Two-Way Bridge
Celebrating partnership's 10th year, Central Galileans eye deeper imprint in Michigan.
the diversity of its residents and
existing personal relationships.
Editorial Director
Region residents trace their will to
Jewish Renaissance Media
work together to the emergence of
P2K. "We have learned to work as
"Partnership 2000 [P2K] is truly a part-
one community," said Danny
nership between equals with real and last-
Bitan of Migdal HaEmek. He's one
ing relationships. It is people-to-people,
of the Central Galilee's original
friend-to-frien4 this has made P2K so
P2K activists. Born in Paris, he's a
successful. Ware all individuals connect-
30-year Israeli. He and his wife,
ing together. P2K is mishpachah [family]."
Ariela, have two small children.
— Marta Rosenthah P2K Steering
"When we talked about this
Committee co-chair
partnership when it was formed 10
years ago, we talked about relation-
Israel's Central Galilee
ships between the Detroit Jewish
he Central Galilee is an up-and-
community and the three Israeli
coming region of northern
municipalities," said David
Israel with young families,
Techner of Birmingham, the
developing industry, a pioneering drive
Michigan co-chair of the P2K
and untapped potential. The three-
Steering Committee. "And what I
iniinicipality region has 120,000 resi- ._
see as a beauty of the partnership
dents — many Russian, South
today is that we have succeeded in
American and Ethiopian immigrants.
establishing relationships among
Nora Barron of Bloomfield Hills reads with a Gilad School child in Nazareth Illit.
The vast majority of people who live in
the three municipalities. We should
Nazareth Mit, Migdal HaEmek and the
only be as successful in developing relationships
Jezreel Valley are Jews. Arab-dominated Nazareth is
between Detroiters and Israelis."
nearby.
Pillars of the Central Galilee are aliyah absorption on
Until 10 years ago, the three municipalities devel-
a large scale, which strengthens Israel as the Jewish
oped independently. The residents knew one another
Partnership 2000, a Jewish Agency for Israel initiative
state, and Jewish-Arab equality building, which is
but the leaders had a provincial agenda. There was no
in cooperation with the United Israel Appeal and the
essential in a land of 5.18 million Jews and 1.6 million
concept of regionalism.
United Jewish Communities, the umbrella for North
Arabs.
What created mingling was a joint partnership with
American federations. The hope was to spur kesher
P2K followed Project Renewal of the 1980s. Back
Michigan Jewry through the Metro Detroit,
lekesher, people-to-people connections between Israeli
then, Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin sought
Washtenaw County and Grand Rapids federations. In
and North American Jews. Today, 40 such partnerships
diaspora help in rehabilitating disadvantaged neighbor-
November, the Michigan Jewish community marked
are linked to Israeli development areas primarily in the
hoods. Detroit Jewry bonded with the Israeli towns of
10 years of economic, educational, cultural and social
Negev and Galilee. Partnerships also link Israel with
Ramie and Yavneh. That partnership continues
ties with the Central Galilee.
Australia, South Africa, South America and Europe.
The impetus for this trans-Atlantic bonding was
Michigan Jewry chose the Central Galilee because of Two-W BRIDGE on page 32
ROBERT A. SKLAR
T
cover story: analysis
Total Investments
in Central Galilee Region:
$247,000
January 1995 — June 2004
.
■
$247,000 . • ..4%
Planning and Coordination
111 Jewish Identity Building
$957,000 . • .15%
CI Youth Programs
$464,000 . • ..7%
Living Bridge
$961,000 . • .15%
■
(includes trans-Atlantic, people-to-people
connections like Israeli participation at
the Detroit Federation women's seder)
$2.076 million
■
Community and Social Programs . . .$678,000 . • .10%
■
Integrating Immigrants
111 Special Projects
$375,000
$711,000
■
$678,000
Regional Development
$711,000 . • .11%
$375,000 . • . .6%
$2.076 million . .32%
2/ 3
2005
31