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Shana Tova! Happy New Year!

Dear Partnership 2000 Family,

From our family to yours, wishing you a very sweet new year.
A year of dialogue & engagement.
A year of partnership & shared vision.
A year of health, happiness and naches…

Shana tova,
Andrea

Andrea Arbel
Director
Division of Partnerships
Jewish Agency for Israel

Happy New Year: From The Students of Mashal Center

The following New Year's wishes came from the Mashal Center, whose children we support in Kiryat Motzkin:

To all of the Orlando Jewish community and their families:

We send you our best wishes for a Happy New Year and our deepest THANK YOU for your generosity and thoughtfulness. We wish all of you health, happiness, and wonderful things!

From the students of Mashal Center and their families, and staff.

למיכל היקרה, לכל חברי הקהילה היהודית באורלנדו ולכל בני ביתם,

שלוחה ברכה זו, מלב אסיר תודה, לכבוד ראש השנה תשס"ט:



איחולי שנה טובה ומוצלחת.

שנת בריאות, אושר ונחת,

שנה של שגשוג וצמיחה,

שנה של אור ושמחה -

ותודות לרוב על כל התמיכה !



בתודה, בהערכה ובהוקרה,

תלמידי קרית מוצקין המטופלים בזכותכם במ.ש.ל, משפחותיהם,

צוות המרכז לשיפור למידה ותמי כנען-הרפז

Hello Orlando from 8th graders in Kiryat Motzkin

To visit their website, Click Here.

From Lea Ganor about The JCC Seniors Visit

Yesterday we had the honor to host Orlando’s JCC Seniors in the “Mashmaut” Center in Kiryat Motzkin.

The Mashmaut Center stands for our Jewish heritage, the Holocaust, our traditions, values, and rebirth.

In Kiryat Motzkin, it was such an amazing experience to meet the people from Orlando and to tell them about our goals of the Mashmaut Center.

It was wonderful to see that we have so much in common! The group of the JCC Seniors met Holocaust survivors that volunteer in our center. These survivors volunteer in our community by telling their personal stories to the young generations here in Kiryat Motzkin.

The JCC Seniors from Orlando met seniors from our community that volunteer in the center and throughout Kiryat Motzkin. One of the Holocaust survivors from Schindler’s list, Aviva Nisbaum, showed to the group pictures with Oscar Schindler.

The guests from Orlando asked to know more and more about the Mashmaut Center, so in the evening there was a wonderful dinner that we held at the Center. At this dinner, the guests from Orlando were sitting together with people they met only hours before, and yet they were speaking to one another as though they know each other for years. I was deeply touched to see how people spent hours talking in Yiddish sharing an amazing evening together.

I will never forget these moments from watching these two groups interact together. It was very moving to hear from one woman who said to me she visited Israel several times, but she never had such a special experience like she had on this day.

The highlight of the dinner was when the guests danced with Kova-Tembel group, and also with the volunteers and Holocaust survivors. From myself, the staff of the Mashmaut Center, the Holocaust survivors, all from all of our volunteers, we will never forget this wonderful and moving visit from this delegation from Orlando in Kiryat Motzkin.

We wish to have more and more visits like this in the future.

Happy New Year, Shana Tova!

Lea Ganor

Director of the “Mashmaut” Center in Kiryat Motzkin
Youth Task Force Chair
Orlando/Kiryat Motzkin Partnership

A Note From Eyal Oren in Kiryat Motzkin:

The note below is from Eyal Oren, Chair of the Israeli Steering Committee in Kiryat Motzkin for our Partnership 2000 Program:

Today we had the most emotional day when the Orlando JCC's Seniors, also known as "The 39ers," were visiting Kiryat Motzkin. I was so touched that I ended up crying, and it is not easy to make an Israeli man cry!

We started off the day visiting a school here in Kiryat Motzkin. There we were greeted by little children waving Israeli flags and the sound of a blowing Shofar..."Welcome to Kiryat Motzkin! Your family in Israel." After that, we all sang Hatikvah together, Americans and Israelis together. It was so amazing for ALL of us!

