By Orly Rafaeli, Megiddo High School

Through its Kesher B’Kitah (School Connections) project, Partnership 2000 Yokneam-Megiddo promotes the forming of personal connections between eighth graders from Megiddo Regional High School and Solomon Schechter Day School in St. Louis.  The children have been corresponding throughout the school year and, prior to the end of studies, got a chance to meet during Schechter school's yearly trip to Israel.  Accommodating the mission included a series of three friendly meetings, which were stirring experience for both sides, leaving them feeling good and wanting more.

In the first meeting, the youngsters met face to face with their "keyboard buddies"; then they were lavishly hosted on Kibbutz Mishmar HaEmek, where they played icebreaker games, toured the kibbutz, ate supper, and engaged in social activities.  More than anything else, the American students were impressed with the living quarters of their Israeli friends at Shomria Boarding School.

On the following day the youths set out together for an enjoyable outing through the alleyways of ancient Zfat.  Although the weather was chilly, the atmosphere was warm and convivial as the circle of personal connections grew wider and stronger.  When the guided portion of the tour ended, the Israelis helped their guests with purchasing souvenirs in the bazaar; this included haggling with the shopkeepers and getting them to lower their prices, which won the admiration of the Americans.  The Israeli lunch of falafel and shwarma was also a stimulating and delicious experience.

The youths were supposed to have been parting at the end of the outing, each on his or her own separate way, however the desire and the pressures for a further gathering were too much.  Ultimately, with the assistance of Partnership 2000, the Jewish Federation of St. Louis, the school and the parents, an additional gathering was organized and held in Tel Aviv; it began in the afternoon hours on the Tel Aviv seashore and proceeded naturally and spontaneously.  The youths frolicked and enjoyed themselves as, within an instant, one couldn't tell the Israelis and Americans apart.  When finished bathing on the beach, the youths traveled to the hostel in Jaffa where the Americans were staying; they scattered among the rooms and talked, laughed, and played together.  The direct contacts that formed here were even more special and personal—saying goodbye was difficult, but it was a moving and heartwarming experience.  Emails and pictures were exchanged, with hugs galore accompanied by promises to visit each other again.

Our students were extremely enthusiastic as they wound up the meeting, suggesting a number of nice ideas for continuing the relationship next year, focused particularly on a joint charity project connected to quality of the environment.

Many thanks to Shani Alfassi-Kakun, the Jewish Federation of St. Louis, Partnership 2000, and to Megiddo School for supporting the hosting effort and responding to all of our requests and needs.  This was such fun!  A big 'thank you' to Tal Shilden of Moshava Yokneam, a former student at Megiddo School and brother of one of the hosting students, for joining in and escorting the activities and helping out with whatever was needed.

A huge thank you to parents from Mishmar HaEmek, Rinat Talmi, Hil Shafir, and Ron Tzur, for their considerable assistance and for enabling all aspects of this event.