I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for enabling me to participate in an intensive experience on Israel Independence Day.
The joint social and cultural activities for us and our guests from Philadelphia combined values and love of the Land of Israel, amply demonstrating the extent of our Philadelphia colleagues' investment and the profound significance they attach to the issues on which we focused. I met charming women who offer their presence and contributions with smiles, joy and love on behalf of our small country. May God grant much strength to them and to all who organize such welcome events.
Sima Knafo
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Our first experience was our common departure as a group of Partnership 2000 Netivot-Sedot Negev Women's Forum members. The meeting in Tel Aviv with the women of Philadelphia was exciting. We sat together and conversed freely with our friends from Philadelphia - those whom we knew from previous encounters and others whom we just met now. We felt as if we had known each other for ages and helped one another in English and Hebrew alike.
The trip to Jerusalem and the Memorial Day ceremony at the Haas Promenade were very emotional. There was a very powerful feeling of togetherness - not only on joyful occasions but at times of sadness as well.
The film about the late Michael (Levin) was very touching and significant for us all. It was essential for the group to see this film and identify with it. Furthermore, it is important for me to emphasize that there are many young men like Michael whose families cannot perpetuate their memories, for various reasons. I recommend that the Jewish Agency assume responsibility for this endeavor.
Tours and visits to Saad, Sedot Negev and Netivot showed us and our guests from Philadelphia how their contributions are allocated in response to essential security and social needs. We saw what was being accomplished with our own eyes - the equipment, shelters and so on. As they say: Seeing is believing.
The meal at the pool was a delight, with many participants. The entire experience was very enjoyable and the encounter left us with a highly positive impression and a yearning for more such meetings.
Penina Sofer
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This is the second time that I accompanied women from Philadelphia on their tour of our country. As a Forum member, I saw captivatingly interesting sights that I would never have known about were it not for our joint encounter. For example, consider the Ethiopian National Project (ENP) that we observed at the Community Center in Netanya, including the development and leveraging of photography as particularly effective community project. At Mevaseret Zion, we visited the warm-hearted families who are guiding and supporting Or Shalom, a program that places young men and women in family centers and does its best to place them on the proper path towards advancement. We also visited other projects supported by the Jewish Community of Greater Philadelphia, that contributes so much for the benefit of the State of Israel and its youth.
Women from Israel and Philadelphia shared common emotions at the touching and chilling Eve of Memorial Day ceremony conducted at the Haas Promenade in Jerusalem and at the following day's military ceremony at the cemetery in Netivot. Although we arrived late, the feeling of partnership was powerfully present. We saw bereaved families standing alongside the graves of their beloved children - an experience that words cannot describe. We sensed the ties connecting all Jews with one another, wherever they may live. A Hero in Heaven, the fascinating film about the late Michael Levin that we saw at Kibbutz Saad, was another bonding experienced. Each of us felt as though Michael were her own son. Without exception, we all cried for him and were touched by the strength his parents displayed.
I thank you for everything. I derived so much from spending time with the women from Philadelphia. Please come back and keep up all your good work as you tend to the needs of the Jewish People wherever they may be.
May God bless you and reward you for your efforts,
Rachel Kalimi