Partnership2Gether: Rehovot and Minneapolis

By Gayle Kaplan

What is Partnership2Gether (P2G)? It is a global community that connects 300 Jewish communities around the world in 43 partnerships. Each partnership joins a city in Israel with one or more cities outside of Israel. The relationship usually starts between two cities and may add another city in a different part of the world. These partnerships provide opportunities for communities to connect and for interpersonal relationships to flourish. Through hands-on projects and personal interactions that engage thousands of Israelis and other Jews each year, individuals and communities across the world learn from one another and experience the enriching reciprocal benefits of being part of the global Jewish family.

Jodi Upin, Sally Abrams, Brenda Ganot (JAFI staff P2G Manager)

Almost 10 years ago the Minneapolis Jewish community decided to join P2G. A small group (including two Bet Shalomians, Jodi Upin and me) visited three wonderful cities in Israel. It was a fascinating journey, exploring parts of Israel usually off the beaten path for tourists. After much discussion, our group recommended that Minneapolis twin with Rehovot, and we have been visiting each other ever since.

Partnership2Gether is all about person-to-person relationships. The Minneapolis and Rehovot partnership provides a variety of opportunities to get to know our counterparts, like artists, teenagers and teachers. For example, when the Rehovot and Minneapolis Joint Steering Committees (JSC) get together in person at the annual meeting, we offer each other home hospitality. Staying in someone’s home gives us time to relax, talk, and share experiences.

Amy Lui, Orit Taya, Sally Abrams, Andrea Nadel- Tikh

Over the past eight years I’ve had several memorable P2G experiences. One was the very first time I enjoyed home hospitality with Adi and David, whose home is on the grounds of the Weizmann Institute where David is a professor. The Institute is rather like a kibbutz with the focus on science education and research. It is named after Chaim Weizmann, the first president of Israel and a key figure in the formation of the new country. He was a scientist and inventor (look up the discovery of acetone). Weizmann’s original laboratory is maintained as he left it. Usually only dignitaries get to visit it, but David had a key since his lab was on the same floor. He took us to visit Weizmann’s laboratory – a fascinating remembrance of an exceptional man. We signed the guest book along with ambassadors, presidents and others, which made me feel very special.

On another trip, I stayed with Cheryl and Moshe. Cheryl is a cousin of Rabbi Locketz (it’s a small Jewish world). She’s an artist, doing fine art, lovely paintings and illustrations. We talked a lot over Shabbat, including of course about our families. Cheryl shared that her son-in-law had died in his 30s. She gave me a copy of a children’s book that he had written for his five-year-old daughter and that she had illustrated. I teared up as she showed me the book. I continue to use his book in teaching Hebrew at our Religious School and always tell students the father’s story.

Just over a year ago under the auspices of P2G, we started a book club that includes several members of Bet Shalom and a variety of people in Rehovot. Every 2-3 months we discuss a book, alternating between Israeli authors and authors outside of Israel. The books and discussions are both in English. It’s wonderful to compare perspectives with each other, whether our viewpoints are similar or completely different, and connect with our cousins in Israel.

Nofar Anidbo, Jodi Upin, Zehorit Heilicher, Ethan Roberts, Avital Regav Keser, Nofar and Avivit Schecroun

Our P2G friends in Rehovot welcome our young adults who make aliyah to Israel, such as Nina Sokol, daughter of Jan Seidman and Marc Sokol. Nina grew up at Bet Shalom and was one my teaching assistants while she was in high school. After making aliyah, Nina went into the army. Though her assigned base was not near Rehovot, families in Rehovot opened their homes to her, welcoming her to visit on Shabbat and on holidays. Through them she met others from Minneapolis who had also recently made aliyah. At the first JSC meeting in Rehovot after the COVID shutdown I had the pleasure of seeing her again at a JSC party.

If you are interested in hearing more, please feel free to get in touch with me at gazelle928@gmail.com