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Living Bridge

 FY25-26 : $449,400

// Project Description

Initiation, development, and reinforcement of ties between local residents and members of the Jewish Community of Chicago through meetings, visits, joint activities, and study about and with each other’s communities, while developing common experiences.

// Project Goals

Developing a common language between the Jewish Community of Chicago and residents of Kiryat Gat, Lachish, and Shafir, seeking to bridge differences, strengthen the common ground and create and extend significant ties.
Reinforcing Jewish consciousness, intensifying a sense of mutual responsibility, and reducing alienation.
Forming a living bridge between communities through ongoing dialogue, and shared experiences between local residents and the Chicago Jewish Community.
To educate stakeholders such as teachers, council members, and civil society activists about the Chicago Jewish community in the past, the present and the future.

// Target Population

Children, youth, young adults, professionals, and elderly in Kiryat Gat, Lachish, Shafir, and Greater Chicago.

// Programs

Education Living Bridge (formal education) – a yearlong joint study program and reciprocal visits are planned during the school year:

  1. Mifgash- Annual program with 8th-grade students from schools in the partnership region and 8th-grade students from Bernard Zell Jewish Day School and Solomon Schechter Jewish Day School. The program includes an in-depth study of Jewish identity and Peoplehood, counselor skills, and Israeli education. The program has two highlights, the first is an educational mission to Chicago and the second is a mutual visit of the schools from Chicago to Israel.

  2. Israel Now - Working with 8th-grade students from all schools in the partnership region who join the Mifgash with the Israel Now delegation in order to deepen the experience of the Israelis with enriching sessions mostly on the subject of Jewish Peoplehood.

P2Gan - P2P program between Israeli kindergartens and Bernard Zell kindergartens - joint activities on Israel and the partnership and joint training for the educators.

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Living Bridge (informal education)

  1. Diller – Joint leadership program for youth (20 on each side) dealing with Jewish identity, pluralism & Tikun Olam, Israel and Leadership.

  2. A bridge to leadership program – A two year leadership program, the program starts at the 9th grade and will include full activity with frequent meetings, sabbaticals and CIT training. On the 10th grade, after receiving the counselor certificate, the teens will guide in the Partnership activities (Israel Now, Mifgash, Birthright, etc.), Will deepen their knowledge of the Jewish community in Chicago and the Jewish camping world. In the summer of 10th grade, the teens will become full-fledged staff in the Kefiada.

  3. Alumni Engagement – we are establishing a network for partnership programs Alumni to deepen their connection to the community and the partnership. Creating the network will strengthen the impact among the various communities, will be a platform for social connections and community activities.

  4. Training for outgoing Shlichim to Chicago–12 Shinshinim that will be selected and trained to bring Israel to schools in Chicago, counselors from the partnership region at JCC camps in the Chicagoland area, and Hillel Shlichim in the Chicagoland area.

  5. Non-profit organization forum - A round table that brings together the variety of social organizations operating in the area. As part of the forum, we give organizations the opportunity to expand their knowledge of social work in the area, create collaborations, and deepen their acquaintance with the various factors operating in the area and with the partnership's activities.

 

General

  1. Coordinators’ Salaries – operating the different P2P programs.

  2. Hosting Visits & Volunteers – covering expenses for hosting Missions, families & volunteers from Chicago including Federation and synagogue missions, Birthright, Masa, honeymoon Israel, YLD, Onward Israel ext.

  3. Equipment, Maintenance, and Publicity – expenses for P2P office operating, promotion, advertisements, computer maintenance, etc.   

  4. Miscellaneous & Unforeseen Expenses, Virtual Tours and Special Projects – to enable our quick reaction to new initiatives and requests for P2P projects that will arise during the year.

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