Last week members of the Jewish community of Palm Beach County visited us here in Tzahar (Tzfat, Hatzor, and Rosh Pina). Palm Beach is our partner community in the Jewish Agency's "Partnership 2000" program.

"Partnership 2000" - or "P2K" for short - has been running for 13 years now, connecting our two communities in many fascinating ways, with the main idea being to create relationships between members of both communities on the basis of shared values and interests.

Under the partnership umbrella and with its help, many diverse projects are going on in the region: the "Living Bridge" program ("Educators' Exchange"), youth missions and exchanges ("Ambassadors"), adult missions ("Yachad"), regional development projects ("The Tourism Association", "Mati" and more), community/social advancement ("Livnot U'Lehibanot") and much, much more.

All the selected projects are executed by the joint efforts of both communities and create interpersonal professional and individual connections among both populations.

Last week the "GA" - General Assembly of Jewish Federations from all over the world - was held in Jerusalem. Representatives and delegations from every corner of the globe convened in Israel to discuss the future and continuity of the Jewish People. Many of the organizations from Palm Beach County, Florida that were invited to attend, saw a great opportunity to come to our area for a quick visit, see old friends and get an impression of the project activities going on in the region.

The Palm Beach Federation CEO and President came to Tzahar, met with familiar staff and friends, spoke with project operators, trustees and children from "Youth Futures" Hatzor-Rosh Pina, and met with participants of the many "Living Bridge" programs.

We were also privileged to host a very unique group of women called "Lions of Judah" - "LOJ" for short. This is a group of enthusiastic Zionist Jewish women who are just wonderful. Their love for Israel and the region in particular warms the heart anew each time they are here. They visited the trustees in ancient Rosh PIna and with the wonderful help of Maxim Ben-Abu, held joint activities with the trustees and children of "Youth Futures", renovated bomb shelters with "Livnot U'Lehibanot", visited the International Kabbalah Center in Tzfat, spoke with "graduates" of many P2K programs and more.

As always, the winning element in every visit of this type is the encounter: people to people - old, new and renewed friendships and a true feeling of brotherhood of people and country.

If you are interested in living this connection, unity and feeling of mission, just visit our website:

http://www.jewishagency.org/JewishAgency/Hebrew/Israel/Partnerships/Regions/Tzahar

Keep in touch!
P2K Tzahar Office: 04-6800718
Bat El Trabelsi, Living Bridge Coordinator: 052-6091465.