One of the most important lessons in nonprofit work is that lasting impact is rarely achieved alone.
Partnerships matter because they allow organizations to bring together diverse perspectives, share resources, expand expertise, and create opportunities that would be difficult, if not impossible, to achieve independently. At their best, partnerships strengthen communities, foster innovation, build understanding, and create connections that endure across generations and geographies.
For thirty years, the Pittsburgh-Karmiel/Misgav Partnership2Gether (P2G) initiative has exemplified the power of partnership. Generously funded by the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh and as described back in a 2011 article of the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle, the initiative has focused on community building, youth leadership development, and innovative business and community partnerships. Through P2G, relationships have been formed that continue to enrich both communities and demonstrate what is possible when people invest in one another.
This past week offered two powerful reminders of the value of this partnership.
On Monday, the JCC welcomed Sarit Sivan, a mother, scientist, and the president of Braude College of Engineering in Karmiel. During her presentation, Sarit shared how Braude is helping strengthen Israel’s technological resilience, advancing opportunities for women in science and technology, and promoting social mobility among a remarkably diverse student population. Today, Braude’s student body is approximately 54% Jewish, 31% Muslim, 10% Druze, and 5% Christian, with many students being the first in their families to attend college.
We learned not only about the college’s academic programs and student life, but also about its innovative work supporting wounded soldiers and individuals with disabilities and motor impairments. Equally impressive is Braude’s longstanding partnership with the University of Pittsburgh, which includes both student and faculty exchanges that deepen educational and cultural ties between our communities.
On every level, Braude serves as a catalyst for growth, resilience, innovation, and opportunity, demonstrating how institutions can strengthen communities while preparing the next generation of leaders and addressing a national workforce shortage in critical industries.
The very next day, our Diller Teen Fellows from Karmiel/Misgav returned home following a ten-day seminar in Pittsburgh. The capstone experience of their visit was a Shabbaton at Emma Kaufmann Camp alongside our local Diller cohort.
Reflecting on the weekend, our community shaliach, Dean Aseef, shared that what struck him most was that it never felt like two separate groups of teens gathering together. Instead, it felt like a united community. Through shared meals, Shabbat rituals, singing, laughter, and countless conversations, connections transformed into deep and authentic friendships.
The most powerful moment came during a Saturday afternoon discussion when the Israeli teens spoke candidly about growing up in Israel during the past three challenging years, while Pittsburgh teens shared their own experiences confronting antisemitism and navigating Jewish life in America today. What followed was a remarkable exchange filled with empathy, understanding, vulnerability, and genuine care for one another. As Dean described it, the conversation produced moments of deep emotion and mutual recognition. During the closing circle, teens reflected not only on what they had learned about one another’s realities, but also on their desire to remain connected, support one another, and serve as anchors for each other across thousands of miles.
These experiences underscore why the Partnership2Gether relationship is so important. For Pittsburgh, it provides direct connections to the people, institutions, and communities of Israel. It allows us to learn from one another, share experiences, and deepen our understanding of contemporary Israeli society. For Karmiel and Misgav, the partnership creates meaningful relationships with a vibrant Diaspora community that is equally invested in Jewish life, leadership, and the future of our people.
Most importantly, the partnership reminds us that geography does not define community. Relationships do. Here’s to thirty more years and beyond!
Wishing you and your families a Shabbat shalom,
Jason
