22 Kislev, 5762
Jerusalem

The Jewish Federation of Cincinnati Officially Announces Its Partnership with Netanya as Part of the Jewish Agency's Partnership 2000 Program in Coordination with The United Jewish Communities (UJC) of North America.

(Netanya, Israel)  Netanya became the fifth Israeli city this year to join up with a UJC community in North America as part of a unique program called Partnership 2000 (P2K) which is administered jointly by the UJC and The Jewish Agency.

With approximately 500 leaders visiting Israel this week from 37 UJC Communities, the Cincinnati contingent is the second largest contingent in Israel with over 65 attendees. Following the terror attacks on Saturday and Sunday, there were only three cancellations from the entire community.  

"Partnership 2000 is one of the very few programs that link Israel to the diaspora in ways that redefine the relationship between the two communities", stated Art Naparstek, UJC Senior Vice President for Israel and Overseas.  "P2K offers Jews in North America the opportunity to engage Israelis on a very personal level, giving personal meaning to new relationships.  At this time of crisis, nothing can be more important than this program."

"P2k has proven to be an effective platform for bringing the Jewish communities of the world together", agreed Meir Nitzan, the Director general of Israel Programs for the Jewish Agency.

"The goal of this program is Uvnoat V'libanot- to build and be rebuilt", said Rabbi Michael Zedek, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati.  "We are not just going to help build up Netanya but in doing so, are going to be rebuilt ourselves as a community in Cincinnati. All of our lives will be changed through the P2k program."

While the program only got under way at the beginning of the October, already $80,000 has been allocated by the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati through the Jewish Agency. The lion share of this will be going towards a unique program called the "Community Policing Project" which will take place in the economically depressed immigrant neighborhood of Neot Shaked. Volunteers from the community have been brought together with the police to work in partnership in a program that is similar to neighborhood watch programs in the United States.

While the program was initially created to reduce vandalism, indigence and gang problems, the community volunteers are now also assisting the police in vigilance against potential terror attacks and in doing so, are adding a significant additional layer of security for the all the citizens of Netanya.

"We are 15 kilometers from Tulkarm", commented Miriam Fireberg, Mayor of Netanya. "We always welcome the Arabs to our shopping  centers, beaches and gardens. We are sorry that instead of saying 'thank you', that some have brought terror instead, but we are strong; strong because people like you in Cincinnati are supporting us."

Other funds have been allocated to the "Acharai" (Follow me) program which is a army preparatory program for disadvantaged youth that is designed to raise motivation, self confidence and a sense of commitment to community involvement and social leadership.

The genus of the idea to bring these two communities together came from Mayor Fireberg who, frustrated that the joint UJC-JAFI project was focusing on depressed communities in outlying areas, felt that there was an equal need for communities in the center, particularly one like Netanya that has seen an influx of over 50,000 new immigrants in the past few years.

So, with little more than self-determination, she got on a plane and went to the UJC's General Assembly in Atlanta in 1999.  "With my poor English, I went up to the microphone and asked the crowd, 'who will be my partner?' and you (Cincinnati) agreed." said Fireberg.

The first joint steering committee meeting took place last night in Netanya and both communities are looking forward the dual process of building and being rebuilt.

About UJC: United Jewish Communities, Federations of North America (UJC) represents 189 Federations and 400 independent communities across North America. Last year, 700,000 people contributed over $2 billion to enable UJC to provide life-saving and life-enhancing assistance to millions of Jews and non-Jews around the world. Here in Israel, UJC’s donations provide the resources for two main beneficiary organizations The Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) and The Joint Distribution Committee (JDC)