Reported by: Yael Raich- The Jewish Agency
       

A four-member delegation from the Belgium Partnership 2000 Steering Committee arrived in Israel and met on Wednesday August 8, 2006 with their Israeli counterparts from Kfar Vradim. The Belgian delegation included Daniel Grue, chairman of the Belgian Zionist Federation, Jacque Lieber, Muriel Diamante and Osnat Versal and met with Ron Moskovitz, mayor of the Kfar Vradim local council, Eran Salmon, the Kfar Vradim Partnership 2000 Steering Committee Chairman and Yael Raich, Partnership regional manager for the Jewish Agency for Israel.

The Steering Committee members had intended on visiting Kfar Vradim to encourage the town's residents; however, the continuing hostilities forced them to change their travel plans.  The reduced forum was forced to meet in the center of the country.

The committee members received a report from the mayor and local Steering Committee chairman concerning the situation in Kfar Vradim and the difficulties residents are currently facing because of the war.

The members of the Belgian delegation expressed their personal support as well as that of the Belgian Jewish Community for the residents of the north. Many members of the Belgian Jewish Community are currently in Israel, either as part of their summer vacation plans (and didn't cancel them) or to show their strong support and backing for the country as this time.

The Belgian committee reported that they intend to organize a fundraising campaign in cooperation with representatives of the Keren Hayesod-United Israel Appeal in Belgium. The funds will be earmarked to aid the children of Kfar Vradim, according to a program developed by representatives of the local council and "Partnership 2000".

Furthermore, the community has offered to organize home hospitality with Jewish families in Brussels and Antwerp for families from Kfar Vradim. The visiting family from Kfar Vradim will pay its own flight costs; however, all hospitality costs will be covered by the host family.

Other possibilities for providing additional assistance in areas relevant to Kfar Vradim will be examined and brought to the public's attention.

Both delegations expressed their desire to strengthen the partnership between the two communities and to develop a program for a Middle School Delegation and other activities for the communities' young people and children.

It was further decided to introduce the Children's Mission (sixth graders from Belgium) into the Partnership's hospitality program in 2007 and find additional ways to strengthen the relationship between the children and young people of the two partner communities.