One woman from Orlando's 39ers group came up to me. She took my hand and said, "I never thought I would feel this way. Thank you for the feeling you just let me experience,” she said. “I have cancer and who knows how much longer I have to live. I never thought I would experience these feelings that I experienced. Today was one of the best days in my life." The 39ers then went and spent part of their day with the seniors of Kiryat Motzkin, their counterparts in Israel. They all sang together, interacting with one other, and sharing stories.

The 39ers visited important projects and programs funded by the Orlando Jewish Federation. Later that afternoon they visited the Kiryat Motzkin Holocaust Center, where they met with Holocaust survivors, hearing stories from the local citizens and staff. In the evening, everyone gathered together sharing dinner and stories of the day. It was an amazing experience for all of us!

Eyal Oren
Chair of the Israeli Steering Committee
Partnership 2000 Program with Kiryat Motzkin & Orlando

The JCC Seniors Dance with Kova Temble in Kiryat Motzkin! - They had an amazing day!

More from the JCC Seniors Visit in Kiryat Motzkin

The JCC Seniors Visit Kiryat Motzkin!

Quotes from Wrap-Up Discussion with GOSIE 2008 Teens

The following quotes are from a wrap up discussion with GOSIE 2008 teens. Below is a summary of the teens' Israel experience: things they learned about themselves and their connection to Israel and Judaism.

Alex Resnick: In Kiryat Motzkin, I learned how Israeli lifestyle is different. They walk everywhere, live close to each other. I learned a lot of new vocabulary.

Kurt Lorenz: I really like Israeli music. At home, I’m really into music – it was interesting that I could get to know this music here. It was cool to get into Israeli music because it’s so much different than music at home.

Michal (Israeli): To be here with everyone was an incredible experience for me. It’s a pity that I won’t get to experience anything like this again in my life. I will remember every moment, good or bad. I will be very sad tomorrow when I have to say goodbye to you all. I swear, I will cry.

Brad Albertson: I think it’s cool how the Israelis appreciate everything they get. Back at home, I feel that I take more things for granted. Now I think I can appreciate everything in my life a little more.

Dan Zafrir: Whenever you go to meet new people, you wonder if you’ll like them or if they’ll like you. I’ve made great friends and met such great people – each and every one of you.

Bella Garber: I came into this trip not knowing anyone except my sister. And I’ve ended up not sticking to one person, but I’ve been able to get to know everyone. I feel very blessed to have gone on this trip because of everyone I met.

Dasha (Israeli): This was so much fun. I’m so happy that I took part in this. I wasn’t supposed to be a host at the beginning, but I’m so glad I did. I’m so sad right now because I don’t know if I’ll be able to come to Orlando in the future. I love you all.

Letal Garber: This whole trip has been such a blur to me. It went by so past. I was here 2 weeks before, but it’s just so weird. I feel like I can look at Israel in a different way. The people here are so warm and they all greet each other. I feel like I can come back to America with a new perspective. I feel like I can get along with anyone here.

Amy Essig: I had a lot of fun on this trip. Everyone is sweet and warm. At home, people are like that, but it’s just more comforting here.

Chen Gilboa (Israeli): I really don’t know what to say, but I had a lot of fun! I like you all. I want to keep in touch with all of you. Your culture is so different, and I like it. I like that we’ve shared this experience together.

Ron Krudo: So coming here, I wanted to see if I could have a new, separate family in Israel as opposed to my immediate one. Everyone told me that if I moved here, I could live with them. People really opened up their homes to me - It was the best.

Omer Cohen (Israeli): When we came to Caesarea, we were a little bit shy. But, when we saw you, you rocked the house. You are all very good friends.

Jamie Yarmouth: I’ve been here a lot before, but this was the first time when I was mature enough to take in everything. I’ve never been religious, but being here makes me want to be. To see how hard everyone struggles to keep our Jewish state, I want to try more.

Or (Israeli): I was very happy to be part of this experience. It was the first time for me to meet a group of people like you in a delegation. I liked everything, the hikes, the walks, the nights, even the silly things that happened at night. It was all very special. I enjoyed everyone!

