Hilla Bagalil: Walking Together for Women''s Health in the Galilee has had far-reaching effect -- reaching all the way from Pittsburgh to Karmiel and the Misgav Region, in Israel.

Hilla Bagalil: took place on October 19 at 9:30 a.m. in Pittsburgh and, simultaneously in Israel, at 3:30 p.m. Israel time. The event was to be the centerpiece of the Israel.com/unity Mission to Israel involving some 120 participants from the city of Pittsburgh. When the mission was postponed until spring 2001, organizers launched the local event to demonstrate solidarity with the people of Israel and express their commitment to increasing awareness about women''s health issues in Israel. Pittsburgh''s one-mile walk drew some 200 participants to Schenley Oval. Meanwhile, in Karmiel, 20 Pittsburghers who had made the journey to the Karmiel/Misgav region (including Tova Weinberg, Voices 2000 Co-Chair, her husband Joel and their family, Karen Shapira, UJF Chair of the Board and Juddy Palkovitz, in Israel on an emergency UJC Solidarity Mission, chaired by Shapira, Lou Weiss and his two daughters, Casey and Molly, Dara Stern and Zur Goldblum, Israel community shaliach) joined with 2000 Israelis in their walk and the festivities that followed.

"It was difficult for those of us in Pittsburgh to not be side by side with our friends in Israel," said Barbara Booken, Voices 2000 chair. "However, by having our walk as Hilla Bagalil was taking place in Israel, we achieved our goals to build awareness of women''s health issues and bring support to our partners in Israel."

A highlight of the Pittsburgh Hilla Bagalil event was a cellular hook-up with Sheila Zetler, Chair of the Israeli organizing committee for the walk, who described the excitement generated in Karmiel by the event. Local participants also enjoyed remarks by Jeffrey Markel, Partnership 2000 Chair, and Essie Garfinkel, incoming Partnership 2000 Chair along with her husband Harold.

Another notable component of the program was the announcement by NA'AMAT Pittsburgh Council of plans to establish the NA'AMAT/Weiner Center for Women's Health and Education in Karmiel. The new program, made possible by a generous grant from the Adele and Maurice Weiner/NA'AMAT Endowment Fund of the UJF Foundation, will provide for a vast range of educational and preventative programs around women's health issues.

Cheshvan 5761 - November 2000