Picture - right to left: Eshel Fram, Steve Winig, Gidi Shilo, Stewart Harris, Aaron Katz (SC member), Dr. Rafi Wertheim.

As part of the Jewish Agency's "Partnership 2000" between Kiryat Bialik and Boca Raton (South Palm Beach), Florida, Kiryat Bialik hosted two lay leaders last week for a brief visit. These were Mr. Steve Winig, Co-chair of the Steering Committee, and Mr. Stewart Harris, incoming Chairman of the Board of Directors (who will replace Ms. Etta Zimmerman, a good friend of Kiryat Bialik). The honorable guests had lunch with Dr. Rafi Wertheim, Kiryat Bialik's Mayor,  and Mr. Gidi Shilo, Chair of KB Steering Committee, and discussed optional development plans in the city. Also took part in the meeting Mr. Efraim Drori of the Kiryon mall, and Mr. Avi Feigenbaum of MATI Haifa (Small Businesses Development Center).

The Partnership between Kiryat Bialik and Boca Raton operates in the fields of education, Jewish identity, culture, sports and professional exchanges. Recently new directions are being explored in the fields of professional training - specifically for new Olim - and economic development in various areas in Kiryat Bialik.

While this was Mr. Winig's third visit in Kiryat Bialik, it was Mr. Harris's first. Harris, a businessman who moved to Boca Raton from Chicago 7 years ago, visits Israel frequently and speaks fairly good Hebrew since his time here as a young student. He promised to do his best to promote the Partnership between Kiryat Bialik and Boca Raton. Mayor Wertheim wished Harris all the best in his new position and expressed his hope and faith that the connections between the two communities will indeed expand and develop.

The visitors were accompanied through their entire visit by Mr. Gidi Shilo, Chair of KB Steering Committee, who forged strong bonds with his counterpart Mr. Steve Winig during his visit in Boca last December. Mr. Eshel Fram, Partnership Director for the Jewish Agency, also accompanied the guests. In operational meetings with Ms. Shosh Sukenik, Head of the Welfare Department, and Mr. Ami Reuven, Head of the Education Department, various projects of Partnership 2000 were discussed. The two co-chairs expressed their satisfaction with the advance in future projects as well as the progress of existing programs.