During the last week of October the steering committee of Beit Shemesh and the Adulam region, as well as the heads of the four separate committees, were treated like visiting dignitaries as they met their Washington D.C. and South African partners in Washington for the annual budget meeting. The group included the two mayors from Israel, Beit Shemesh Mayor Dani Vaknin and the head of Mateh Yehudah , Mayor Meirka Veizel. South Africa was represented by Miki Blumberg. This was the first opportunity for the new Washingtonian chair people, Wendy Schacht, Melanie Sturm, and Billy Kriesberg to meet and get to know their Israeli and South African partners. The beginning part of the week was spent on this introduction and meeting of the minds and hearts- and an exchange of ideas and goals. This helped make the second part of the week, the discussion over the funding of the projects, a much more successful, fruitful venture.

The city could not have been more beautiful, nor could the many members of the community who met with us and welcomed us into their homes and centers, have been more warm or sincere in their desire to work together. One of the projects funded this year, is an apartment for Washington/South African singles or families who wish to volunteer in our area to have for a home base- a home away from home that we hope many of our new friends will be using. We all look forward to having the chance to repay the warm welcome and hospitality given to us.

November 1999