and technological ecosystem. Regional Viability and Growth & Entrepreneurship/ Galilee Spring Festival. It serves as a marketing and sales Employment platform for members of Zman Galil: small businesses, As part of its activity, the Partnership is a central partner family-owned businesses and social businesses. It also Beit Shean-Valley of Springs—Cleveland: "St. Clair" Project in “The Taste of the Galilee” project, a long-term initiative provides the members with networking opportunities. of the Zman Galil Association, which promotes tourism to The fair is a flagship program in the annual festival, and of The St. Clair neighborhood in the center of Cleveland is opportunities that can be implemented in the local the Western Galilee. great importance to the Western Galilee region. mainly composed of a non-Jewish population that copes communities. with neighborhood rehabilitation challenges similar to For that purpose, two key professionals travelled from those facing Beit Shean and the Valley of Springs. Israel to Cleveland and from Cleveland to Israel within The goal of the St. Clair project was to expose key five months of each other. The delegations dealt with professionals in the various authorities to similar challenges demographic growth, community and urban development, in the other communities and to identify initiatives and community initiatives and recruiting local volunteers. 32 33 Northern Galilee—Great Britain: Rosh Ha'ayin—New Orleans: Magic Moments Joint Yom HaAtzmaut Celebration
Celebrating “The Yoms”
Northern Galilee—Great Britain: Magic Moments Kfar Saba—Columbus: Magic Moments is a flagship program of UJIA, The Jewish a series of preparatory meetings and seminars in order Remembering Together Agency and P2G in Israel and in the UK. Approximately 60 to lead a Yom HaZikaron ceremony, participate in Yom Prior to Yom Hazikaron and as part of the students’ Israel youth and eight madrichim visit communities in the UK Atzma'ut celebrations and present activities in schools curriculum, Columbus Torah Academy students will during the week of Yom HaZikaron and Yom Atzma'ut. and institutions in the UK communities. research and read material provided by bereaved families The host communities meet the Israeli teenagers and Delegates are hosted in home hospitality, thereby from Kfar Saba who lost loved ones during their service together they share emotional and memorable events, experiencing Jewish life and Shabbat in the host in the IDF. which are important to Jewish people, both in Israel and the community and developing personal relationships with The students will learn about the meaning of Diaspora. Prior to their departure, the youth participate in their host families. commemoration and its importance in Israeli society; write about the fallen soldiers assigned to them, and Rosh Ha'ayin—New Orleans: Joint Yom HaAtzmaut Celebration create a poster with information about the soldier. These posters will be presented as part of Yom Hazikarom On Sunday, April 22, the New Orleans-Rosh Ha’ayin soup. Musicians from the conservatory in Rosh Ha’ayin display at the JCC and CTA . Partnership2Gether program celebrated Yom HaAtzmaut performed a set of Israeli pop and rock music. As part of the process, the students will contact the families with nearly 250 people attending a Yemenite-themed This event kicked off the 2018 steering committee of the fallen soldiers, and share the experience with event at New Orleans’ Jewish Community Center. meetings, during which members from both communities them in the purpose of creating a personal connection. James Beard Award winner, Chef Zachary Engel, worked met to plan joint programming for 2018-2019. The goal is to connect the CTA students to Israel and to At the same time, the bereaved families will know that their with Sharon Mydani, a member of the Rosh Ha’ayin their Jewish identity by learning about Israeli soldiers loved ones will be remembered by others, and personal Partnership Committee, to create an authentic Yemenite and create awareness among students to the bereaved connections will be created between the bereaved families menu, which included malawach, schug, and chicken families in Kfar Saba. and the students.
