The “Partnership Lights” event in Acco was held on December 10. The event was organized jointly by Partnership 2000 in the Western Galilee, the Jewish Agency, and the Israel Association of Community Centers. Nine preschools participated. The preschools are involved in Partnership 2000 as part of the Musical Preschool Project administered by Efrat Sarbaro. Guests at the party included Golani soldiers, a delegation from Louisville, Kentucky, children’s parents, the poet Hamutal Ben Ze’ev, the mayor of Acco, and other dignitaries.

350 preschool children gave a performance with Chanuka songs, dancing, and played musical instruments. They gave the Golani soldiers a DVD and 40 fleece jackets and scarves. This was the climax of a project in which the children from preschools in Acco and the community of Canton Ohio, which is a partner in the project, collected Chanuka gelt which they used to buy presents for the soldiers. The children from Canton, Ohio sent a film clip, which was played at the party, in which they greeted the participants with songs and greetings of “Happy Chanuka.” The poet Hamutal Ben Ze’ev read her poem “To Give,” which was the central theme of the Chanuka party. The soufganiyot given to the children and soldiers at the end of the evening were donated by composer Doron Levinson from Tel Aviv.