Partnership 2gether is dedicated to establishing bridges of understanding between Israeli and Diaspora Jewry, it is the ideal opportunity for communities abroad to become personally involved in developing Israel’s National priority areas. The Jews of Israel and the Jews of the partner communities become one family, living in different places. South Africa together with the Jewish community in Washington DC are partnered with the town of Beit Shemesh and the surrounding rural area of Mateh Yehuda. Our partnership helps the region deal with its changing education and welfare needs, supports the economic development and projects and facilitates a wide range of relationship-building activities.

2010 was a fantastic year for Partnership 2gether

In February Partnership 2gether South Africa hosted a VIP delegation including the mayors from the Beit Shemesh/Mateh Yehuda region. The purpose of the delegation was to learn more about the dynamics of the South African Jewish community, in order to understand where Partnership 2gether falls into the system and to establish potential working synergies.

In May the Melton Delegation, a community leadership group comprised of local residents from Beit Shemesh/Mateh Yehuda visited South Africa. Delegates used the opportunity to further people to people connections with the Cape Town participants and tested the viability of the course in Johannesburg.

Partnership 2gether brought artists to the Israel Aliyah Expo in March. They acted as ambassadors for the region and offered art and craft classes to the community.

Partnership 2gether co-ordinates a school twinning program between schools in the region and schools in Johannesburg and Cape Town. A delegation comprising of teachers, Partnership 2gether staff and a representative from the ministry of education visited South Africa and their respective ‘sister’ schools. The visit reaffirmed the already successful program and allowed an opportunity to work on enhancing the program and establishing opportunities for further school twinnings.

In November a group of community leaders attended an extremely successful and informative Israel advocacy mission. The group were afforded an opportunity to meet with various dignitaries and visit key sites in order to understand the intense and unique situation in Israel.

Once again Partnership 2gether madrichim attended South African youth movement camps in December.

Also in December SAUJS participated in a Partnership 2gether advocacy mission, similar to that of the November mission but geared towards students and the difficulties they face on campus.

In 2011 Partnership 2gether aims to strengthen the connections even further with several dynamic projects.

January 2011 saw over 220 grade 11 students visit the region on the Israel Encounter Tour, run by the Israel Centre.

Further delegations to be organised by Partnership 2gether in 2011:

• Introducing new school twinning’s as well as an eco-connection based twinning
• Israel advocacy mission for community leaders
• Various community and youth groups that will be visiting the region
• Madrichim will be visiting the various youth movements
• Partnership 2gether representatives hope to take part in the higher education Expo

…and many more exciting missions.

For more information contact Eli at: 011 645 2551 or eli@beyachad.co.za