The second national Young Leadership Conference of the Israel communities involved in Partnership 2000 was held this week in Beit Shean, and attended by young activists from 19 partnership communities.

 
The initiative for the conference came from Beit Shean, which is partnered with Cleveland - testimony to the impact of the focus on young leadership training in that partnership.

The conference included a memorial ceremony for Art Naparstek, a leader of the Cleveland Jewish community and former chair of its P2K community, who was instrumental in focusing the partnership activities on building a young volunteer leadership that can then lead and implement projects for community renewal.  In recognition of Art Naparstek's contribution and dedication to the Jewish world and particularly to the Beit Shean area, at the ceremony the Jewish Agency announced the establishment of a fund that will provide scholarships every year to two students from the region.