34 35 Netanya—Cincinnati: Chaverim M’Israel
Afula-Gilboa—Southern New England Consortium: Shin-Shinim
Service Year Shlichim (Shin-Shinim)
Netanya—Cincinnati: Chaverim M’Israel Afula-Gilboa—Southern New England Consortium: Shin-Shinim Every year for the past 14 years, Cincinnati’s Chaverim Thanks to the Chaverim M’Israel program, many Along with the numerous and diverse activities of Living Partnership. M’Israel Program has hosted two ShinShinim, 18-year people throughout the Cincinnati area have a better Bridge, the Partnership's core activity for some 20 Another related program is Maagal – youth leadership old high school graduates from the Partnership city of understanding of Israel and a personal connection years, the Shinshinim program constitutes the flagship in Afula-Gilboa, aimed at preparing teens in the 11th Netanya. to the country, and many families in Netanya have a program of the Afula-Gilboa Partnership. grade to work as counselors at summer camps in our These Chaverim teach in all the Jewish institutions in “family” connection to Cincinnati. Participants in the program consist of a select partner communities. Cincinnati, are madrichim in Jewish youth groups, work group of young people, mostly residents of the The hope is that this will serve as an excellent platform in synagogues, camps and the JCC, and even connect region, who postpone their army service in order for preparing them for acceptance to the Shinshinim with many non-Jewish teens and students through to serve as emissaries in several of our partner program. special programming. communities. These young emissaries bring Israel Through peer interactions, the Cincinnati students directly to the communities. learn about Israel. The Chaverim average over 5,000 The Shinshinim take part in Jewish community life unduplicated connections each year, creating peer-to- and events in the partner communities, work at their peer connections and increased knowledge about Israel. institutions (schools, synagogues, etc.) and live with While in Cincinnati, they are hosted by community host families in their 'home away from home'. families and often become “long-distance family To date, some 250 Shinshinim have taken part in members.” Once the Chaverim return to Israel, they the program under the auspices of the Afula-Gilboa still connect to Cincinnati through Partnership2Gether programs.
36 37 Central Galilee—Michigan: Israeli Camper Program
Yoav—Lehigh Valley: Young Counselors
Yokneam-Megido— Atlanta-St. Louis: Kefiada
Summer Camp
Yokneam-Megido—Atlanta-St. Louis: Kefiyada In the summer of 2018, four Atlanta college students They will be accommodated through home hospitality in in Grades 10 and 11 apply for the program. The selection professional training and acquire tools and skills that will come to Yokneam-Megido for three weeks to be the region and will have the chance of touring Israel with process includes a personal interview and a two-day help them succeed at the summer camp. To date, over 60 counselors in the Yokneam-Megido Kefiada summer day peers (college students and young adults from Yokneam- group workshop. The delegation members undergo young people from Yoav have participated. camp. The students will “bring Atlanta” to the summer Megido), including visiting other Partnership regions in camp through music, games and special activities typical of Israel. American summer camps. They will volunteer at the camp The students will arrive a few days before camp starts Central Galilee—Michigan: Israeli Camper Program five mornings a week and in the afternoon and evenings and will be an integral part of the preparation process in The Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit and the communities and to begin training the future leaders of they will be involved in a variety of social activities, which the community center, meeting the Partnership staff and communities of Nazareth Illit, Migdal HaEmek and Jezre’el the Federation’s Israel Partnership program. will introduce them to the region and its population. volunteers and key people in the community. Valley, have, since 2002, successfully organized an annual Participants improve their English and leadership skills, youth mission to Camp Tamarack. and gain a worldwide Jewish perspective. The skills gained Yoav—Lehigh Valley : Young Counselors 75 of teens from the three Israeli municipalities take part from this program ultimately lead to higher academic Since the Partnership was founded in 2002, a youth The young Israelis learn about Lehigh Valley’s Jewish in these missions and spend one session with Detroit performance, economic success, and the creation of true delegation from Yoav has travelled each year for a six- institutions and are hosted by local families. They take teens at Camp Tamarack. They are hosted by local Detroit leaders. week stay at the Jewish community’s summer camp in part in community events and visit various sites on the families for the weekend following the end of camp. The Israeli Camper Program continues to be an exciting Lehigh Valley. The delegation consists of four teens aged East Coast. On their return to Israel, the youths take part The main goals of the Israeli Camper Program (ICP) are and unique opportunity to engage American and Israeli 15-17, usually two boys and two girls. in leadership activities in the region and also assist in to create and sustain meaningful people-to-people campers, host families and community volunteers, Their main task is to make Israel come alive for the children recruiting the next group. connections between the Detroit and Central Galilee thereby broadening exposure to P2G. at the camp, and to educate them about Zionism, Jewish Responsibility for the delegation is shared between the Peoplehood and the Yoav region. This is accomplished Youth Department of the Yoav Community Center and using informal educational methods. Partnership2Gether. Each year, some 30 Yoav residents 38 39 jewishagency.org facebook.com/jewishagency twitter.com/jewishagency
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