PARTNERSHIP2GETHER (P2G)
Kfar Saba - Columbus

The partnership between Kfar Saba and Columbus, Ohio, is part of a network of partnerships operated by the Jewish Agency with Jewish communities around the world. The P2G Partnership was founded in 2002.

The program operates in cooperation with the Municipality of Kfar Saba. The projects work among different age groups in the areas of education, Jewish identity and leadership in the community and strengthen the connection to Israel and the warm connection between Israel and the Diaspora, in addition to hosting incoming delegations from Columbus. Our diverse projects connect people on both sides of the ocean, in a fabric that binds hearts. Our lay leaders (volunteers) initiate, operate, and manage projects in the community.

The P2G Network aims to promote, empower, and develop deep connections, thereby strengthening Jewish communities in Israel and worldwide. This is accomplished through creating revitalized, ongoing, and meaningful engagement based on mutual endeavors and shared Jewish identity.

Impact

The P2G Network connects 165 Jewish communities through 38 city-to-city and region-to-region partnerships within Israel, as well as through global thematic collaborations, engaging thousands of participants each year.

Uniqueness

Each Partnership is led by a joint steering committee composed of volunteers from both Israel and overseas communities, committed to fostering continuous, mutually beneficial bilateral engagement. This includes developing unique programs and one-on-one encounters and fostering deep personal and community connections.

Partnership programs

Steering Committee

Members of the steering committee from Kfar Saba will travel to Columbus for days of meetings. Sessions may include group building exercises, program planning and evaluation, socializing, Jewish and cultural programming and site visits. members of the committee escort by professional staff members will visit their counterparts to participate in the meetings and become personally acquainted with the partner communities. Meetings will be held in community facilities. The planned meetings are critical for building a stronger relationship and making sure the programs we offer meet their stated outcomes. The Columbus chair-persons and staff are responsible for planning the meetings in coordination with their counterparts overseas.

Educational Bridge program

The Educational Bridge program strengthens ties between children and youths in Kfar Saba and Columbus. The goal of the program is to create a connection between Jewish kids in Israel and the Diaspora in order for them to experience the daily customs and lifestyle of the other community. The Educational Bridge program connects between elementary schools in the city and schools in Columbus, as well as between kindergarten and a parallel kindergarten in Columbus. The program includes the exchange and sharing of knowledge, ties between teachers and the exchange of delegations. Various topics are discussed in each of the schools. The pupils work on projects that they choose and the results are presented in the schools of the partner community. Several times a year, prior to the Jewish festivals, the kindergartens celebrate the holidays together through ZOOM and the children send presents and handicrafts to each other.

Remember2Gether

Prior to Remembrance Day and as part of the curriculum of the Jewish high school in Columbus, groups of students are exposed to the stories of fallen soldiers from Kfar Saba. Through this program, the participants learn about the issue of bereavement in Israel. The program also creates ties between the students in Columbus and the bereaved families in Kfar Saba. The Yad LeBanim organization and the families in Kfar Saba appreciate and are moved by the perpetuation of their children’s memory through this program.

Teen Program

Intended for 9th grade students from Kfar Saba and Columbus. A program that will deepen the connection between the youth and the community in which they live and to get to know their peers from the partner community. In the first year, the program will involve Zoom meetings, and in the future it will include a delegation to the community, when it can be based on hosting families in Columbus and Kfar Saba. The zoom sessions will cover diverse topics such as: Jewish identity, involvement in the community, heritage, peoplhood and Zionism.

Culinary

This program will provide a cultural experience by sharing tastes, flavors, music, and stories between our communities. We believe this is a great way to engage large numbers of people with the Jewish Federations and give a taste of Israel and our Partnership in a way that appeals to all the senses. Since we aim for the program to take place during the National Days (Yoms), we will include an element of remembrance, creating a buildup program to honor those who were lost. We will connect with bereaved families to learn about and commemorate the favorite foods of the fallen.

NextGen Connect

Create a joint group of young Jewish adults from both communities, utilizing the virtual space to connect across geographical, cultural, and religious denominational boundaries. They will learn together about their Jewish identity, Jewish life, and their responsibilities as Jews to their community and the worldwide Jewish community. The program will provide a safe space for dialogue on pressing issues in Israel and the Jewish world through guided discussions. The program seeks to establish strong friendships, focusing on community members aged 35+ interested in meaningful relationships. The highlight of the program should be a face-to-face retreat held in the US and/or Israel in the next budget year.