Idan Mazor: I was afraid to meet you in the beginning but then I figured out you’re all really good friends and I like you all. I hope we will keep in touch.

Traci Silver: It was really fun getting to know everybody. Seeing how things are different here, as opposed to at home. It was fun hanging out with everybody.

Sapir (Israeli): I want to say that this experiences was one of the most biggest experiences that I have ever had.

Aimee Dolan: When I came here, I thought it would be like another vacation in the states. I thought I would just come and play, then get sick of it. I had no idea I was going to connect so much to Israel. I really liked how warm everyone was – even people we’ve met everywhere.

Shani (Israeli): I want to say that I really got attached to many people here. I was happy to go to places that I’ve never been to in Israel. I really hope to see you all again soon.

Mollie Elkin: Through all my years of Hebrew school, I’ve been learning about Israel. It’s so much different to be here. It’s life changing! It’s been so unbelievable, and I can’t believe this experience is now over. Everyone made me feel so welcome here in Israel.

Idan Holand (Israeli): This was such a unique experience that a person might never get in their lifetime: to meet people you've never known and immediate interact with them. The only thing we have in common, is our love for Israel. Through your eyes, I’ve seen things about Israel that I’ve never seen before, like singing Hatikva together with the Americans, I saw things that I had never noticed before.

Judy Abramson: Being that this is my 2nd year on the GOSIE trip, I was skeptical and I tried really hard to not compare to last year because I knew it would be different with different people. I’m so glad that I feel close with everyone! Ever since I can remember, everyone has always painted this picture of Israel. Every time I come, my heart beats so fast. Everyone here is so warm. I’ve always just dreamed about being here. I never want to leave. I really want to make Aliyah next year, and I know that I always have a home in Kiryat Motzkin to go to.

Elena Finer: I went to HDS for all of elementary school and we always learned about Israel and I’ve always wanted to come here because of pictures and movies. It just became so real when I came here. I had a really good time!

Gal (Israeli): This is the first time I’ve experienced anything like this. This kind of trip teaches you a lot of about yourself, your friends, and your country. I loved every moment of it, and I enjoyed it – even when I was whining and it seemed that I wasn’t enjoying it, but I was. I hope that I will see you all in Orlando!

Sheli (Israeli): I was excited in the beginning and when I saw you, I said each one of you is adorable.

Jory Engle: I loved this Israel experience – it’s been the best summer of my life. Meeting you guys has gone from absolute shyness to absolute ridiculousness. It’s been really fun, with all our crazy adventurous food experiences – we ate way too much hummus. The bus rides have been starting at 7am with singing voices of Kova Tembel. It’s been awesome, I really enjoyed it.

Omer Reuven (Israeli): In the beginning I said I would not host, because it’s my last summer before the army and I wanted to see my friends. But then once we met, and I suddenly interacted with you, and I didn’t think I would host three of you! In principal, this was really different because I’m not used to all these tours in Israel, so this was a really different experience for me. I think that before the army this experience gave me a push.

Zach Weinstock: This was my 1st time in Israel. I’m not leaving tomorrow. It was a pretty interesting experience. I didn’t know what to expect and everyone has been awesome. I know there are some kids from U.S. and Israel that I’m definiteliy going to keep in touch with.

Ben Bornstein: This is my 2nd time here in Israel. The first time was with my family, but this was different for being on my own and now I got to meet people my age from Israel. I hope all of you come to Orlando: I can’t wait for that day, whenever it may be.

Gillian Wayne: I had fun and enjoyed every moment!

Caitlin Frenkel: In the beginning I really didn’t expect to have a good time in Israel: I don’t know why. I’m really glad I got to come and get to know everybody. I felt like the Israeli girls became my sisters and I could them anything.

Brett Maizel: The people of Israel are so close knit, especially the soldiers… they’re all here for each other. Hugging and sometimes crying, Israel is one big family. You really don’t see that in a lot of America, and it’s really good for me to see that here. It feels good.

Boaz (Israeli tour guide): It’s always a big challenge to walk through Israel w/people who haven’t done it before: to see what you find attractive and interesting, to see the light in your eyes when you travel to more places here, to give you a better picture of life here besides what you see on on TV (war zone). I think it was amazing that you had this meeting here in Israel. I enjoyed seeing the interactions between cultures and languages. I found it amazing that you found a warm place in each others hearts. It’s made me very happy.

