The Partnership 2000 Steering Committee of the Karmiel-Misgav-Pittsburgh Partnership, sponsored by the Jewish Agency, completed its winter session on Tuesday, June 6, 2005, after approving a series of social and economic projects, and programs for strengthening ties with the Jewish community in Pittsburgh, with an overall budget of $600,000 for 2006.

The Pittsburgh community was represented at the meetings by the Chairpersons of the Partnership, Meryl and David Ainsman, and by employees of the Jewish Federation and lay leaders who are active in the Partnership's programs.

The Israeli side was represented at the meetings by Misgav's Partnership Chairperson Scott Mann; the General managers of Karmiel & Misgav - Hanna Kovel and Roma Manor; the JAFI Partnership Manager Yael Raich, and by members of the Israeli Steering Committee.

The heads of the local authorities, Adi Eldar and Erez Kreisler, opened the meetings by thanking the participants from Pittsburgh for the tremendous help and support they extend to the region. The relations with the Pittsburgh community were described as being friendly and warm.

Activities in 2006 will focus on strengthening and cultivating future leadership in the region and the Pittsburgh community. Two Mega Missions from Pittsburgh are scheduled to visit the region during the year. The first is a delegation of 90 participants that is scheduled to arrive in early March, whose members are young leaders from Pittsburgh. The second delegation, arriving in July, will include about 100 teens in grades 9-12, who will attend an arts summer camp with 50 teens from Karmiel and Misgav.

The heads of the Karmiel and Misgav municipalities, and the Partnership 2000 representatives, call on the residents of Karmiel and Misgav to support the project by hosting delegates and participating in the various activities.

For further details, please send an e-mail to: ayao@jafi.org.