By Simon Griver ---
“When I tod my friends that I would be spending a Shabbat in Yokneam- Megiddo,” recalls Tova Esrig, a 19 year-old seminary student from St. Louis, who is taking a year out from her studies after graduating high school. “I discovered that none of them had ever heard of it. I knew it existed, because it was my community's "sister community" but I had absolutely no idea where I was going, or what to expect. But after spending a Shabbat there, I was most pleasantly surprised.”
Esrig was part of a delegation of 18 young students from St. Louis led by Rabbi Jeffrey Bienenfeld, who spent a memorable Shabbat in Yokneam-Megiddo in March within the framework of the Jewish Agency’s Partnership 2000 program. The Jewish Federation of St. Louis and the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta
“My family was so giving,” recalls Esrig, “and made every attempt to make sure we felt at home. The table was filled with happiness and warmth, and love for Shabbat. Plus - the kids were cute too!”
The visit was conceived last November when Rabbi Noam Dekel, the Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Yokneam and Hanan Caspi, Director of Partnership 2000’s Regional Development Unit, spent a week in St. Louis as guests of the Jewish community there.
“As a Partnership 2000 professional I spend much of my time promoting economic and other day-to-day matters,” explained Caspi. “But it is my pleasure on a voluntary basis to deepen the spiritual connection between Israel and the Diaspora.”
Partnership 2000 is currently celebrating ten years since the relationship between Yokneam-Megiddo and St. Louis and Atlanta was established. Over that period the city has been transformed by the financial assistance from the American partners which, among many other things, has enabled Yokneam-Megiddo to develop its educational system to offer equal opportunities to all its citizens including large numbers of new immigrants from the Former Soviet Union and Ethiopia.
“But the essence of Partnership 2000 has been the powerful bond and deep relationship that has been strengthened between Israelis and American Jews,” stressed Judy Yuda, the Jewish Agency’s Yokneam-Megiddo Regional Manager. “What came over so clearly during this weekend was that if sometimes it seems Israelis and Americans have drifted apart culturally, the language of prayer and institution of Shabbat are a heritage that we share and that unites us.”
The weekend began on the Thursday when Rabbi Jeffrey Bienenfeld, who is rabbi of the Young Israel synagogue in St. Louis, a community of nearly 200 families, was hosted by Yokneam Mayor Shimon Alfassi and the Yokneam Religious Council.
“Ours is a partnership between fellow Jews – between brothers,” Mayor Alfassi told Rabbi Bienenfeld. “We learn from you and you learn from us. We enrich each other and complement each other.”
On Friday Rabbi Bienenfeld visited three schools and was present for the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Hasidim Elementary School. During the day he was joined by the St.Louis teenage yeshiva and seminary students and they were hosted by various Yokneam families. In the evening the Israelis and Amercians welcomed in Shabbat together at the Minyan Tzirim synagogue and were hosted in the homes of Yokneam residents. The following morning prayers were and a communal lunch were held in the city’s Habad synagogue.
“To say the Shabbos weekend was a deeply moving and inspirational experience,’ stressed Rabbi Bienenfeld, “does not even begin to do justice to the emotions stirred and the friendships forged during our stay. The religious community in Yokneam outdid themselves in welcoming me and our delegation.”
The Shabbat visit was one of dozens of exchange projects, which have brought hundreds of American visitors to Yokneam-Megiddo over the past decade thorugh Partnership 2000.
“My experiences in Yokneam can be summed up in three words,” observed Esrig. “Home Sweet Home. I don't think its just coincidence that its the sister city of my community, St.Louis. Thank you so much for such a special Shabbat, and for sharing your community with us.”