Ten young people in grades 10-12 from the Karmiel-Misgav area returned Wednesday May 6, 2009 from a two-week visit to the United States. The young people traveled to Pittsburgh to take an active role in the city’s Jewish community’s Israel Memorial Day and Independence Day events. The Jewish Agency/Partnership 2000, the Misgav Community Center and the Karmiel Community Centers all co-sponsored the delegation.

Tomer Hoffman, director of Karmiel’s Urban Youth Department and Galiya Kovesh, the group’s writer, producer and director headed the delegation.

The highlight of the visit was the community’s Israel Memorial Day ceremony led by the delegation before an audience of some 500 people. The ceremony included artistic dance segments, songs, reading and dramatic segments, all of which brought tears to many of those in attendance.

Galiya Kovesh, the delegation’s director recounted, “The delegation for me was an uplifting experience as an Israeli, Jewish woman. We came to a place thirsty for a connection and relationship with Israel. Every day we brought happiness to another segment of the community (schools, kindergartens and senior citizen centers…) and brought something of ourselves. We gave no less than what we received an even more (What wonderful hospitality, such a great investment just so that we would feel good and comfortable!) Everywhere we performed and every ceremony format had a magical ambiance! The young people who were with us felt it and so did we!

From a director’s viewpoint, the values and message I wanted to convey were translated through these wonderful young people to the excited, singing and dancing audience who went out of their way on almost everything, there is no experience better than this!”

On Independence Day a ceremony was conducted in Pittsburgh’s City Hall officially recognizing the day as Israel Independence Day in the City of Pittsburgh.

That same day a giant festival was conducted for the entire community at the Squirrel Hill Jewish Community Center. The Israeli delegation performed before an audience numbering in the thousands, an especially joyful and colorful performance that was wildly applauded by the crowd.