By Miriam (Mickey)Blumberg, UIA Representative in Israel

Dadon Family

The Dadon family visited the Arava for an overnight stay - they are from Melbourne and leading members of the community there.

Family Mission
   
On Dec 31st the annual family mission from Melbourne, Sydney and Perth arrived for an overnight visit. There were close on 30 people comprising family groups and were lead by the Keren Hayesod Shaliach in Melbourne, Eitan Drori. Mriam Suss, who is the Chief Executive Officer of the UIA in Melbourne participated in the tour to the Arava and other visits during the itinerary. The Keren Hayesod representative, Rachel Nagar coordinated the whole mission, in cooperation with Eitan Drori. Mickey Blumberg, who is the UIA representative accompanied the tour for these two days and explained the concept of P2K and the Project Renewal programmes, which preceded Partnership 2000.

On the way to the Arava, they stopped in Beer Sheva to meet with Olim from Argentina and Olim children from Cuba, India, Argentina and the Former Soviet Union. The Olim expressed their thanks to the Australian Jewish Community and the Jews in the Diaspora for the help that they received in Argentina and are now receiving in Israel. It was a very moving experience for all.

The group spent a most interesting visit at the Ben Gurion University where they heard Professor Braverman, the President of the University, give an erudite lecture on his vision of the future of the Negev. This was important in that the Australian Jewish Community chose to work within the Partnership 2000 programme, in developing the Central Arava, as part of Ben Gurion's vision for the blooming of the desert.

After the visit to the Rotem Industrial Park and the High Technological Incubator in Dimona, the tourists arrived at Moshav Idan as the sun was setting. They were welcomed by young pupils of the Shitim High School who had visited Australia on academic exchange programmes.

During dinner at one of the bed/breakfast guest villages, Lilach Morgan, the Head of the Mercaz Sapir Regional Council, greeted the guests and thanked them for assisting P2K and for visiting Israel during these difficult times.

The next morning, Ronit Ratner, one of the residents of Moshav Faran who is also the coordinator for People to People programmes, took the guests on a most interesting tour of the agricultural hot houses, and the antelope "safari" which will shortly be opened to the public. The UIA guests were joined by four visitors from Australia, through Keren Kayemeth.

When the UIA guests were driven to Ein Yahav to board the chartered Arkia plane, complaints were lodged that the visit in the Arava was far too short! They promised to continue their involvement in their community and to take an active part in P2K. These visits, are vital in forging links between Israelis and the Communities abroad.

Birthright

42 students from Australia, who are part of a group of about 240 students and pupils on a Birthright Mission, spent two days in the Arava.

There will be two other groups visiting, one under the auspices of the department of Religious Education, of the Jewish Agency.

Bnei Akiva

Jan 13 - 14th - 20 Bnei Akiva madrichim will reside in the region and will enjoy an Arava experience with local youth.