Thus Brian Kerner Summarized The Evening In His Honour Held Thursday, June 17
at the Kerner Ma'ale Hagalil Primary School in Moshav Meona.

Dozens of friends from Israel, England and America gathered last Thursday in the schoolyard of the Kerner Ma'ale Hagalil Primary School in Meona for an event in appreciation of Mr. Brian Kerner from the UK. The three regional councils of the Partnership 2000 Confrontation Line Region, the Ma'ale Yosef Community Centre and Partnership 2000 Confrontation Line - Great Britain joined hands to organize the event.

"We love you and thank you for your contribution to Israel and especially to the Galil" was the message that echoed again and again by those who attended the event to express their appreciation to Brian Kerner for his many years of involvement in and contribution to the region.

Performances by Kerner School pupils, the "Shlomi Youth" singers and the Merom Hagalil Choir were interspersed with the many greetings of special guests. Heli Lagziel, Ester Amar and Sapir Suissa, past P2K Gap Year participants arrived at the ceremony from their army units in uniform to relate how their experiences in Partnership programmes changed their lives and their choices for the future. "As a result of the process we went through in Partnership 2000 projects we are more Zionistic and more aware of our Jewish identities and our obligations to Diaspora Jewry." The three soldiers closed their words with a salute and the statement "We salute you, Brian!", which brought an enthusiastic round of applause from the audience.

Ma'ale Yosef Mayor Avi Krampa addressed Brian in the name of Shlomi Mayor Gabi Na'aman and Merom Hagalil Mayor Amit Sofer, and together they presented Brian with a gift from the three regions and with a personal certificate from President Shimon Peres.

Other greetings were presented by Ofer Iserov of the Jewish Agency and Doug Krikler, Chief Executive of the UJIA. Ron Prosor, Israeli Ambassador to Great Britain, spoke warmly of Brian's love of football, and also of Brian's immediate enlistment at all times for the good of Israel. Mr. Prosor entertained the audience with his excellent imitation of President Shimon Peres at the close of his speech. Brian's wife, Sylvia, and son, Stefan, also spoke of their great pride and admiration for the head of their family. Sefton Bergson, UJIA Israel, served as the charming Master of Ceremonies for the evening.

In a voice filled with emotion Brian Kerner took the stage at the close of the evening  and after summarizing his many years of involvement in Israel and the Galilee, he concluded - " You are thanking me, but I want to thank you. Neither my wife Sylvia nor I have brothers or sisters. Here in the Galilee we found family."