Seventeen educators from Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts who are part of SNEC (The Southern New England Consortium) recently returned from a nine day Educators' Mission to Israel. Sponsored by the Bureau of Jewish Education of RI, with support from the Jewish Federation of Rhode Island and the Jewish Agency for Israel, the educators participated in this mission of solidarity which was designed and facilitated by Oren and its Director, Roberta Bell-Kigler. Participants included a pluralistic group--among them, agency directors, rabbis, cantors, day school and community school principals, classroom teachers, Hillel Directors, JCC and Federation professionals In addition to spending five days in Jerusalem, and hearing the many voices of the "matzav" particpants then traveled to their Partnership 2000 Community, "Afula and the region of Gilboa", for three days which included home hospitality with teachers in the region, mifgashim and educational programs with them, and visits to both historical sites and educational facilities.

David Mittelberg, a leader at P2K and a long-time friend of the Rhode Island Jewish community, and a professor of sociology at U. of Haifa and the Jezreel Valley College helped to create the program of dialogue in the region. We were greeted by Eshel Fram, Regional Manager of the region for P2K who also helped helped to set-up other programs for the educators in the region. Feedback from the trip was extremely positive with participants feeling that although most had extensive "Israel" experience, this program, at this time, was most significant one of their lives.

The combination of showing solidarity with Israel, of hearing from the many voices, of the high caliber of the speakers, and of personal meetings with P2K colleagues made this encounter second to none. All returned to Rhode Island anxious to share their perceptions with their colleagues and constituencies, prepared to act as advocates for Israel, and ready to return at a moment's notice. Plans are already underway for a winter Principals' Trip.

  Tishrei 5762 - September 2001