For the past couple months our 8th grade class has been able to communicate to our Beit Shaan pen pals using email or letters. But this week, we finally got the chance to talk in a more direct way at a video conference. We were able to get to know each other a little better by asking questions, and having conversations. The two classes even had a contest to see who knew more about the famous rabbi, Rambam. Over all it was an experience that both classes benefited from, and it will certainly help us when we are together in Israel.

Here is a letter from a girl in Cleveland:

We arrived at Siegel Collage early in the morning excited to finally talk to our Israeli pen pals. Julie had set up the video conference in a rather large room with the table set up in a circle, so when the conference started Israel would be able to see all of us. We got seated and the meeting began. Back fourth we asked questions on our lives. I was especially excited to learn about my pen pal, because she had not given much information in her letters. When the conference was close to ending we were all very reluctant to leave. I felt bad for the kids in Israel because they had already gone through their day of school and they stayed longer just to meet us. All in all I thought it was a very successful video conference, it got me really excited to go to Israel in a month. JJJJJJJJ

Emily Evans