Jewish Federation of Cincinnati

Israeli Chronicles — Connecting Israel & Cincinnati

An extraordinary global platform connecting some 550 communities around the world in 45 partnerships, the Jewish Agency for Israel’s Partnership2Gether (P2G) program is building living bridges among these communities by sharing ideas, strengths, challenges and models of success and by empowering both communities to generate waves of change. Each partnership is led by a joint steering committee with members from both communities. Cincinnati’s P2G partner city is Netanya, Israel, and the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati facilitates the partnership.

Here, Cincinnati/Netanya P2G Co-Chair Alan Brown talks about his favorite P2G memories and what the program means to him.

Question: Why do you think P2G is important to Cincinnati?

Alan Brown: I think our P2G programs are very important because they provide an up-close and personal experience for members of the Cincinnati Jewish community, which helps them become more interested and more understanding of people in Israel. P2G provides people-to-people diplomacy, which creates stronger and more personal bonds with Israel. We provide home-hosting for all of the delegations that come through P2G, which inherently leads to close, personal relationships between Cincinnatians and Israelis. I don’t believe there is any other program other than, perhaps, Birthright or March of the Living, that forges these close bonds, and our programs allow Cincinnatians and Israelis to reach further into each other’s communities. We introduce all ages to Israel in a fun but meaningful way.

What’s your favorite P2G project, and why?

I love the Tzofim/Camp Friedlander program, which brings a delegation of Israeli Scouts (Tzofim) to Cincinnati, where they attend Camp Friedlander with area Boy Scouts. This program has touched so many lives and has left lasting memories for all involved. Often, Tzofim who have participated in the exchange return to the States as young emissaries (Chaverim). Some return as the leader of a delegation. Often, Cincinnati host families will go on to host for many years in a row. Some go on to become even more involved in the greater Cincinnati Jewish community. Their engagement with and connection to Israel increases, as well.

What upcoming P2G initiative are you most excited about?

I’m trying to get together a Re-Art program, which will involve six artists (painters, illustrators, and photographers) here in Cincinnati, and six artists from Netanya. It involves each artist making one piece of art. The six pieces of original art from the Cincinnati artists will be digitally sent to each of the Netanya artists and the six pieces of original art from Netanya will be sent to each of the Cincinnati artists. Each artist will interpret the exchanged art any way he or she wants: enhancing, changing, etc. At the end, all of the art (72 new pieces plus the 12 original pieces) will be gathered up and displayed in art shows in each of the two cities. The hope is that some of the Netanya artists come here for our opening, and some of the Cincinnati artists go to Netanya for their opening. This is an interesting project for many reasons, including the fact that it allows for artists to overcome the taboo of taking someone else’s art and modifying it to be his or her own. It also facilitates joint ownership of a project, and it presents the challenge of applying different types of thinking to the same project. All the way around, it promises to be a very interesting, fun, and enriching program.

P2G is all about building interpersonal relationships. Is there a relationship that you’ve seen blossom, which you’re particularly proud of?

Dylan Sleyo comes to mind. He was part of one of the Cincinnati host families that hosted the Tzofim for four years. Dylan just turned 17 and is currently on a BBYO trip to Israel using a Cincy Journeys travel grant. Dylan plans to stay in Israel after his trip to visit Netanya and two of the scouts he’d previously hosted at their summer Scout camp. He’s also taken Hebrew lessons. He was engaged with the Tzofim from the very beginning and, while he has not been outgoing in the past, he shows great ease in meeting new Israelis, thanks to his participation in the Tzofim P2G exchange.

What is the most rewarding P2G experience you’ve had?

We went to Netanya several years ago. There, my wife and I visited the Tzofim Bazak tribe (troop). We visited with adults and children who had participated in the Tzofim/Camp Friedlander program over the years. To see and feel how many people this program touched was truly a wonderful reward.

Did you know these programs are P2G initiatives?

• Netanya scouts visit Camp Friedlander and are hosted by Congregation Beth Adam
• Holocaust Educators Exchange to Poland, Israel, and Cincinnati in collaboration with The Center for Holocaust and Humanity Education
• Chaverim M’Israel
• March of the Living in Netanya
• Jewish Family Service Social Workers Exchange in Cincinnati and Netanya
• Onward Israel internship program
• Community Birthright Israel Exchange
• Netanya counselors and campers at Camp Livingston and at the Mayerson JCC’s Camp at the J
• Ilan Ramon Congregational B’nai Mitzvah Skype Project

The Jewish Federation is working to bolster support for Israel through programs and institutions such as P2G. For more information, contact Sharon Spiegel, Director of the P2G Committee of the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, at 513-985-1536.