SOLOMON SCHECHTER - ORT KLALI: ANOTHER BRICK IN THE CLEVELAND - BEIT SHEAN PARTNERSHIP
by Julie Auerbach, Director of Jewish Family and Adult Education, Soloman Schechter Day School, Cleveland, Ohio
The 8th Grade of Soloman Schechter Day School is thrilled to be here in Beit She'an. It was but a few months ago, in October, that we met class-to-class through the miracle of video conferencing. Because of the political situation at that time, we were not sure- neither the Americans nor the Israelis- that we would indeed meet this Spring.
During the intervening months, our students wrote to Beit She'an students in Micky Landau's class. The e-mails made the students excited to meet each other face to face.
We've discovered now that we're here that Beit She'an is filled with many friendly and warm people. So many ORT Klali students wanted to take our students back to their homes!
We are so glad to be here in Israel and look forward to working together with ORT Klali through Partnership 2000 further in the future.
Pupils' and Teachers' Comments
Beit Shean is a beautiful place. It is full of life. The people here are very friendly and Welcoming, both the adults and the students. We had a great time with them. Partnership 2000 is a wonderful program that connects Jews to their real home here in Israel. I hope we are all able to communicate with these students in the future.
Leora Hoenig
8th Grade
Meeting our new friends from Cleveland was a great experience. The first stage was getting to know each other through e-mail correspondence. Then, the kids met and had lots of fun activities: trips, rope activities, games and a visit to the synagogue for morning prayer.
But the real fun was at night when the kids from Cleveland spent the night at their new Israeli friends. They saw a movie, had a party and played games.
This "mifgash" created new friendship that will definitely continue after the kids from Cleveland return home.
Micky Landau, English teacher and Miri Aloni, Homeroom teacher.
"The meeting is fun because we meet new people and have the chance to talk in English. Can they (the American students) come every week?"
Ye'ela Dahan, Beit She'an.