Yesterday, a moving reunion was held between the Galron quire and Kolenu in Kfar Saba. Having old friends singing to each other was very exciting, in this one of the longest continuous people to people partnership program.

The evening started with dinner prepared by the Galron Singers members.

After which, the event started, in which attended many, who showed how important the partnership and evening are to them: Dr. Buky Chass, Deputy Mayor of Kfar-Saba, Meir Alonim, Chairman of the Kfar Saba steering committee, Einat Vivante, director of Partnership 2000, Aliza Regev both as a the partnership coordinator and as a singer from the quire, Koleinu Conductor and Columbus Cantor Jack Chomsky, Avi Faintoch, the Galron Singers musical director, Israel Lenchner, the headmaster of the local school and Mrs. Tova Geller, one of the city most appreciated citizens and wife of the late Mayor Geller.

Many beautiful things were said, and we will share some with you:

Dr. Buky Chass, Deputy Mayor of Kfar-Saba greeted the crowd and said how special Columbus is to him since he studied for his PhD in Ohio State University. He apologized that the mayor was not able to attend since he was not feeling well, and conveyed his message and regards.

Meir Alonim, Chairman of the Kfar Saba steering committee spoke in behalf of the partnership, and greeted the visitors and the crowd, who attended this extended relationship.

Tova Geller. The "mother" of the Galron Singers, and the widow of the late Mayor Zeev Geller z"l (the Galron are named after him, and also the center where the event was held), said that the essence of Judaism is to bring people together, and on a personal note, that she is sure that her husband would have been delighted to witness the familial meeting between Israel and Columbus.

Israel Lenchner, the headmaster of the local Etzion school, attended by many Ethiopian children, told about the school, the Sigd traditional Ethiopian holiday recently celebrated and a moving story about an elderly Ethiopian cleaner who identified with Israel so much that he tied an Israeli flag to his cleaning cart.

He presented the Kolenu members with stone mezuzahs hand made by a holocaust survivor who died recently, and were wrapped in old newspaper dated years ago.

Avi Faintoch, the Galron Singers musical director expressed hid delight to host Kolenu and Koleinu Conductor and Cantor Jack Chomsky said it was special to be in Kfar-Saba again – his third visit to the same room. He told that from the first moment, he felt the connection. He got applause from  the audience by saying that a Jewish person in Ohio who does not know about Kfar-Saba – doesn't know much.

The evening was concluded by beautiful singing of the two choirs. It was moving to see the US singers sing in Hebrew, to which the crowd joined, and the Israelis sang some familiar and new songs of the repertoire.

It was a special evening with a warm atmosphere of gathering.

Hope to see more of those relationships grow more.