Ken and Jodi Eisner with their daughter Jamie, who participated in the Diller Teen Fellows program, and Jamie's Israeli Diller teen counterpart, in 2014.
The Jewish Federation invites you to welcome your extended family from Israel!
The Jewish Federation hosts Israeli delegations—both teens and adults—throughout the year, through the Partnership2Gether program. We are inviting you to open your home to visiting Israelis from Pittsburgh's Israeli sister-city region, Karmiel/Misgav.
As a host, you are not only putting into action the central Jewish value of welcoming people into your home, but also providing an enriching experience for your family. It is an opportunity to give Israelis from our sister-city region a personal glimpse into our Jewish community and life in Pittsburgh, and a chance for you and your family to build long-lasting and meaningful relationships with Israelis. For more information about hosting, see our hosting guide.
Apply to be a host family below!
Hosting for Partnership2Gether is one of the most rewarding and fun ways you'll find to meet Israelis. The guests we've hosted through the years have become family friends, celebrating simchas together and keeping up with the details of daily life between our two countries. What a wonderful way to have a home if you are able to make it to Israel, each of our guests has not only offered but insisted that we come stay with them!
— Deborah Gilboa, MD
We very much enjoyed hosting children through Partnership2Gether. The kids were all very appreciative of the opportunity to visit Pittsburgh. They had a unique perspective on American life, and it was fun to share our perspective with them. In turn, they got the opportunity to tell us about life in Israel and reverse roles with us. Overall, the exchange of cultures was rewarding for all involved.
— Mark Pizov
WHAT IS REQUIRED OF HOST FAMILIES?
General requirements include:
- A bed for guests to sleep in (a shared bathroom is acceptable)
- Some meals during the week depending on the delegation’s schedule
- Dropping off guests at a designated location in the morning and picking them up in the evenings
- Sharing your family’s time and including them in your family’s activities
2018 Hosting Dates are:
Dates may be subject to change. Check with the Partnership2Gether Coordinator to verify the dates.
MARCH 18 – 25
“YAD2Gether:” Young Adults from Karmiel/Misgav will visit Pittsburgh to volunteer and engage with young adult Pittsburghers.
APRIL 9 – 15
Israeli winners from Karmiel/Misgav of the Waldman International Arts and Writing Competition come to Pittsburgh, visit schools to share their winning work.
APRIL 15 – 20
Ten adult dancers from Karmiel/Misgav come to Pittsburgh to perform on Yom Ha’atzmaut and throughout the community.
JULY 13 – 15
Israeli 9th and 10th graders become campers at Emma Kaufman Camp. They arrive Friday, July 13th and depart for EKC Sunday, July 15th, with Pittsburgh campers.
AUGUST 2018
Two Israeli “shinshinim” – 18 year old pre-army Israelis – will spend a year volunteering here, bringing their Israeli voices and culture to strengthen Pittsburghers’ connections with Israel. As a host family for 4-6 months at a time, you will have a young Israeli truly become a part of your family.
For more information, please contact Debbie Swartz at the Jewish Federation at 412-992-5208 or dswartz@jfedpgh.org.