by Assaf Ron- "Young Shlichim" Project Coordinator

As I have in past years this November as well, I set out on a brief visit to each of our Young Emissaries to see them as they begin to adjust to life and daily routine in each of our partner communities.

Following the extensive efforts made by Sharon in preparing and coordinating my schedule so that it is most effective for me I met with all of the shlichim at a gathering held in Sharon's home in West Hartford.

There I learned about the various experiences, difficulties and learning processes our young people underwent during the initial months of their stay in the particular communities, and we worked on various methods of coping with these hardships throughout their period of service.

My next meeting before I headed out to the various communities was with the project coordinators, an important and fruitful annual meeting in which we discuss daily dilemmas as well as significant matters of interest concerning the project and brain storm on a variety of desired methods of operation.

As always- I thoroughly enjoy my visits to the communities. They are always built around a variety of activities scheduled to take place the week that I visit, and not according to any geographical logic…

This year I began in Hartford where I was present for an emotional memorial ceremony conducted in memory of Yitzhak Rabin obm that was prepared by 8th graders from the community's Solomon Schechter Academy under the guidance of the Emissaries. From there I was on to Worcester, where I caught Chen and Iris conducting a wonderful Hebrew language lesson about colors.

In a Fairfield kindergarten, I attended an impressive and very serious memorial service in memory of the late Prime Minister Rabin, while in Bridgeport I enjoyed a lively basketball game between local students and our Emissaries. Although to some it was "just" a basketball game, to me it stressed the importance and strength of the Young Emissaries program as shown by the flow of questions and great interest shown by the students with their Israeli counterparts.

From there I moved on to New Haven where I saw our shlichim 'march' the children from the local Hebrew School in military formation and discuss with them the importance of service in the IDF as viewed through the eyes of Israeli society. From New Haven, I moved on to Providence where I visited our eastern-most emissaries and New London where I participated in a community day event "JCC without Walls".

Lastly, on my way to the Airport I enjoyed a day with the shlichim in Greenwich, and enjoyed observing them as they took a group of children from the Jewish Day School on a "tour" of Israel. It was a wonderful activity enjoyed by both teachers and their pupils and educational as well!

In each of the communities, I enjoyed warm home hospitality and the change to meet our shlichims' "parents", becoming acquainted with them and listening to their thoughts and experiences. It is important for me to stress how proud I felt throughout my trip; in fact, I have felt this way for quite a long time now!

I am proud that I have had the honor of participating in a program that is a true partnership! We work together on a daily basis, constantly consulting with one another concerning various decisions, all of us, from both sides of the ocean feel strongly committed and all of us have an equal investment in our projects that allows us to enjoy their wonderful output, strengthening our Jewish Identity, strengthening the bond between us.