David Newman: It was really cool how the Kiryat Motzkin kids walk everywhere and we drive cars. I would love to come back again.

Dan Berger (American Chaperone who made Aliyah in September 2008): I had a great 3 weeks. I’ve been to Israel before, but it was really neat to do these activities with you guys because it made me feel like I was 16 again. I would say that my favorite part of the trip was when we were down in the Negev, we walked on the tent for a while and watched the Israeli jets practicing. It was really awesome to see that.

Liron (Israeli): It’s my first time to go with a group at this age, and with US and Israeli kids together. I really enjoyed each one of you and I will really miss all of you a lot. And if I go to the states, I want to meet you all in Orlando. I hope we keep in touch – I really enjoyed this experience! If I talk with the Americans, I learn English better. It’s important for me to learn the words, the slang, and what happens in the heads of the Americans. I love you all.

Erez (Israeli): I had a lot of fun in the time we’ve been with you. I think the most important thing you all need to remember is that each and every one of you is unique. You represent a special group in the states. You need to remember that you were a group of 20 people who are so different from each other, but Israel brings you together: it is your home.

Followup Thoughts from GOSIE 2008 Summer Teen Trip - Mollie Elkin & Aimee Dolan

This past summer, I had the opportunity to visit Israel, but not like the normal American teen. Most American teens can not say that they traveled with both Americans AND Israelis, lived with an Israeli family, and were participants in a small, but significant piece of Israeli history. And all in just three weeks.

In July, I joined 20 Orlando teens on a program sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando. This program, in its second year, was developed as an extension to the Orlando Federation’s sister city program with Kiryat Motzkin, located in the North near Haifa. We not only saw the Holy Land, but also experienced a taste of Israeli culture. We connected up with 20 teens from Kiryat Motzkin who traveled with us for 1 of the 3 weeks and hosted us for 8 days of our trip. While in these teens’ homes, we lived like Israelis, eating delicious Israeli foods and going to the local hang-out spots throughout the city. It was great to not just be living out of a hotel, but to feel like I had a home in my own homeland.

The trip always brought new adventure, both planned and unplanned. Like every American group, we started in Jerusalem. None of us realized that in less than 72 hours, all of us would become close friends, know each other's secrets, and refuse to separate. We did everything together, from shopping to praying, looking out over the Old City, going through dark underground tunnels, and more. One of the highlights of Jerusalem was visiting the Western Wall while the sun was setting for Shabbat. Crowds of people surrounded the Wall, davening the Kabbalat Shabbat in their own smaller groups.

By the way, you never know who you are going to run into while traveling in Israel. Israel might seem like a small country, but the most amazing thing is that wherever you go, you are able to run into someone that you know. My dad once told me a story about my Uncle who traveled to Israel with a college tour group. One afternoon, he and he friends decided to go into a coffee shop, and the next minute, my uncle turned around and my grandma was sitting there. They had no idea that one another was in Israel, let alone in the same shop! I had many similar experiences throughout my trip. For example, the first day that I arrived, I was walking on Ben Yehuda Street, and I turned around and saw my sister talking on the phone. The funniest part was that she on her way to meet our family friend from Minnesota, also traveling with a teen group. After saying hello to my sister and finally finding our friend, I was able to connect up with more friends from USY and Florida. These unplanned encounters enhanced my trip and made me more excited for when we finally met up with the other half of our group: the Israelis.

After spending three days in Jerusalem, we met our soon-to-be best friends, the Israelis. Together, we spent our day time hiking, kayaking the Jordan River, hiking, seeing more beautiful sites of Northern Israel, and hiking some more. During the night, we lived like typical Israeli teens, doing things such as bowling and going to the local mall. W all became quick friends, which made our week long stay at the Kiryat Motzkin kids’ houses more enjoyable. During Shabbat in Kiryat Motzkin, we separated from the group and experienced Shabbat with our own host families. My family was more secular, so we did not attend services, but I did experience a home cooked Shabbat meal on Friday evening and a birthday gathering of all of the extended family on Saturday.

