Dear Friends,

I would like to share with you an exceptional experience we had on the eve of Tu Bishvat.

Some 50 participants from the "Learning to Respect Others" and the two Regional Beit Midrash programs met at the Mondrey Women Center in Nazareth Illit to celebrate the Tu Bishvat Seder together. The tables were set with fresh and dried fruit, hallahs and cakes and decorated with vases filled with almond branches covered with fluffy light pink flowers. People came festively dressed and smiling in anticipation of a learning experience that will enrich their Jewish spiritual world. We read texts out of an exceptional pluralistic Tu Bishvat Aggadah that was put together by the streams of contemporary Judaism in Israel. We sang songs and drank 4 cups of wine. We dedicated the fourth cup to Partnership 2000, honoring the common destiny that unites us. One of the most moving moments this evening was when Larisa, a new immigrant from the FSU rose to speak, telling us how Tu Bishvat had become symbolic of her life in Israel. How after many years, she now feels like a tree in bloom, its roots firmly embedded in the ground taking strength from our common heritage.

From here, we send you our Brothers and Sisters in Michigan, Happy Tu Bishvat greetings and our heart felt thank for your gift of Partnership that has made such special and strong experiences possible.

I would like to extend special thanks to the wonderful volunteers who made this singular evening possible - Shosh Nahon, Dany Eitani, Rachel Rothbaum, Reut Hammer, Edna Shapira and Chava Yoffe and the emcee Moishale Yizhaki from Midreshet Oranim - Well Done! to all of you. You have made our spirits soar, may we be allowed the privilege to partake in many moments such as this.