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Over 8,000 London Jews Attend Aliyah Expo

A professional placement company - for the first time in the Aliyah Hadasha (New Aliyah) programme within the framework of the "London Expo Israel 2003" fair.

8000 people from the Jewish Community throughout Britain attended Sunday 14.12.03, the "Expo Israel 2003" fair, that took place at the Business Design Centre, Islington, London, held jointly by the ZDF - Joint Zionist Federation and the Jewish Agency.

For the first time, a unique project of the Immigration Department of the Jewish Agency "Quick start in Israel", was presented as part of the fair, being held for the second time in London. The programme is unique in assisting Aliyah from Western countries by "tailoring" specific employment programmes for individuals through a professional placement company in cooperation with the Jewish Agency. The employment programme includes the preparation of Curriculum Vitae appropriate for the Israeli labour market and their distribution amongst enterprises and institutes in Israel.

A second new programme on behalf of the Jewish Agency that has debuted at the fair relates to postgraduate studies in Israel, which was formulated due to the expected rise in tuition fees for higher learning studies in Britain.

In parallel, around 170 businesses and public bodies exhibited at the fair, covering a wide range of commerce, industry, arts and crafts. Inter alia, original Israeli products, Judaica and other items were sold. Stands run by various charity organisations were active at the fair, including a British Christian support organisation, whose friends visit Israel as support groups.

The "Expo" Israel fair reflected the cooperation with the Zionist youth movements activated in Britain and whose members and graduates form the basis for the continuation and preservation of the Jewish identity among the Jewish Community in England by experience-full visits in large rangers. (According to the estimation; about 50% of high school age youngsters visit Israel through the Jewish Agency's programmes).

On the basis of the meetings established at the fair, many tens of interested people have been enlisted to the "Quick start in Israel" programme, and personal meetings were fixed for the day following the event with the employment consultants in order to establish the appropriate contacts.

The "Expo 2003" fair stands for the strengthening of contact between the Jewish Agency and the Jewish Community in Britain, both within the framework of the cooperation and by joining resources in accordance with the central guiding principle of the centrality of the State of Israel.

Credits: Photos by Shachar Fleischmann

For additional information contact
the Office of the Spokesman:
Liaisons to Foreign Press and Media
Jewish Agency for Israel
Michael Jankelowitz
Mobile: 051-601706