Studies show that Israel engagement has proven to be one of the most effective tools in strengthening Jewish identity, and school twinning (which is similar to the “sister cities” concept) has proven to be one of the most effective means of promoting student engagement with Israel. Unlike other major Jewish cities in North America, the Bay Area has never had a coordinated school twinning program. By pairing each Jewish school in the Bay Area with a school in Israel, we create a community of educators and students in both countries who feel connected to one another.

JCF responded by initiating a proposed community-wide school twinning program. Activities would include:

• Communication between classes via email and videoconference
• Exchanges around jointly prepared curricular units
• Travel and seminar exchanges between students, parents and faculty of the two schools

The positive effects of school twinning programs are:

• Deepened relationships and understanding between Israeli and American Jews due to the person-to-person connection
• A greater sense of Jewish-Israeli identity and of Jewish peoplehood in both communities
• Cultural change in participating Israeli schools, particularly a better understanding of the pluralistic expressions of Judaism, the importance of diaspora Jewry and our diaspora/Israeli interdependence
• Cultural change in participating local schools, particularly a better understanding of the importance of Israel to diaspora Jewry.