Partnership Together (P2G)!

Our day began with a visit to the Hadera-Eiron Region which is partnered through the Jewish Agency's Partnership Together program with the South-Eastern Consortium. 

A visit at the Ben Yakir Youth Village served as the backdrop to learn more about this wonderful program and partnership.

It was a very gratifying visit as I staffed this partnership for 5 years when I lived in Jacksonville.  To see how this partnership has blossomed so beautifully was such a fantastic highlight for me. 

 And, I ran into a dear friend from Jacksonville - surprise - and one of Matan's former teachers.  Liat was visiting the region to spend time with the teacher with whom she is partnered in Hadera.  This teacher exchange has created professional and personal relationships for teachers all over the Southeastern part of the USA.  In turn, students have developed friendships with their Israeli counterparts. 

Partnership together serves to create people to people connections between the Diaspora and Israel.  These connections allow all of us not just to think about places in Israel on a map or sites to see, but about our friends, colleagues, and family all over Israel. Partnership puts a face on Israel for all of us.

Western Mass is proudly partnered with Afula-Gilboa through the Southern New England Consortium (SNEC).  Our Israel Emissary program comes through this partnership.

 One of the many young people in Israel who has become friends with Americans through P2G.  He spoke about the impact that it has had on his live and others.  His Mom, a teacher, found such meaning in his relationships with teens from Knoxville, TN that she brought the program to her classroom in Israel too!

P2G is serving to change the relationship between the Diaspora and Israel. The relationships that we develop through P2G transform us to a time when we can give as much as we receive from both sides of the ocean.  It is a beautiful thing. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day Two - Stories to Share

The work of Federation is to build community - in Western Massachusetts, Israel and around the world. But, what does it mean to build community?  What is a community?  I believe that community is a collection of people and people make community valuable and interesting.   People have stories to share and those stories make up who we are as a people.

Today we spent the day with many fascinating people.  Everyone with whom we met shared their story with us.  Each story connected them to us personally.  And, each story exemplified how their lives were made better because of the Federation system.

Pictured on the left is Yuval.  Yuval lost his arms in the Israeli army.  He was a combat engineer and had a devastating accident while training.  His life changed forever.  But, that is not even half of his story.  After many years of recuperating and struggle, Yuval discovered that there is a community of disabled people in Israel whose needs are not being met.  Whether a physical, educational, psychological or emotional disability, Yuval has made it his life's work to advocate for those with disabilities.  He said "all disabled people can live in a community if they get the assistance they need.  They have the ability to control their own lives."  Yuval currently runs the Center for Independent Living (CIL) in Tel Aviv.  This is a project funded by the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) through our campaign dollars.  Every day, Yuval takes his own personal experience and helps make lives better for those who are newly struggling with a disability.  He was such an inspiration.


Our next stop was a meeting with scholarship recipients the American-Israeli Cultural Foundation (AICF).  We met wonderfully talented children like Michael who are able to study the arts and music because of the scholarship that he (and his sister) receive.  They both played for us and they were outstanding!  As we were reminded, thriving arts reflect a healthy culture and society.  Our Jewish history is full of music, art and expression and Federation is helping to carry on these traditions through our work with children like Michael. 

Destun and Tadel below are two 15 year old Ethiopian boys who participate in youth activities at the Ethiopian National Project (ENP)Youth Outreach Center.  This center provides programs, activities, outings and a safe place for youth who would otherwise be home alone or out on the streets.  The Tadel on the left shared with me that his favorite subject in school is art and he loves to draw.  He is able to practice his art skills at the youth center.  Destun likes biblical history and sports.  Our funding of ENP enables boys and girls like Tadel and Destun to dream, plan and create a future for themselves.  Their parents came as immigrants and they are determined to be successful and strong for Israel.  This story is multigenerational and speaks to how we as a people share and value tenacity, hope, resilience and opportunity.  It is because of Yuval, Michael, Destun and Tadel and so many others that we work so hard to raise funds for our community and our people.  Together, we have really done some extraordinary things!

There were so many other wonderful stories to share from today, but these were a few of the highlights, before I try to get a few hours of sleep!  More to come!

Our First Night

Last night my 1/2 full plane landed safely at Ben Gurion airport.  Clearly, many people have canceled trip to Israel.  The hotels and restaurants are not full of their usual hustle and bustle.  While Israelis are trying to go on with life as usual, there is a bit of a change in the atmosphere.  For instance, my sister in law suggested that I keep my cell phone next to the bed at night in case a siren goes off and I know where it is to grab it.  As I went to sleep I made sure my glasses, phone and passport were within reach.  Thankfully it was a quiet night in Tel Aviv with no sirens.  People are simply more alert and staying close to home.

The marked decrease n the height of tourism season is clearly having an impact already on Israel.  And, terrorism is about disrupting daily life, in every way.  Hurting the tourist industry in Israel is one of the many ways Hamas seeks to upset Israel.  I am so incredibly proud that we have so many community members here right now.  From students on Onward Israel programs, to travelers on the Melton trip, to our Federation volunteers who participated in the Campaign Chair and Directors Mission and the Campaigner's Mission, and others who are here for other experiences Western Massachusetts is showing its love and support of our Jewish homeland.  I am very proud of everyone who is here.   All of our Israeli friends and family have not let this go unnoticed.  Once again, they also say, THANK YOU for coming and being with us right now.

Our Western Massachusetts presence means so very much to every Israeli that we know and all of those who we meet.  Pictured here are some of our happy and safe community members at the opening program for the campaigners mission.  I will continue to post about out journeys.  Good night from Tel Aviv. 

It has certainly been a whirlwind since I posted!  We have been in Jerusalem exploring the sites and sounds and enjoyed being here for shabbat.  Today our group took off for Massada and the Qumran.  There are lots of photos being posted on the Federation Facebook page!  Feel free to check them out.

While Jerusalem has been cold and rainy, we are warm with joy to be spending time in Israel!

Tuesday, April 16

As our program opened on Monday evening we moved from a somber memorial day to a celebratory Independence Day.  Our opening evening was emotional and overwhelming as 131 of us gathered to celebrate our community's arrival in Israel.  It was an extraordinary site.  Our Rabbis began with a ceremony to honor those who have fallen defending our Jewish homeland.  We moved into a festive dinner.

Our next morning took us to Machon Ayalon on Yom Ha'atzmaut, Independence Day.  The miraculous story of this underground bullet factory http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machon_Ayalon 

is an amazing story exemplifying the significance of the efforts to create a Jewish state.  Our day took us through Tel Aviv, ending with a lively dinner with Israeli lone soldiers. These soldiers each shared their moving stories explaining why they chose to live in Israel on their own and serve in the military.

Yom Hazikaron

At 11:00 AM Israel time, the second siren rang out so that the entire country could stop to honor those who have fallen while defending Israel, our Jewish homeland.  In an instant, everything stops - cars, buses, people - and stand still while the siren wails.  It is a somber and humbling moment connecting every single person in Israel together. 

Traffic stopped in Tel Aviv when the siren goes off.

Ceremony in honor of Yom Hazikaron in Rabin Square Tel Aviv.

Today We Begin!

Today is the big day!  Everyone finally arrives and we are off and running.  Today is Yom Hazikaron, Memorial Day in Israel.  It is a solemn day as we recognize our fallen Israeli soldiers.  Tonight, Israel Independence Day begins and so do our festivities.  Feel free to follow our group as we journey around Israel for the next 10 days.  We look forward to sharing stories and pictures from our community in Israel to our community in Western Massachusetts.