22 Kislev, 5762
Jerusalem

Soviet Union to Become Israeli Citizens Tuesday December 11th in Presidential Ceremony

Press invited to cover event

Nine hundred young immigrants, who arrived recently from the Former Soviet Union in the context of Jewish Agency's "Sela" higher education program, will receive Israeli ID cards in a Presidential ceremony this Tuesday, (December 11^th). President Moshe Katsav, Jewish Agency Chairman Sallai Meridor and Chairman of the Agency's Immigration and Absorption Committee will participate in this event, which will also feature the traditional lighting of the third Hanukah candle and an artistic program.

The young men and women enrolled in the program arrived three months ago, without their parents to prepare for Israeli institutions of higher education. Despite the current security situation in Israel they all chose to remain and become citizens. Prior the ceremony, the new immigrants will tour areas of Israel that were related to the Maccabis, in particular they will be visiting Latroun, Modiin, the Neot Keduminm biblical village, and Jerusalem where they will learn first hand about their historical and religious heritage and in particular about the holiday of Hanukah.

The Jewish Agency's "Sela" (Hebrew acronym for students before parents) program is intended for young men and women aged 17-21 interested in immigrating to Israel and studying in an Israeli institution of higher education. During their first year the program participants live in Jewish Agency absorption centers and take courses to prepare them for university study. Their curriculum includes intensive courses in the Hebrew language, English, Mathematics, Israeli History as well as preparation for the university psychometric examination (which is required for entrance into Israeli universities)

At the conclusion of their preparatory year, the young men and women normally enter university. Some choose to be drafted first into the IDF, others enter the IDF Academic Reserve Program (a program similar to the ROTC which enables them to defer active duty in the IDF while they study in a university or college); others enter a university-run preparatory program. Since the inception of "Sela", six years ago, six thousand young immigrants from throughout the Former Soviet Union have made their mark in all walks of life in Israel. Many families immigrated to Israel in the wake of their children's aliyah through the "Sela" program.

The ceremony will begin at 16:30 at the Usishkin Hall of Binyanei HaOoma. You are invited to cover the event.