On May 6th, in the evening of Yom Hazikaron (Memorial Day), a group of 9 from Pinellas County came to join their partnership 2000 region of Hadera Eiron to what is considered to be one of the most significant and memorable days in the year.

This is the second year, in which Pinellas County integrated a visit to Hadera-Eiron in the MOTL (March of the Living) young mission. This year was doubly honoring to the region, thanks to the attendance of two holocaust survivors who spent time with the group in Poland, before coming to Israel.

Rabbi David Weizman, the leader of the mission, along with Holocaust survivors Jack and Irma Mayer came with 6 Pinellas teens: Jordan, Danielle, Gabrielle, Gordana, Hannah and Madelyn. They all arrived in the region and met their host families: Negbi, Feder, Ovadia, Grunshpen, Tesler, Tchougouriansky and Roseman. The excitement towards their coming was amazing. The preparation meeting held ahead of time built this excitement even more, thanks to some of the teens, who corresponded with the American teens beforehand, and told everyone about that!

Hagit Feder, shared her own story with her guests and the rest of the group. She said that it is completing a circle for her, after her very emotional and personal visit in Pinellas County's Holocaust Museum this past December (with the Educators' delegation). She told her parents, who are holocaust survivors, about the visit she had, and they were anxious to meet the Mayers, who Hagit hosted.
One of the teens lost her cousin in an accident a few days prior, was offered to give up hosting, so it'll not be hard for her. She insisted to host, saying she feels it is so important and that "she would not be giving up", and hosting no matter what. It is so much like the purpose of the MOTL trip- surviving and living, despite personal and national tragedies. She hosted one of the Israelis and 2 Americans

All the hosting teens, who volunteered to host, attend the Arts and Science High school (Amal) in Hadera and are summer camp alumni, most from Pinellas County.

On Yom Hazikaron evening, the night of the mission's arrival, everyone attended the ceremonies, which were meaningful to all. The Hadera-Eiron teens said that spending that kind of an event with their American teens made them appreciate that day even more.
After the ceremonies all the teens gathered at one of the teen's house and spent that evening together, getting to know each other, talking about the Pinellas memories and teen life, as well as the events of that day, the trip in Israel and MOTL.

The next day, they all went to their highschool, and started the day with a workshop led by Yafit Shimoni, from the Pre-Atidim staff, a former chaperone to our summer camps. After that, they all joined our Nivheret YP2K group from that school, led by Inbar Marom for the rest of the day: the ceremony at the school, the walk to the Military Cemetery in Hadera and the ceremony itself during the siren blowing at the cemetery. At the end of that ceremony, the Mayers, on behalf of the Pinellas delegation and Partnership 2000, put flowers on the main monument, among those of the government, the city and others.

The whole day was emotional on one hand, and supportive and friendly on the other. The American and Israeli youth were there for each other in more than one way- talking about their feelings, sharing their thoughts, making friendships and even helping each other with cloths…
Moreover, the teens were together all of the time, not willing to spend a moment apart.
A true partnership.

The visit was also a result of a very fruitful cooperation between Hadera Eiron and Pinellas community- with Ms. Robin Warren and the P2K chair of Pinellas, Mr. Larry Silver. In Israel, the school, which engaged for that day, mentioned the American guests during the school ceremony, and the director of the school, Ms. Ilana Shtrehl, says she is proud to have such a team come on such an important day. During the visit, the delegation was taken care of, whole heartedly, by Genet Dasse, a former Pinellas chaperone and Shelly Madar, the chaperone for this summer. They did a wonderful job, thinking of every little detail.
Only such a wonderful local and international partnership could have led to those beautiful connections made. It is highly appreciated by all involved.

At the end of the visit, the Israelis said they wished it was longer, since they just started to get to know their new friends, and they wanted more time! Shay Felber, the partnership director, says that he hopes that this tradition, formed by Pinellas, will continue on in the years to come and that the teens and adults will even share the amazing transition in Israel- from sad to happy- from Yom Hazikaron to Yom Ha'atzmaut (Independence Day) next year!