The Communities of Karmiel,Misgav,Baltimore and Pittsburgh are joined in Partnership 2000. Women’s Health has been a central focus of Voices 2000, the Women’s Forum, within Partnership 2000 in the Karmiel-Misgav Region.

The ultimate aim is to establish a Women’s Health Centre to provide Health Education and Services to the Women of the Galilee.

Hilla Bagalil is a project to promote the Awareness and Early Detection of Breast Cancer and the proceeds of the event will be assigned to this goal.

The event will take place, starting at 3pm on Thursday 19th October 2000.

Cost of participation: 20 NIS for early registration, 25 NIS for registration on the day

Hilla Bagalil has the support of Karmiel-Misgav Health Festival, the Jewish National Fund, Karmiel City Council, Misgav Regional Council, and other sponsors.

Background on Voices 2000

Voices 2000 is the Women’s Forum of the Baltimore-Pittsburgh-Karmiel-Misgav Partnership.

In spring 1997 a group of about 30 women from our Partner Communities in Baltimore and Pittsburgh came to the Karmiel-Misgav Region for a visit of 3-4 days. A group of women, who in the past had helped host visitors, planned the programme. The visit was most successful and we found that, besides the friendships we formed with the American women, in the short time, we here in the region had worked so well together, that we wanted to continue.

We started with a progamme on the subject of Jewish Pluralism which was a popular subject at the time. Lectures were held giving the background to the formation of the different streams. We then had meetings in the different communities in our region. Karmiel has a Conservative Congregation, Moreshet is an Orthodox Community, and Har Halutz with a Reform population and a Woman Rabbi. This was a way to get to know women in the region and we had some lively debates.

In spring 1998, a group of 12 women was invited to the US to visit Pittsburgh and Baltimore to meet with women in the Jewish Communities and to learn about the projects that they have. The connections and friendships were strengthened and we were shown some of the wonderful projects that the Jewish Communities have established. We found too, that we have much in common and that we have a lot to learn from each other.

When the Israeli women came home, it was decided to “formalize” the project and the Women’s Forum, Voices 2000, was established. A Steering Committee was formed and plans made for 1999. In November 1998, some women from the US visited at the time of the Budget Meetings in the region. A group of Israeli Women joined them at the GA in Jerusalem where there was a joint presentation of the project.

The main focus in 1999 was Women’s Health. Lectures were held during the year and this proved very popular. The mailing list grew to 250+. The idea of a “Race for the Cure” in the region came from our partner communities, who know the project in the States. Two Israeli women attended the Race for the Cure in Pittsburgh in May 1999 in order to learn from them how it is done there.

In October, 11 American women came to the region to meet as a joint steering committee and to plan for this project in Israel. These meetings are of immense benefit to all the communities as interest in Partnership 2000 is increased and much was achieved in planning for the year 2000.

The main project for 2000 is Hilla Bagalil and this is the Mission Statement that was prepared .

Ongoing Voices 2000 Activity

We are continuing the Health lectures, have started a “Coffee and English” Club to boost the conversational English of women in the region. We are about to start a series of meetings on the subject of Judaism and Zionism. At the same time, we are investigating other projects for the future such as a Halfway House/Shelter for Women in Distress.

Voices 2000 was also the initiator of an P2K art project which was exhibited in Pittsburgh in April/May 1999 and in Baltimore in September/October. The subject of the project is Spirit of Unity/Unity of Spirit and the Israeli exhibition opened on the 15th February at the opening of the Regional Development Conference in Karmiel.

We are forming a group of 15-25 women to visit the partner communities in May. In October we look forward to seeing a large group (we hope for about 300 participants) from both Baltimore and Pittsburgh in the region for Hilla Bagalil and for a visit.

We are trying to arrange a meeting of all the Women's Forums of P2K in June and would appreciate assistance in this plan.

For further information please contact Sheila Zetler - zetler@netvision.net.il , Chairperson of Voices 2000 and member of the Organizing Committee of Hilla Bagalil.

Adar Bet 5760 - March 2000