I told you earlier that I was a participant in a small piece of Israeli history. I am sure you all remember the exchange of five Hezbollah terrorists for the remains of two Israeli reservist soldiers, Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser, who were captured two years ago.
In the days leading up to the exchange, I remember hearing how hopeful the families of my Israeli friends were for these soldiers to return alive. I felt the community-wide sadness when we soon heard that neither soldier was alive. What really shocked me was how important it was to Israelis for the return of these soldiers’ bodies. Because every person is required to serve in the army, it is seen as a moral responsibility to bring every soldier home, dead or alive, to his or her family. Israel was willing to task any risk to ensure that the soldiers were returned back to their families, no matter what the cost was.

On the day of the soldier exchange, our group was spending our week in Kiryat Motzkin, where Eldad Regev was from. We really wanted to attend his funeral, but we were unable to, so as a group, we went to Eldad Regev parent’s house and lit memorial candles in his remembrance, along with the rest of the Kiryat Motzkin community. At this point of my trip, I truly felt my connection with Israel.

Time flew by and we were sad to say goodbye to our home away from home in Kiryat Motzkin and our friends and keep traveling into the southern part of Israel. The excitement to see more was definitely high, but the sadness to say goodbye for a short period weighed heavy on a lot of our shoulders.

While traveling through the desert, we stayed in Bedouin tents, meeting everyone from Canadians to South Africans. During the day we rode donkeys, camels, and went sand skiing down the sides of sand hills. One of the highlights of the trip was the day we woke up at 2 AM to see the beautiful sunrise of Masada and then relaxed by floating in the Dead Sea, of course covered in mud. After the desert, we arrived at our last home away from home in beautiful Tel Aviv. There we shopped some more, spent our last Shabbat together, and prepared to see our Israelis one last time.

When the Israelis finally returned, it felt like they had never left, all of us laughing and talking just like we did about a week ago. We spent our last full day in Jerusalem together, seeing the historical Yad V’shem Holocaust museum, the Army Cemetery, and the Western Wall again to say our final prayers. We prayed side by side in the heart of Israel, and returned to our hotel back in Tel Aviv sad that the last day was over. We thanked one another for every memory and experience we had, talked about our love for Israel whether we were American or Israeli, and promised each other we would reunite again in Orlando or Israel. GOSIE 2008 might have come to an end, but our connections to these amazing people and their country definitely did not.

In just these three weeks, I had the experience of a lifetime, learning things about myself, homeland, and faith that I could only get from a trip such as this one. I hope that one day I can once again return to Israel to reunite with my friends and make more connections to this beautiful country.

Mollie Elkin & Aimee Dolan on behalf of the GOSIE 2009 Teens

GOSIE 2007 Follow-Up

This past summer I attended the high school graduation ceremony in Kiryat Motzkin. It was great to see many of our friends graduate. It also reminded me that about half of the teens from Kiryat Motzkin will be joining the army this year.

I put together a short slide show that I thought would be nice to send to the teens that participated in GOSIE 2007. The slide show is fun and hopefully also will motivate our teens to keep in contact with their friends in Kiryat Motzkin.

The purpose of the GOSIE program was not only to introduce our kids to Israel but also to keep them connected.

Thanks,

David Brent
Youth Task Force Chair
Orlando/Kiryat Motzkin partnership

p.s. the slide show requires power point to view.

Gosie 07 Follow Up

View SlideShare presentation

Aviram Kunio - Our first Teen delegate graduate in the Israeli Army

אהלן מיכל אני לא יודע אם את יודעת אבל זה אבירם והתגייסתי יום שני שעבר לצבא.
אני שולח לך פה תמונה שלי במדים.
נהיה בקשר,
אבירם.

Kova Temble - This is the group that hosted our teens in Kiryat Motzkin this summer!

Kova Temble - This is the group that hosted our teens in Kiryat Motzkin this summer! You can view their Web site here: www.kovatembel.up.co.il

Notes and Photos From Kiryat Motzkin

Below is a note from a happy parent of a GOSIE 08 child, and photos from Sam & Becca Kauffman, another Orlando family visiting a family in Kiryat Motzkin. Two different events, with different families, all touching the Orlando Jewish community.

