Heart to Heart: Uniting Harrisburg & Ramat HaNegev, Building a Shared Tomorrow
A new connection between Harrisburg and Israel’s Ramat HaNegev Regional Council is helping to make the desert of Israel bloom – in prosperity and in partnership.
The relationship, entitled Heart to Heart: Uniting Harrisburg & Ramat HaNegev, Building a Shared Tomorrow, will include programming, cultural, and fundraising interaction between the Ramat HaNegev Regional Council and the Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg, Jewish National Fund (JNF), Beth El Temple, Chisuk Emuna Congregation, Kesher Israel Congregation, Temple Ohev Sholom, and Temple Beth Shalom.
RHRC represents a collection of fifteen communities across the Negev. While it covers 22% of Israel’s landmass, it is home to .001% of Israel’s population (about 9,200 residents). Despite its sparse population, the region plays an important role in Israel’s farming and touring industries.
“This exciting new partnership has the potential to transform our community’s relationship with Israel and foster deeper understanding, empathy, and connection between our communities,”
Zach Benjamin, President/CEO of Jewish Federation
Collaborative Projects to Support Ramat HaNegev Region
- A community café, providing employment and entrepreneurial opportunities for area teens
- The Warrior’s Path – an accessible path honoring and serving injured veterans and connecting communities in the region
- Bomb shelters – rebuilding damaged shelters and building new ones in underserved areas.
“Israeli people are very enthusiastic about knowing our brothers and sisters overseas – we are excited about getting to know Harrisburg and build living bridges to enable us to have a sense of what it is like to be a Jew in the States and to make this adventure and partnership bloom.”
Hadass Nisan, Director of Resource Development, Ramat Hanegev Regional Council