Bob Aronson addresses Partnership 2000 volunteers in Central Galilee

On July 1, 2001 Bob Aronson was in the Region. About 70 active Partnership 2000 volunteers gathered at the Michigan Hall in the Nazareth Illit Tavor Absorption Center to hear Bob speak. Bob was in Israel for the Jewish Agency's General Assembly and told of his meetings with the Prime Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and other government officials but said that as far as he was concerned, his most important meeting was this meeting with the Partnership's volunteers. Bob spoke of the challenges faced by the Federation among which is the need to maintain the Community's caring and sense of commitment towards Israel and the Jewish People and what a crucial role people to people contacts have in this connection. The encounter was exciting and a great success. Worthy of mention is the love and respect the volunteers have for Bob. Long after the meeting was over, the volunteers continued to surround Bob and were it not for another meeting that had been scheduled, they could have held on to him way into the wee hours of the night.

On July 3rd a happening to salute the work of volunteers was held in Migdal HaEmek. Booths were set up by the volunteer organizations in Migdal HaEmek. The Partnership 2000 booth was very prominent, manned by numerous volunteers from the entire Region including young March of the Living participants. Information was handed out and many people signed up expressing their interest in Partnership volunteer activities. More than 2,000 people were exposed to the Partnership 2000 activities in the Region. I would like to take this opportunity to again thank Simon Shorr, Yair and Reut Hammer, Shlomit Aharon, Shalom Peretz and Yossi Maman (from the March of the Living delegation) for their efforts in making the Partnership booth a success.

On July 4th the 57 people on the Solidarity Mission spent the day in the Region. They started their day in the Region with a visit to the Jezrael Valley day camp, heard about the Partnership, played and danced with the children, and handed out gifts and had a good time. The high point of the day was a round table lunch meeting with the Volunteers' Forum. The meeting took place at the Michigan Club in the Nazareth Illit Tavor Absorption Center. The meeting was attended by many volunteers (25), who with their Michigan guests had the opportunity to speak to each other, share experiences and all in all experienced the unmediated encounter we so strongly believe in. Yair Hammer told the guests about the activities of the Volunteers' Forum and Shosh Nahon the Chair of the People to People Subcommittee welcome them to the Region. The Solidarity Mission delegates then visited the Tzippori Site. There too we had a special experience waiting for them. An actor dressed to depict the spirit of ancient Tzippori guided them through the site ending a very successful day.

The St. Louis Leadership Mission delegates were fully involved in the planning of the visit. I wish to thank Gili Schwartman, the summer day camp director, for the warm welcome extended to our guests and Gadi Paran, Limor Lev, Carol Shemesh, Meirav Amitai, Sharon Peretz and Iris Even-Haim for accompanying the mission with such great devotion.

We are working on a new project called the "Partnership 2000 March for Volunteerism in the Galilee". We intend to hold this Region wide march during the Succoth vacation. If by any chance you have a Michigan mission planned for that time we would love to have them march together. This project is an initiative of the third leadership group and numerous volunteers have already expressed their interest in participating and taking part in orchestrating the event.

I want to note the extensive efforts and the dedication of Eti Oren, our People to People Coordinator. Since she began working we see activities flourish in quantity and quality and a tremendous increase in the involvement of volunteers.

  Tamuz 5761 - July 2001