Purim at the absorption center
Ten high school students from the Jewish community of South Palm Beach County, Florida, celebrated Purim in Kiryat Bialik, their partnered community within the framework of the Jewish Agency's Partnership 2000. The teens reunited with their KB peers whom they hosted in Boca Raton last December for Chanukah. This is the fifth consecutive year of Jewish Roots, a unique youth exchange program focusing on Jewish heritage and values and connecting youths from the two sides of the ocean in long-lasting friendships.
Participants from both communities were happy to meet again and spend a week together in Israel. On Purim they brought Mishloach Manot to new Olim children at the nearby absorption center, distributed food packages to needy families as Matanot L'evyonim, and enjoyed a costume parade in Haifa. Purim Se'uda was served at the home of Mrs. Ruth Klein, teacher at ORT-Bialik high school who staffed the program along with the principal Mr. Rami Porat. The entire week was planned and coordinated by P2K staff of the Jewish Agency in cooperation with the school representatives.
The group took trips to Tzfat, Akko and Rosh HaNikra, as well as a fascinating tour of the Ramat David air force base. In a day at ORT-Bialik high school the visitors were exposed to two national programs operating in Kiryat Bialik: Teen Ambassadors, who presented an enlightening presentation on anti-Semitic websites; and Aharai (Follow Me) - preparation for military service, supported by a generous donation from Boca Raton. Mr. Eli Dukorski, Mayor of Kiryat Bialik, attended a lunch reception and emphasized in his greeting the importance of tight connections among the youths to strengthen the partnership between SPBC and KB. Also welcomed the delegation: Gidi Shilo, P2K committee chair for KB; Eshel Fram, Partnership Director for the Jewish Agency; Ami Reuven, Education Dept Head and co-leader of P2K's Educators Exchange program; and Israel Berger, vice principal of the school, who together with Dr. Leon Weissberg of the Jewish Education Committee conducted the Jewish Roots program these past 5 years. The delegation staff, Marli Barbarosh of JEC and Rabbi Yaakov Green, Youth Director for Boca Raton Synagogue and Jewish Student Union, were greatly impressed and thanked everyone involved in this experiential, meaningful week.
In between activities the youths held discussions on various themes, such as the diversity of Israeli society, streams of Judaism, cultural differences between the US and Israel and within Israel itself. The joint group spent Shabbat in Jerusalem. One of the week's highlights turned out to be a visit they paid to the Shalit Family at their protest tent across from the Prime Minister's residence. Noam Shalit, father of abducted soldier Gilad Shalit, was nice enough to join the delegation for Havdalah, and meeting him was extremely emotional for the youths. This was a very real experience of mutual commitment illustrating the complexity of Israeli life, pointed out Rabbi Yaakov Green. After that, saying goodbye and L'Hitraot was not easy and was accompanied by lots of tears. Back at their own homes, they will now have to use modern technology to keep in touch with their good friends overseas - which, without a doubt, they will.
Jewish Roots is a leading project in the partnership of SPBC and Kiryat Bialik, which maintains several Living Bridge and other projects in the fields of education, community and economic development. The partnership is operated by staff of the Jewish Agency and conducted by a steering committee, chaired by Gidi Shilo (KB), Yossi Ende and Ann Kelman (SPBC). The educational staff said that Jewish Roots has become famous around KB; one can hear 6-graders talk about joining in as early as middle school. On the other end, graduates of the program maintain their contacts and many of those from Boca visit KB regularly while on year programs or other occasions. They truly see KB as their home in Israel.
The girls in Haifa