AAP meeting at Bialik College

Keren Hayesod - UIA Federal President Jack Smorgon and AAP Co-chair Ron Finkel share a moment with delegation member Evelyn Biton

This year's adult delegation to Australia marked the fourth time that a delegation of adults made the long trip Down Under, and the second delegation under the framework of the AAP (Arava Australia Partnership) group. The delegation was comprised of five of the AAP's volunteer activists; Regional Council Head and one of the founding members of the AAP, Ezra Ravins; Keren Rotem, the Regional Council's newly employed resources coordinator; and reciprocal relations coordinator Nili Lipsky.

The group landed in Melbourne on July 29th, and was warmly greeted by their Australian counterparts. Several days of meetings, activities and hospitality culminated in an all-day session, which many felt was the turning point of the visit, in that the Australian and Israeli Partnership members sat down together to ask themselves basic questions on the connections and communications in the Partnership, and on which the vision for the Partnership was redefined: to work towards the development of the Arava, and to make it a more attractive place.

Delegation members with former NSW UIA Director Penny Hurst at the Montefiore Home for Senior Citizens in Sydney

NSW UIA Director Aviva Kogus with AAP Co-chair Peter Rabin

On August 7th the group flew to Sydney in order to raise awareness to the Partnership and renew existing ties. Several meetings were held, including with present and former UIA directors, Aviva Kogus and Penny Hurst. Other memorable moments included the visits to the Emmanuel School and the Montefiore Home for Senior Citizens. In addition to promoting the Partnership in Australia, one of the AAP's additional aims is to create joint projects involving the communities in Melbourne, Sydney and the Arava, such as Limmud Arava, based upon the successful Limmud Oz events which are held in Melbourne and Sydney on alternate years.