Joint Statement of Partnership between San Diego and Ibbim/Sha’ar Hanegev

General
Driven by the profound sense of our shared destiny, we, the children of the Jewish people on both sides of the ocean, have assembled in Ibim, Sha'ar Hanegev today, 23 Heshvan, 5764 - November 18, 2003, to define and enhance the warm and wide-ranging partnership created over the past five years.
The communities of Ibim/Sha'ar Hanegev and San Diego view their partnership as a means for fulfilling the Zionist vision, according to which the State of Israel is the home and homeland of all Jews wherever they are.
We believe that it is time to position our partnership a notch higher - to deepen and broaden it. Therefore, we have jointly defined the goals of our partnership and the manner in which we intend to work together.

Goals
Our ties are grounded on the shared values encapsulated in the Talmudic saying “Al ha-Torah, al ha-avodah v’ al gmilut hasadim.” - “On Torah, on work and on loving kindness.”
“On Torah” - Creating a just society and a thriving community life, based on Jewish values, and committed to democracy, to seeking peace, and to the development of a culture that draws on the splendid past of the Jewish people and fosters it in the future.
“On work” - Encouraging constructive initiatives for economic excellence; forming strong foundations for flourishing communities in the future.
“On loving kindness” - Developing organizations and programs in both communities focusing on social affairs, charity, and social justice, in accordance with Jewish tradition.
Working Together to Implement the Goals
§ Reciprocity
The partners are committed to forms of action that acknowledge their unique needs and relative advantages.
Joint planning and management reflect substantive equality between the partners.
§ Content-driven Endeavors
The types of activities and how they are implemented will be guided by the partnership’s goals.
§ Planning, Management, and Monitoring
The partners aspire to plan activities jointly, to determine a calendar of yearly activities, and to regularly monitor the programs.
The yearly activity schedule will be regularly examined and updated.
The yearly program will define goals, programs, budgets, and indicators of success.
Implementation plans will be jointly determined.
The partners will jointly monitor each program, using milestones established in advance.
§ Broadening the Circle of Participation
Direct channels of communication will be established between elected figures, lay people, and professional executives. Joint committees will be involved in planning, managing, and monitoring the programs in various fields. Those involved in implementation will be in frequent electronic contact.
More ways of involving the public will be developed, with greater contact and personal commitment to the partnership.

Spurred by a strong sense of responsibility for the continued existence of the Jewish people and its safety and growth, we - representatives of the communities of Ibim/Sha’ar Hanegev and San Diego - hereby sign this Statement of Partnership.

Meeting- Sha'ar Hanegev-Sandiego Feb 23,2006