There is an exciting opportunity next May for Ottawa-based artists and athletes to travel to Israel and build connections with Canadian and Israeli peers through a week of collaboration and learning, made possible thanks to the Jewish Federation of Ottawa’s Partnership2Gether (P2G) program. 

Based on a shared belief in am echad, one people, P2G’s mission is to foster deeper connections between Israel and Canada. Jewish communities in Atlantic Canada, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, and Winnipeg, in addition to Ottawa, are paired with five development towns and councils in Etzba HaGalil, in the north of Israel.

Through this partnership, there are countless opportunities for Canadians and Israelis to connect with one another through programs like the Monthly Mifgash (monthly meeting of Jewish women from Ottawa and Etzba HaGalil), Gesher Chai (building a “living bridge” between communities), and much more.

“I believe the past two years have taught Israeli society that we cannot separate the Jewish communities in the diaspora from the Jewish community in Israel,” said Miya Rothem Kahlon, who is the coast-to-coast P2G coordinator.

To further foster these relationships, the Artists and Athletes Mission was recently announced, which will bring people with artistic and athletic skills to northern Israel to have cultural exchange, community engagement, and hands-on collaboration with local arts and sports groups in the region.

“The purpose of these missions is to create connections between communities, both among those in Canada and those in Israel,” said Rothem Kahlon. “I believe that a shared love of sports or art can create a platform for new and meaningful relationships that will generate broader impact in our communities.”

Designed for people with interests in areas such as visual arts, music, dance, hockey, coaching, and more, the program will be a great opportunity to exchange ideas across oceans.

It was created in collaboration with Birthright Volunteers in hopes of connecting communities through volunteerism and deepening personal ties. 

“No other program offers this kind of exposure to Etzba HaGalil and the partnership’s impact on the region,” said Rothem Kahlon.

Some of what people going on the mission can expect include a visit to Tel Hai College (soon to be university), meeting with the local Druze community and other residents, as well as a trip to Southern Israel to tour the Nova site and participating in volunteer activities. 

For those who feel this may not be the mission for them, there will also be an educator’s trip to the region over the summer between partnership schools, and Rothem Kahlon hopes to launch a women’s mission later next year.

“We welcome any collaboration and initiative,” she said. “The partnership team hosts a variety of missions … and we’re delighted by every opportunity to create connections.”

Taking place from May 25 to June 1, 2026, people interested in participating are asked to fill out a registration form, which will include a questionnaire, registering with the Birthright system, and a virtual meeting two weeks prior to departure.

For those who wish to go on the journey, there is an early bird registration fee of 1,100 USD until December 30, 2025, going up to 1,200 USD thereafter. The price includes roundtrip flights from Toronto, double occupancy accommodation, travel insurance, transportation, approximately 70 percent of meals, and much more.

To learn more about this exciting opportunity, please reach out to P2G Coordinator, Miya Rothem Kahlon, at [email protected].