“LIVE”: from Hadera-Eiron

By Jill Metlin Israel & Overseas Coordinator

I am writing this from our partnership-region of Hadera-Eiron, Israel.

What was once a place on a map for me between Haifa and Tel Aviv has become a new home - a family of Israelis, and my US Southeast Federation Consortium colleagues.

This trip is the annual meeting of the Partnership2gether (P2G) Steering Committee. Each year, the annual meeting takes place either stateside or abroad.

P2G falls under our Israel & Overseas umbrella, and is similar to a ‘sister city’ program. For Northeast Florida, it’s a region re- ferred to as Hadera-Eiron

This region consists of the cities of Hadera and Pardes-Hanna Karkur and two municipalities - Menashe and Alona. The Jewish Federation & Foundation of Northeast Florida ‘shares’ this region with several other Federations in what is referred to as the Southeast Consortium. This consortium is made up of Federations from the following cities and areas: Charlotte, Charleston, Chattanooga, the Florida Gulf Coast, Greensboro, Lee & Pinellas Counties, Nashville, Richmond, and Prague in the Czech Republic.

Together with our Israeli lay leaders and professional staff, we plan and implement programs that benefit many groups - including teen summer exchanges, professional and affinity exchanges, English lessons, leadership education, and program funding. This year, Israel’s 75th, marks 20 years of partnership. The strength and depth of the relationship has blossomed over time, creating lifelong friendships and trips back and forth. I knew that P2G was an important program but I didn’t realized the number of people who were touched by it until this trip. At a celebration event, I looked onto a sea of people who have participated in one or more P2G programs and exchanges over the years. There were also P2G photos surrounding the perimeter of the room. There were many faces from Jacksonville.

Most Federations have a partnership with areas of Israel. You can imagine the impact this is having on a national scale - people forging ‘forever connections’ with our Israeli brothers and sisters.

As involved as I have been over the years as a volunteer in two different Federations, and now on staff, I didn’t realize the power and strength of the P2G program. Someone at the meeting called P2G “the best kept secret.” Well, let’s not keep it a secret anymore. Let’s shout it from the rooftops so all participate.

If you are planning a trip to Israel now or in the future, let us connect you with our partnership region. Our Israeli brothers and sisters will welcome you with open arms and you, too, will feel right at home. There is no substitute for being there in person - I hope you can make it!