Dear Shosh, Anat and especially Tzvia,

Wow! How can we ever thank you for the incredible experience we had in Beit Shean. Everyone was deeply touched by the warm hospitality and left feeling they had made very special friends. More than friends. Family. The visit to Merav was also very meaningful, and the children who sang were delightful. The evening concert was especially wonderful and everyone is still talking about it. We are all looking forward to visiting Beit Shean again and to visits to Cleveland by Beit Sheanis. I know this visit has made our partnership even stronger,

Below are some comments by members of our group:

• We wish to thank Zion and Tali Zroya and their son Lior for their wonderful hospitality and a delicious meal. We loved seeing their besutiful daughter Saleit dance at the program. We enjoyed meeting Zvika who helped us network with Bruria Dahan, a special education teacher and her 21 year old daughter Tal, who together helped us commuinicate ways we could share teaching strategies. She invited us to come stay in her home. Thank you all for your warmth and welcome. Now we invite you to our home in Cleveland. - Sherrie, Carrie and Courtney Linden.

• Moti and Orit Paskah not only gave us a wonderful welcome as guests to their home but also their children shared with us Moti's involvement in the scouting movement and allowed us not only to speak with their 18 year old son Chemi, but another woman Rotem Bechor and briefly 8 other 18 year olds about to spend one year in Beit Shean as scout leaders. Our eyes were opened to the issues and choices with which young adult Israelis wrestle as well as the scouting program in Israel. - Terry and Bob Zimmerman, Sean and Rachel.

• Thank you all for a wonderful day in Beit Shean. The lunch at the Kibbutz was warm and welcoming. Sitting in the sanctuary looking at the mountains took my breath away. Listening to those darling children singing was so wonderful. But the highlight of the day was meeting Asher and Sarah and spending time in their home on kibbutz Ner David. They opened their home to us and we understood why they love this beautiful kibbutz. The festival was a wonderful end to a full day. Torah Rabbah Beit Shean! - Sonnie and Rick Martin

Todah Rabbah L'kulchem!

Rabbi Steve Weiss

  Av 5764 - August 2004