Atlantic Canada’s Partnership with the Galilee Panhandle (P2G)

Along with the Jewish Federations of Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, Vancouver, and Winnipeg – under the leadership of Jewish Federations of Canada-UIA – the AJC is twinned with the Galilee Panhandle, a region in the north of Israel made up of five municipalities: Kiryat Shmona, Metulla, Yesod HaMa’ala, Mevo’ot HaHermon Regional Council, and the Upper Galilee Regional Council. This Galillee Panhandle region, located directly on the Lebanese border, houses about 50,000 residents in predominantly small communities. Some of the region’s greatest challenges are dealing with the consequences of confrontation near the border – including heavy fighting during the 2006 war against Hezbollah – and providing its residents with social, educational, and health services equal to those available in central Israel.

The Galilee Panhandle Region in Northern Israel

Activities of the Partnership
The partnership has two primary goals:

  1. To enhance the quality of life in the Galilee Panhandle
  2. To connect the Atlantic Canadian Jewish community with their Israeli counterparts in the Galilee Panhandle

Enhancing the Quality Life in the Galilee Panhandle
Using funds raised during our annual campaign, we partner with our fellow Canadian communities to invest in two key strategic growth areas for the Galilee Panhandle: capacity building and youth/education. Please click on the respective categories to some examples of the types of programs we’ve funded over the last several years.

Building a “Living Bridge” between Atlantic Canadians and their Israeli Counterparts
To help foster real, meaningful relationships between Atlantic Canadians and Israelis living in the Galilee Panhandle, the AJC sponsors 4 exceptional 16-year-old leaders to attend Camp Kadimah‘s CIT Leadership Program each summer. Over the last 15+ years, hundreds of long-lasting friendships have been built in this way.

Governance
The activities of the partnership are determined by a joint steering committee made of representatives from each of the 6 Canadian cities and 5 Israeli cities that make up the partnership. Currently, the Canadian chair of the entire steering committee is Atlantic Canadian local Howard Conter. If you are interested in joining this steering committee, please contact Naomi Rosenfeld at nrosenfeld@theajc.ca