Created: November 18, 2012 / 4 Kislev 5773
Updated: November 20, 11:00 am

Dear Partnership Family,

I attended the General Assembly last week amidst a continued flurry of concerned e-mails which were being exchanged between Partnerships regions in Israel and our P2G communities which had been hard hit by Hurricane Sandy. There are things that you can’t ask for in life. There are things that if you ask for them, it’s simply not the same. No one asked for our Israeli partners to reach out with concern – it was a natural and “taken for granted” response. No one asked for schools in our School Twinning Network to send disks, letters, and short clips. It was a normal response of worried family members.

At the GA, I debated whether or not to share with you – our Partnerhip2Gether Family – some of these heartfelt correspondences and decided to just let it be. I felt that those in our NY and NJ partnerships know that their Israeli steering committee members and volunteers are overwhelmed with concern and are taking action of support in the wake of Sandy. Our northeastern U.S. shore board partners know exactly what their Israeli partners feel and are doing. I felt this was enough. That’s what’s important.

But even before I returned home, the IDF “Pillar of Cloud” operation was launched. Within hours, our partners in Federation – some of the very same communities which were hard hit by Sandy – were now pouring out their concern. Within the first 24 hours, I was witness to scores of e-mails now asking our P2G Directors on the ground what their needs are?;  How can they most effectively respond?  In no time, I was sent videos of students in Mexico, the Ukraine, NJ and more sending their warms words of support to their Israeli P2G friends and family.

The pain that was felt in Israel over the devastation of Sandy was the same pain and concern now being felt overseas.

A family is a family. When life is busy and all is good, we don’t always stop to express what’s in our heart.  In tumultuous or should I say crazy days like these, whether devastation is being created by human nature or human beings, families are once again put to the test, albeit what should be an easy test. Still, the fact that our P2G family in Israel and across the globe responded so pro-actively and naturally with love and care should never, ever be taken for granted.

I want to thank each and every one of you who took the time to ask “how are you”, to say you are worried sick and that you care.

As the new week begins, I wish all of you wherever you may be tranquil days.

I wish peaceful and safe days and nights to our Israeli P2G family residing in regions of unrest.

I pray that our young soldiers in the IDF return home safely.

Andrea   

Dear Andrea,  thank you, and from all of us here in  the New Orleans Partnership you are in our prayers daily.  May God protect and keep you all safe,

love from us, lis

And yes, Israel is one amazing country, one we are proud to be associated with and to call home.. 
Thanks Andrea,

(November 20, 2012)

Sorry I missed u at the GA- we now have our rally at 1 pm today - expect many 100 or 1000's of people --our huge concern is for you all especially our friends in Shaar Hanegev.

 B" Shalom

Claire Ellman
President of the Federation of San Diego

I know that UJIA was going to write to all our partners and colleagues “officially” but I wanted to also write personally to say that my thoughts are with you as you face this terribly difficult time. Many of my friends and colleagues in Israel have children in the army, or family members and friends being called back to the army and this must be a frightening and uncertain situation for all of you. We cannot possibly imagine it from the safety of the UK, but we can send our strongest messages of support and concern.

I thought your email below was so well written.

With warmest wishes for a safe week for all of you,

Helena
Dr. Helena Miller
Director of Research & Evaluation
Director of Living Bridge Programmes

(November 18, 2012)