The Young Emissaries project is one of 12 programs of a Partnership between 13 Jewish Communities in Southern New England, and the region of Afula and Gilboa in Northern Israel. Partnership 2000 is a joint program of the United Jewish Communities and the Israel Department of the Jewish Agency for Israel. The SNEC-Afula/Gilboa partnership is one of 29 partnerships under the rubrick of Partnership 2000.

The Young Emissaries project sponsors Israelis from Afula/Gilboa who have graduated from high school and are deferring their military service for one year, to work as volunteers in the Southern New England Jewish communities for 10 months. Volunteers only work in the communities of the consortium which choose to participate in the program (not all 13 communities have young emissaries).

The Young Emissaries project was started three years ago. The first group of emissaries went to serve in the SNEC communities during the school year 1999 - 2000. The impetus for this project came from volunteers involved in the Gilboa-Afula region. It was able to be implemented due to the support and encouragement of Danny Atar, Mayor, Gilboa Regional Council, and the SNEC Federations.

The Young Emissaries program is directed by the Regional Manager for Afula-Gilboa, of the Northern District of the Israel Department of the Jewish Agency for Israel. Program marketing, advertisement and coordination is carried out in conjunction with a local project director. The process of choosing and preparing the candidates for their voluntary service in the Communities is carried out by Yael Goss of the Education Department of the Jewish Agency for Israel, who does excellent work in this area.

In 2001-2002, SNEC is expecting 12 young emissaries from Afula/Gilboa in five communities: Westport, Connecticut; Stamford, Connecticut; New London, Connecticut; New Haven, Connecticut; and Hartford, Connecticut. In each of the above-named communities, the Jewish Federation is the central sponsoring agency, however, the emissaries work at a variety of the Federation's beneficiary agencies in each community (examples: Hebrew Day Schools, Synagogues, Jewish Community Centers, Facilities for the Elderly). The entire program is coordinated by a regional, part-time consultant to the Southern New England Consortium, Mr. Andrew Hechtman.

The program has been extremely successful and has grown exponentially. This program is unique to the Partnership of Afula-Gilboa and SNEC.

  Av 5761 - August 2001