"Dear Michal,

My son got home last night and he had a great time. He looks great too. He said the Israelis are so cool and he really bonded with them.

He really likes Israel and said its beautiful and nice. I cant believe I've never been there. I am going to try to go next summer. "

7/20/2008 - 20 Orlando Teens Visit Israel Through Federation's Partnership Program

Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando GOSIE teens, Ariel Brent, Judy Abramson, & David Newman, lighting candles in honor of Eldad Regev, Israeli soldier captured with Ehud Goldwasser by Hizbullah in 2006. On July 15 2008, coffins containing the remains of Goldwasser and Regev were returned to Israel as part of a prisoner exchange. Regev is from Kiryat Motzkin, The Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando's "Sister City" in Israel.

20 Orlando Teens Visit Israel Through Federation's Partnership Program

20 teens from Orlando are back from Israel with the GOSIE (Greater Orlando Summer Israel Experience) program. GOSIE is an initiative developed by the Jewish Federation's Partnership 2000 program. On its second year, this three-week visit takes teen participants to the heart of the Israeli society and our "Sister City," Kiryat Motzkin.

The Orlando-area teens spent a week with host families in Kiryat Motzkin, and are touring Israel with some of their newfound Israeli friends. In addition to seeing some of the usual travel sights in Israel, GOSIE participants have had hands-on contact with the day-to-day reality of life in Israel. Just a few days ago, the participants visited the family's house of IDF soldier Eldad Regev, whose body was returned to Israel in the framework of the prisoner exchange with terrorist organization, Hizbullah. Sabrina Kalish and Dan Berger are the GOSIE trip leaders for this year. They are also active members of Federation’s Or Hadash young professionals group.

"Today was a lot of fun with our travel activities, but it was also an incredibly somber day in Israel because of the prisoner swap this morning," Kalish and Berger wrote in a letter. "We believe that this trip is the best way for our kids to experience the culture of Israel: to see how all of the neighborhoods and citizens are responding with comfort and strength. Just from this event, we've learned so much about the recent history of Israel and the reality of what Israelis give up to keep their very important promises of never leaving a soldier behind," they wrote, as they experienced an incredible feeling of Israeli pain, pride and honor with Orlando’s teens.

Michal Osteen, Partnership 2000 Chair, could not be more proud of Orlando’s teens, "I am thrilled to see how our teens have internalized this incredible Israel experience," Osteen said.

"Our teens have found their new families in Israel, and when I look at our kids, I can no longer tell who is American, and who is Israeli. They all have become one big family from this experience and I am so excited for their future and the future of our Partnership program with Kiryat Motzkin," she said.

For more information about Federation’s "GOSIE" Israel Experience E-mail IsraelPartnership@jfgo.org, or visit http://www.OrlandoJewishFed.org.

More GOSIE 2008 Pics!

A Letter From A GOSIE 2008 Parent

"Thank you for all your hard work. My daughter has had a life-altering experience in Israel and we truly appreciate all your efforts and the efforts of JFGO and the GOSIE committee. She has been very moved by some of the things the group has done--and since she has never traveled, this has really opened her eyes to life as she's never seen it before.
Again, thanks, stay well---I miss my daughter but wouldn't want her to miss an opportunity like this for the world...."

More Pictures from GOSIE 2008

"I spent a wonderful time with your kids, and they are all having a wonderful time! here are some pictures ....

Michal Osteen"

GOSIE remembers Eldad Regev in Kiryat Motzkin

GOSIE Teens in the Israeli News

Article title: מאות נערים הדליקו נרות: "המומים וכואבים"

http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,3569244,00.html

Click the link above to go to the article.

Eldad Regev Video on Haaretz

I watched with deep sadness as the bodies of Ehud Goldwasser and Kiryat Motzkin native Eldad Regev returned to Israel. It seems to me to be appropriate for us to reach out to the Regev family and our sister city.

