Some 250 leaders representing 45 Partnership 2000 regions and 500 Jewish communities from all over the world took part in the third annual Partnership 2000 International Conference. The conference was held in Tel Aviv, marking the first time it took place in Israel. Held under the banner, "Partnerships of Inspiration", the conference focused on the Partnerships' broader organizational environment.
Leah Golan
Jewish Agency Israel Department Director General Leah Golan opened the conference and invited Dr. Ruth Calderon of "Alma" and Israeli musician Ariel Horowitz on stage.
Ariel Horowitz and Ruth Calderon
The duo offered a modern interpretation to a Rabbinic text, examining Israel-Diaspora relations vis-?-vis reciprocal relations, mutual dependence and shared destiny.
Mr. Dov Lautman, outgoing Partnership 2000 chair, received an Honor of Achievement on behalf of his efforts for the Partnerships, with current Partnership 2000 chair Raya Strauss presenting the award.
Raya Strauss presents award to Dov Lautman
Mr. Lautman was instrumental in expanding Partnership 2000's lay leadership, and was the first to engage Israeli volunteer leaders as steering committee chairs. Under Mr. Lautman's leadership the Partnerships reached a new height.
Partnership 2000 Director Andrea Arbel outlined the breakout sessions:
Andrea Arbel
Session 1: "Israel 15" Vision Meets P2K: Can Israel be Among the Worlds Top 15 Nations in Regard to Quality of Life & How P2K Can Make a Strategic Contribution?
Session Chairperson: Bobbie Higer, Co-Chair, Partnership 2000 Miami-Yerucham
Gidi Grinstein, Founder & President of Reut Institute, presented this cutting edge vision & how P2K can be a platform for its advancement. P2K Co-Chair Danny Targan gave an overview of the pilot under development in the Beit Shemesh-Washington-South Africa Partnership
Session 2: P2K Meets the Flat World: New Trends & Developments in Cyberspace & What Can We Be Doing Differently or More Of?
Session Chairperson: Dan Harkabi, Co-Chair Partnership 2000 Kiryat Gat/ Lachish/Shafir-Chicago
A session featuring "Futurist" Dr. Asher Eidan, Tel Aviv University & Miriam Schwab, "Illumina" Company
Session 3: Reaching Out to Unaffiliated Jews in Israel & Overseas Communities.
Session Chairperson: Melvin Berwald, Co-Chair, Partnership 2000 Confrontation Line-Great Britain
Director of "Alma" Dr. Ruth Calderon together with Rabbi Gilad Kariv presented creative ways on how to use "Hebrew culture" & "Jewish roots" to reach out to the unengaged
Session 4: Israeli P2K Chairs Share Insights and Conclusions from the "Naharya Retreat"
Session Chairperson: Dr. Hila Hadas, Co-Chair, Partnership 2000 Modiin-Rochester, NY
A Discussion with P2K Co-Chair Raya Strauss Ben Dror, Elisha Hosman & Dr. Haya Ramon
Session 5: Addressing Issues of Humanity: P2K Making Environmental Impact
Session Chairperson: The Honorable Rachel Barkai, Co-Chair of the Kiryat Malachi - TIPS (Tucson, Israel, Phoenix and Seattle) Partnership.
A session featuring Orit Reich, Director of the Association for Quality of Life and Environment, Reut Snir, Environmental Legal & Policy Consultant & Dr. Miriam Haran, former Director General of the Ministry of Environment & Co-Chair of the Environmental Subcommittee of the Tel Aviv-Los Angeles Partnership
Session 6: Branding of Israel Meets Partnership 2000 Marketing Strategy
Session Chairperson: Michelle Osteen, Co-Chair of Orlando-Kiryat Motzkin Partnership.
Ido Aharoni from the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs & P2K Marketing Consultant Tal Freiman
Awards Ceremony
Partnership 2000 awards were presented to four Partnerships:
Beit Shemesh-Mateh Yehuda - Washington-South Africa Bicycle Project, developing the region as Israel's bike-trail capital.
Ofakim-Merchavim - MetroWest Women's Empowerment Project, assisting area women in opening ethnic-food businesses.
Kiryat Gat-Lachish-Shafir - Chicago Kolot Project.
Kiryat Malachi-Ashkelon Coast - TIPS (Tucson, Phoenix, Seattle) Children's Art Project.
Ronit Dulev was recognized for her role in initiating and developing Partnership 2000.
Jane Sherman (left) presents award to Ronit Dulev
The conference was simulcast via the internet.
Partnership 2000 Director of Strategic Development Uri Barner served as producer of the conference.