The Charlotte delegates came back saying: "it was a life changing experience".

Through the last Hanukkah break from the Israeli schools, educators from Hadera volunteered to travel to our US Partnership 2000 community of Charlotte, North Carolina, and were accepted with open arms and a welcoming community.

This is the first delegation of educators, which was aimed to create direct bonds between Hadera and Charlotte. The educators were from both formal and informal education for elementary up to high school students.

During the visit, they met with students, educators, volunteers and leaders of the community. They visited the Jewish day school as well as Sunday and Hebrew schools, and talked about the experience of Israel, Jewish identity, partnership and Hanukkah. Some of these students are intended to participate in the YP2K Leadership Summer Program in Israel.

The community also arranged for some lectures and workshops regarding Jewish identity, which the educators then descried as profound and of high importance. Most of the activities were held in the unique united Shalom Park, which was, for the Israelis, an example of how Jews everywhere can live together under one roof, create and learn from each other. "In Israel we need that too, sometimes", mentioned one educator, "to have better connections between the religious and secular".

One of the highlights of the visit was the host families. They welcomed every Israeli whole-heartedly, and with open arms, so now they are considered to be "my own family", by each of the Israelis!

Many experiences were amazing- the tour downtown, the dinner and Hanukkah presents the visit to the American Hebrew Academy. But there was one personal experience, which was emotional and heartwarming: one of the women educators had here first "Alliah" to the Torah in the local synagogue. She says she feels more Jewish after not attending a synagogue ever since she was a child.

The time spent was a success for all, and both partners are looking foreaward to have the letters sent between students, Independence day ceremony held together, lessons taught on both sides of the ocean, and for our Charlotte teens to spend a leadership summer with their Israeli peers.