The Israeli group during her visit to Pittsburgh, August 2004

A delegation of 14 teenagers (graduates of the 10th grade) and two chaperones from Carmiel and Misgav went for a visit in Pittsburgh in the framework of the "Teen leadership" project by the Jewish Agency's "Partnership 2000".

The delegation stayed two weeks in Pittsburgh, and was hosted by the American students who recently returned from a three-week UJF-SAJS/Comay Teen Leadership trip to Poland and Israel. While in Israel, they toured the country with the teens from Pittsburgh's sister communities of Carmiel and the Misgav.

Those are the Israelis that were in Pittsburgh from July 27 to Aug. 5 visiting their new American friends. Suzan Linzer, overseas planning associated at UJF, accompanied the group.

During the stay in the community the delegation visited synagogues of different streams and met with rabbis. The delegation also visited Jewish Homes for the Elderly, in which they presented Israeli songs in honor of the residents.

On one of the weekends, the delegation was hosted at "Emma Kaufman Camp" (A JCC summer camp in West Virginia), where they learned about the Jewish community there and led a theme day about Israel. The delegation was also hosted in J & R (the Pittsburgh's Jewish Community center summer camp), where they led different activities concerning Israel. Also, the Israeli teens led a special activity about "Tisha B'Av" for students and teenagers at the local "Hillel".

The trip also included a two-day visit to Washington DC. Most of the visit was dedicated to the subject of Israel - US relations and the Middle East. The delegation visited the Israeli Embassy, the State Department, the Capital and the Holocaust Museum. The delegation also met with a representative from the AIPAC. In all the meetings and the discussions, a big emphasis was put on American Government support for the State of Israel and the obligation to continue the support.

In the State Department, the group met with Daniel Watru, who is the American representative for the Israel - Palestinian negotiations. This conversation gave the Israeli's the chance to really understand the American side in this conflict.

In addition to the educational program, the teens also enjoyed other special and experimental activities like: visit in Kennywood Amusement Park, Pittsburgh Zoo, theater performance ("Hello Dolly") and visit to Laurel Caverns.

The delegation was warmly accepted by the Jewish Community of Pittsburgh, which expressed a high concern and interest to the situation in Israel.

  Elul 5764 - August 2004