"An amazing experience!" This was how the five delegates (Shmulik Afuta, Yulia Gutman, Alex Gershov, Renana Menkin and Shosh Ratzabi) summarized their seven day mission to the northern city, St. Petersburg, Russia.

The delegates, which included two from the Beit Shean region and two from the city, were sent through the Pesach project, which belongs to the Jewish Agency, Partnership 2000, JDC and Hillel.

The goal of the project is to support the Jewish culture and identity in the FSU, to make a connection between Russian Jewry and Jews around the world, and to make a connection between the Beit Shean Region and the Jewish Community in Cleveland through Partnership 2000.

Delegates from the Russian Jewish Community and American delegates from Cleveland and Palm Beach welcomed the Israeli delegation as they landed in the city, and a warm and friendly connection was made throughout the week of the mission.

The city of St. Petersburg is at the northern edge, closest to Finland, and is known for its rivers, palaces and statues, and is called "The Northern Venice." The city was still covered with ice and cold, but luckily the skies were clear and the weather was at its best for that time of year.

The delegates visited homes of Jewish elderly, brought them Pesach food and supplies, and of course the holiday spirit. The groups also lead Pesach Seders at different community organizations and visited Chesed organizations and the Great Synagogue.

The Israeli delegation was welcomed warmly and people expressed their love for Israel, and many asked questions regarding Israel.

The main Seder was held at the hotel where the delegation stayed, and many representatives from the Jewish community joined too. The Israelis and Americans sang and danced, while the Russians showed a video of themselves acting out the story of leaving Egypt. The Seder was filled with Pesach songs and Hebrew songs while both the guests and delegations were filled with excitement.

At the end of the evening, the delegations gave presents to each other, and the Beit Shean delegation presented to the Russian Jewish Community an engraved stone specially made for them, and at the end of the mission, the Israelis and Americans signed an Israeli flag and presented it to the Russian community.

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