A group of 10 young leaders from Rhode Island came to Afula-Gilboa last week, to interact with 15 of their Partnership 2000 peers. The Rhode Islanders spent two days visiting their colleagues in their "natural environment" (e.g., home, work), discussing shared concerns such as Jewish identity with them. The partners also discussed family values, and shared in studying Jewish texts (on Hanuka) from different perspectives.

The Israeli group has already been meeting regularly for three months, and is developing into Partnership 2000's grass roots lay leadership in Afula-Gilboa. They will visit their Rhode Island partners (and other SNEC communities) in March, and will travel with their "parallel leadership group" to the UJA Young Leadership Conference.

This Partnership 2000 project enjoys the full backing of Afula Mayor Zadok Nawi and Gilboa Mayor Danny Atar, and is chaired by Kibbutz Yizrael member David Mittelberg. "After developing a solid relationship with Rhode Island Jewish Federation Executive Vice President Steve Rakitt, I knew that we could succeed in developing parallel leadership groups which could work together," says Mittelberg, who is experienced in recruiting lay leaders in Israel as an Israel Forum volunteer.

Simcha Pe'er of Moshav Gan Ner serves as the local staff personfor the leadership development program, while organizational consultant Irit Dortal has designed the program - facilitating the biweekly sessions as well as facilitating the interaction at the conference just held. The Jewish Federation of Rhode Island's Gershon Levine led the Rhode Island contingent.

For further information, contact David Mittelberg - rres601@uvm.haifa.ac.il

  December 1997