Pictures: from right to left: Eliza Mariama-Tzur, Pnina Moses, Ann Kelman (Boca Co-Chair), Gidi Shilo (KB Chair), Sima Buhbut, Eshel Fram (Jewish Agency).

In December, a delegation of Kiryat Bialik steering committee went to Boca Raton to take part in the annual joint steering committee meeting, in which budget for the coming 6 months was discussed. The delegation included the chair, Mr. Gidi Shilo, and three members: Dr. Pnina Moses, Mrs. Sima Buhbut and Mrs. Eliza Mariama-Tzur. They were accompanied by the Partnership director, Mr. Eshel Fram. Kiryat Bialik's Mayor, Dr. Rafi Wertheim, who was personally invited by the leaders of the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County, also joined the formal meeting.
 
During their time in Boca, Mr. Shilo and the other visitors met with several professionals and lay leaders in the Jewish Federation, including Mr. Bill Bernstein, President and CEO, and Mrs. Dotti Seaman, Women's' Division President.  The two co-chairs of the SPBC steering committee, Mr. Steve Winig and Mrs. Ann Kelman, went out of their way to make their guests' stay pleasant and comfortable, held dinner parties in their homes and accompanied them throughout the visit. The joint steering committee meeting was chaired by the three co-chairs: Gidi Shilo, Steve Winig and Ann Kelman. The committee approved several existing projects - such as "Jewish Roots", the very successful youth exchange program - as well as a new project in the field of economical development/professional training. Another new project is March of the Living, in which students from Kiryat Bialik will join their peers from Boca Raton in Poland. The joint group will then travel back to Israel together and spend Yom HaZikaron in Kiryat Bialik.
 
Gidi Shilo concluded the visit as very successful and fruitful. In his thank you letter to his hosts Shilo wrote, "I truly feel that I have found a new family… together we will continue to develop this partnership, which already stands as a model to other partnerships throughout Israel… with dedicated people such as the volunteers in your community, no goal is too far or too hard to achieve." 
 
 

 Steve Winig (Boca Co-Chair), Gidi Shilo (KB Chair), Mayor Rafi Wertheim, Sima Buhbut.