An overseas partner of the Birmingham Jewish Federation, the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) is dedicated to continually cultivating the special relationship between Israel and World Jewry. That is why JAFI developed Partnership 2000 (P2K) together with United Jewish Communities/the Federations of North America and Keren Hayesod serving Jewish communities in the Diaspora outside of North America. Partnership 2000 links members of over 550 Jewish communities around the world with residents of 38 Israeli cities and regions. The partners work jointly to promote regional development in Israel, Jewish unity and Jewish identity.
The Birmingham Jewish Federation, along with the Federation of Greater New Orleans, participates in Partnership 2000 with the city of Rosh Ha'ayin, Israel. Since 2005 the three communities have engaged in an array of programming designed to strengthen the people to people connection between our communities.
Rosh Ha'ayin is located in the heart of Israel, northeast of Tel-Aviv on the natural crossroad from North to South, from West to East, neighboring the Efraim Mountains from the east, Kfar Kasem from the north, and agricultural fields from the south and the west. In modern terms, the city is located on the intersection of the two main roads in Israel, the Cross-Israel highway and the Cross-Samaria highway, situated 15 miles from Tel-Aviv and 40 miles from Jerusalem.
The modern history of Rosh Ha'ayin started when the British Army took over the region from the Ottoman Empire and turned it into a military camp. During Israel's war for independence, this former British military camp was occupied by an Iraqi expeditionary force trying to split the new-born country into two. The Israeli leadership, understating the severe implications of such an occurrence, allocated two regiments to the battle and through the night of July 11, 1948 the Israeli forces succeeded in taking over the region.
In the years from 1949-1950, in an attempt to absorb the huge waves of olim (immigrants) the young State of Israel settled refugees in camps in various locations around the country, including the Rosh Ha'ayin area. About 35,000 of these immigrants came from Yemen. Subsequently, the city of Rosh Ha'ayin was established in 1951 as a small town populated by a few hundred Yemenite immigrants. Socio-economic problems characterized the small town as an underdeveloped community until the mid 1980's.
Our Birmingham community's relationship with the city of Rosh Ha'ayin began over 30 years ago. The connection started in the late 1970s when the late Tillie and Max Kimerling, of Birmingham, donated funds to build a community center in Rosh Ha'ayin. Located in the heart of Rosh Ha'ayin, the Kimerling Center today is still the central venue for cultural, educational and social programming in Rosh Ha'ayin.
In addition, in 2007, the City of Birmingham, Rosh Ha'ayin and Al Karak, Jordan became official Sister Cities through an agreement between the municipalities of all three cities. In 2009 Birmingham and Rosh Ha'ayin received a Sister Cities International Award for innovation in Youth and Education programming for cities with populations between 100,000 and 500,000. The award was presented in Belfast, Ireland in July 2009.
Over the past three years, a series of program exchanges between Rosh Ha'ayin and Birmingham have taken place. Partnership 2000 programs have included:
Educators' Exchange - Educators from the Birmingham City and Hoover School systems visited Rosh Ha'ayin in June 2007 and worked with colleagues there to develop a curriculum on diversity. Rosh Ha'ayin educators in turn visited Birmingham in October 2007.
E-Pals - Since 2008 students in the Birmingham City and Hoover School systems and the N.E. Miles Jewish Day School have participated in E-pals, emailing as "pen pals" with students in Rosh Ha'ayin.
The Birmingham International Center, working with the Birmingham's Sister City Commission and the Birmingham Jewish Federation planned a year of youth and education programming for 2008 as part of a year long "Salute" to the countries of Israel and Jordan.
Meitav Vocal Ensemble - Internationally acclaimed vocal teen ensemble from Rosh Ha'ayin visited and performed in Birmingham in May 2008. The eighteen teens were hosted by Birmingham families. Performances included Samford University, Huffman High School and a joint performance with the UAB Gospel Choir.
Bike Program - Birmingham community member Phillip Inman joined bicyclists from Rosh Ha'ayin and New Orleans in April 2009 for a four day bike expedition through Rosh Ha'ayin and the Negev Desert. The trip ended with a day of service in Rosh Ha'ayin.
Batterista! - Four teen drummers from Rosh Ha'ayin spent a week in Birmingham in July 2009, hosted by Birmingham families. Performances included a community concert at Ted's Garage, performances for the LJCC Seniors and day camp and a special program at the YWCA for children currently residing in transitional housing and homeless shelters.
Future programs include a visit from Rosh Ha'ayin chefs in January 2010. The chefs will specialize in the pastry arts and native Yemenite cooking.
Suzanne Bearman and Joel Rotenstreich serve as chairs of the BJF Partnership 2000 Steering committee. Members include Harry Bayer, Liz Bleiberg, Scotty Colson, Lori Dorsky, Bob Greenberg, Sheree Kanter, Sheri Krell, Lynn Raviv, Amy Saag, Donna Schiff, Stephanie Sklar and Roberta Shapiro.
BJF Assistant Executive Director Joyce Spielberger serves as the staff person for Partnership 2000. For more information contact Joyce Spielberger at joyces@bjf.org.
