This week the Partnership 2000 Steering Committee of Michigan arrived for a visit to our region.  Members of the mission met with Yossi Ackerman, president of Elbit and Chair of Central Galilee Partnership 2000, Orna Simchon, Northern Regional Director for the Ministry of Education, and mayors Menachem Ariav, Eyal Betzer, and Eli Barda.  During their visit they learned about programs at Jezreel Valley College and were exposed to a number of Partnership programs in the region.

This is the second time this year the Partnership 2000 steering committee mission is visiting our region; the mission's 16 members represent the Jewish federations of Detroit, Grand Rapids, and Ann Arbor, Michigan.  They came to get a look at how the many programs established by the Partnership are progressing as well as how Community Houses in Israel are evolving.

At the beginning of the visit, mission members met with youths participating in volunteer programs run by the Ma'ase Center, this in order to become familiar with existing volunteering models in Israel.  In addition they heard about the renewed growth of Jewish identity via the Community House program operated by Partnership 2000 volunteers.

Members of the mission had lunch at Jezreel Valley College where they were received by the College's president, Prof. Aliza Shinar, its director Yoram Raz, and Matt Silver who is in charge of external programs.  During their meeting several proposals were made for partnership between the College and Oakland University as well as with the English camp in the region.

The first stop on the final day of the visit was at Yodfat School, where children welcomed their visitors by waving flags and inviting the mission's members inside to eat apples with honey.  The warm reception and musical performances marked the conclusion of seven years of Partnership support for an extended day school, which now transfers into the hands of the municipality. 

The second stop was a visit to the Unistream program, which cultivates the growth of a business-social leadership among youths, with an emphasis on peripheral regions in Israel.  The mission's members saw a film, heard about the program, and were impressed with the program's success and the prevailing atmosphere of tolerance, personal fulfillment, and action for the benefit of others.

Additionally, the visitors toured the YRF English center in Afula in order to investigate the possibility of opening similar centers in Central Galilee municipalities.  Members of the Steering Committee talked with students participating in the program and were glad to hear about the progress they were making in English.