"Partnership 2000" provided a different meaning to the word 'Integration': New immigrants, old timers, kibbutz members, people from 'moshavim' and city dwellers both from religious and secular backgrounds participated in the "Getting to Know the Other" project.

Many of the Central Galilee population are new immigrants. "Partnership 2000" has decided not to ignore this group the opposite is the truth.

One of the most wonderful and successful partnership projects is "Getting to know the other". "Partnership 2000" volunteers lead by Dani Eitani, Shosh Nahon, Rosa Trachtman, Michal Nagler, Edna Shapiro, Rachel Rothbaum and Suzan Lachs initiated this project. The objective is organizing meetings between new immigrants and old timers - Between Jews from Israel, the U.S. and Russia, becoming more familiar with each other, often refuting misconceptions we have about each other.

The most outstanding person leading this project is Shos Nahon from Nazareth Illit, who claims that he most important objective is establishing relations with new immigrants by participating in joint activities, creating an opportunity for members of the group to get to know the other, breaking down mistaken beliefs about each other. The groups carries out many activities such as excursions, meetings, joint celebration of Jewish holidays, through which people become familiar with each others opinions and ideas. Shosh Nahon said: "It is a good to see that, for example, at a meeting between a new immigrant and a member from Kibbutz Ein Dor, or between an old timer from Migdal Ha'emek and another old-timer from Nazareth Illit, people listen and understand each other. However, the success of the project is not necessarily expressed through organized activities, but through the interpersonal relations that have developed between members of the group, visiting each other at home, maintaining an ongoing personal relationship with real friendships. According to Nahon, this reflects the actual success of the project, providing us with much satisfaction and joy.

  Tevet 5761 - January 2001