There is some video from Kiryat Motzkin on the Haaretz.com website:
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1002658.html

תהי נשמתם צרורים בצרור החיים . . .

בידידות,
David

Rabbi David Kay
Assistant Rabbi
Congregation Ohev Shalom
Orlando, Florida

Note From Michal in Israel

Hi Everyone,

I was in Kiryat Motzkin for a few days, working on a few things, getting the teens ready for the Orlando teens, and visiting the different projects that we are funding here...

We have changed so many lives, that the Orlando community should all be very happy and proud about. We had some visitors from Orlando too who stated how great it is to see where their dollars have gone!

Tonight is the first night of a three days series that Orlando funded for Holocaust survivors..
The Polish Ambassador spoke, and it was a night to honor the survivors in front of the community, followed by a play about the second generation of the survivors, the children of the Holocaust survivors...

The next few days are dedicated to lectures and trips for them with different university Professors...

I had lunch with the Mayor with all the school principals and they all talked about how we changed so many children's lives here in Kiryat Motzkin.

The principals raved about the after school programs, and the upcoming summer camp for kids who would otherwise be on the street all summer! It is a huge success, and there are over 100 kids able to attend summer camp...

I got to meet a little girl who came here from Russia and her dad drowned. Thanks to Orlando, the girl who is 12 and 6 months ago was not reading and writing, is now on 4th grade level with the help we had gotten her...she was so sweet... hard to believe that 6 months ago she hardly spoke... Now she is all smiles and happy with lots of friends...

It is a good feeling to see all these wonderful things.

I am looking forward to meet the Orlando teens next week when they get to meet the Kiryat Motzkin teens and am hoping they like last year will have a wonderful experience.

Love,
Michal

6/3/2008 - What’s New With JFGO’s Israel Partnership Program?

Happy Birthday Israel! Orlando celebrates in honor of Israel and Kiryat Motzkin.

Orlando stands proud, in honor of its Israeli family from Kiryat Motzkin for Yom Hazikaron, Israeli Remembrance Day, and celebrates in honor of Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel’s 60th Birthday.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando is sending its love and wishes to Kiryat Motzkin for Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha’atzmaut. Yom Hazikaron is a Memorial Day and Israeli national holiday for fallen Israeli soldiers and victims of terrorism. Yom Ha'atzmaut is the national Israeli independence day, commemorating the Israeli declaration of independence in 1948.

Detailed Photo Captions from Photos Straight from Kiryat Motzkin, Israel:

Photo 1: Mayor Chaim Zuri and his wife recognizing all of the fallen soliders from Kiryat Motzkin.
Photos 2 – 5: Students, soldiers and community members in Kiryat Motzkin commemorating Yom Hazikaron, Israeli Remembrance Day with an impressive participation from the entire community.

More families from Orlando visit Kiryat Motzkin!

Burt and Barbara Chasnov visiting Lea Ganor at the Mashmaut (Holocaust and Cultural) Center in Kiryat Motzkin, the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando's partnership city in Israel. The wall they are standing in front of exhibits photos dedicated to the strong partnership between the Jewish community of Orlando and the community of Kiryat Motzkin.

Also pictured is the Ganor family welcoming the Chasnovs into their home for an authentic, Israeli Shabbat dinner. This dinner marks the incredible connection between Orlando and Kiryat Motzkin, as the Ganor family was also welcomed into our Jewish community last year, when Lea and her husband Yair renewed their wedding vows in a special ceremony held in Orlando.

TRIP OF A LIFETIME: OR HADASH, HDS, & FEDERATION ISRAEL VISIT

This March, the Orlando Jewish Community brought over 70 visitors to Israel representing Or Hadash, the Hebrew Day School (HDS), and the Jewish Federation’s Israel Partnership Program Steering Committee for incredible tours of Israel, fun, friends and a trip they will never forget! The trips also included site visits for Or Hadash and HDS, as well as steering committee meetings in Kiryat Motzkin, Orlando’s Israeli Partnership city. The visit included tours of schools, Holocaust and community cultural centers, dinner parties with teens and host families, and so much more! More than 200 have visited Kiryat Motzkin since the very recent start of the program.