​News and Media

Baltimore, Israel and a bond that tightens under missile fire from Iran

The family is among those in the area whose ties to Israel are deep and for whom the escalating war with Iran hits particularly close to the heart.

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Among them are those who participate in the now 22-year-old partnership that The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore has with the city of Ashkelon on Israel’s southern coast. The calls, texts, and WhatsApp and Facebook messages have been flying between the two cities this week.

“Everybody is connected to Baltimore, checking on us daily,” Sigal Ariely said via Zoom from her home in Ashkelon. “It’s truly our brothers from the other side of the ocean … thinking of us and caring for us.”

"The connection between Jews in Israel and around the world in the face of war and antisemitism strengthens us": Hundreds of thousands in over 50 countries lit a candle on the digital menorah.

Nicole and Roy Haddad, new immigrants to Israel, welcomed a baby girl on the first night of Hanukkah after the father returned from reserve duty. Ilan Goldman, who lost a childhood friend at the Nova festival and has since been assisting survivors and Kibbutz Carmia in the south, lit a candle from the U.S. Linat Karmisi, who returned home this year, lit a candle at Kibbutz Eilon in the north.

Together with hundreds of thousands of Jews from Israel and around the world, they participated this year in the "Global Light" initiative, the world's largest digital menorah project by The Jewish Agency, creating a worldwide display of Jewish light.

Bringing displaced Israeli kids to U.S. camps, Jewish Agency offers a ‘happy summer’ and peoplehood

Hundreds of teenagers from Gaza border communities attend American summer camps, making friends with U.S. counterparts and embracing sleepaway culture.

Welcoming Israeli teens to northeastern New York for a dose of TLC

For 20 years, our partnership region of Eshkol has remained one of the hardest-hit areas in Israel, their communities suffering repeated violent attacks directed from Gaza. But the unprecedented events of 10/7 and its aftermath have strained even their resilience. 

Partnership2Gether director finds value in relationships

Oren Spielmann started as the director of the Jewish Agency for Israel’s Partnership2Gether Global Network region — which includes Karmiel/Misgav in Israel; Warsaw, Poland; and Pittsburgh — on Oct. 8, barely 24 hours after the terrorist group Hamas killed 1,200 people and took another 200-plus hostage.

Winning the Jerusalem Unity Prize

Since October 7, we have witnessed an unprecedented mobilization of Jewish communities around the world: through donations, volunteers, and aid and solidarity missions arriving in Israel. This mobilization is an important component of the rehabilitation and strengthening of the resilience of the State of Israel.

Winning the Jerusalem Unity Prize

In a moving ceremony held at the President's house on June 9, a prize and a certificate were awarded to the "Partnership2gether" program.

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Winning the Jerusalem Unity Prize

​The Diaspora category was won by the Jewish Agency's "Partnership2Gether" program, which is a unique infrastructure that has operated for decades to connect and strengthen Jewish communities in Israel and around the world.

The Jewish Agency’s Partnership2Gether program has won TheUnityPrize

This prestigious award, created in memory of the 3 boys kidnapped in 2014, recognizes initiatives that foster unity within Israeli society & the global Jewish community.

Jewish Agency convenes Israel’s largest gathering of global communal leaders since Oct. 7

Some 200 participants at the Jewish Agency for Israel’s board of governors meeting will discuss plans for the rehabilitation of Gaza border communities.

Jewish Agency gathers 200 leaders to discuss rebuilding Gaza border towns

In what they said was the largest gathering of global Jewish community leaders since the October 7 massacre, the Jewish Agency for Israel’s Board of Governors assembled 200 Jewish leaders in Jerusalem on Sunday to discuss rehabilitation for the Gaza border towns.

Young Jews from Canada volunteer in Eilat through Jewish Agency initiative

Reverse ShinShinim sends Jews from the Diaspora to their Partnership2Gether paired cities to volunteer for a year in education settings in Israeli communities.

Partnership2Gether representatives visit Pittsburgh, plan for future

Delegations from Karmiel and Warsaw join Pittsburghers, as steering committee looks ahead

For Ethiopian Israeli Pnina Agenyahu, celebrating diversity is about speaking up and representing

As director of Partnership2Gether of the Jewish Agency for Israel, it’s Pnina Agenyahu’s job to bring together disparate Jewish communities from around the world and celebrate their diversity. 

Young American Jews serve in Israeli communities to foster understanding of global Jewry

Partnership2Gether Fellows is a new program that sends “shlichim” from communities in North America to spend time in Israel and share their experiences as Jew in North America.

In first, UAE's Jewish community joins virtual Jewish Agency Tu B'shvat event

u B'shvat celebration organized for families from Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Israel, and Chicago. Jewish Agency Chairman Herzog: Having the Jewish community from the United Arab Emirates openly join in the Jewish Agency's Tu B'shvat celebrations, connecting with other communities, is one of the exciting moments of our time.