By Sheryl Berman

I arrived in Israel this past September and have been studying full-time at the Pardes Institute for Jewish Studies in Jerusalem since this time. As a native Clevelander, I wanted to learn more about the projects between Cleveland and Beit Shean and to see first-hand how they affect the Beit Shean city and region.

During my visit to Beit Shean this past week, I visited the Beit Shean National Park, Old Gesher and The Cleveland house, in addition to two different kibbutzim in the region. My hosts, the Partnership 2000 staff, made me feel right at home.

It was the first time I could have conversations with Israelis who have not only visited Cleveland but who know so much about my hometown as well as many of the same people as I do. Luckily for me, I will able to return to my new "home" in the north soon since I plan to spend 1-2 months this summer working on Kibbutz Sde Eliyahu, an organic farming kibbutz in the region.