School To School Twinning

Since 2005, the School to School Twinning Programme has brought together hundreds of children, parents and teachers in the UK and the Galil. By building long-term relationships between children and adults in the partner communities, the programme strengthens the participants' Jewish identity and enhances the school curriculum.

Working with Partnership 2000, a project of the Jewish Agency for Israel, UJIA is coordinating the twinning of two schools in the UK with two schools in the Galil: Clore Tikva Primary School in London twinned with the Kerner Primary School in Meona, Maaleh Yosef; and North Cheshire Jewish Primary School twinned with the Nof Galil Primary School in Farod, Merom HaGalil.

Visits from Israeli schools to the UK and visa-versa allow pupils, families and staff to genuinely experience each other's lives. The exposure that British Jews have to Israel greatly deepens their connection to the land and people. Equally as important is how contact with British Jews affects how Israelis understand Judaism, the Diaspora and the centrality of Israel to the Jewish people.

The programme has been so successful that UJIA intends to expand the School to School Twinning Programme to reach more schools, further strengthening the 'Living Bridge' between the UK and northern Israel.