The delegation will announce a campaign to raise a million dollars for lone immigrant soldiers

On Sunday December 18th, a delegation from RAJI (Russian American Jews for Israel) arrived in Israel, the first delegation of its kind. The community of Jews from the Former Soviet Union (FSU) in the United States today numbers more than 700,000, who emigrated over the last 30 years and live in New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Baltimore, Los Angeles and other cities. RAJI’s mission is to bring former FSU Jews closer to Israel and to integrate them into the communal life of the American Jewish community which numbers 5.5 million. The organization was set up three years ago and continues to develop.

Unveiling the plaque at Kiryat Moriah with the soldiers of the NATIV program from R to L - Olsia, Sergei, Shai Hermesh, Dr.Igor Branovan, Menhaem Levin and Dr. Dimitry Shiglik

The organization works in close cooperation with the Jewish Agency, in whose framework a number of solidarity missions of Russian American Jews have already come to Israel. A joint youth emissary from the Jewish Agency and RAJI has recently begun operating in New York. RAJI will be participating in the current elections taking place in America for representation to the upcoming 35th Zionist Congress scheduled for June 2006 in Jerusalem.

The President of the organization is Dr. Igor Branovan, a leading surgeon from New York, who has performed a number of rescue operations for terror victims in Israel and around the world. In one such operation, he saved the life of Sergei Zbzdin, a young person seriously injured in a terror attack in Haifa on whom he operated in New York.

During its visit to Israel, the delegation will announce RAJI’s special campaign to raise a million dollars among Russian American Jews for the Jewish Agency Fund for Lone Solders.

From R to L - Olsia, Yanna, Alex Koifman, Alex Goldin and Katya.

On Tuesday December 20th, the RAJI delegation will visit the Jewish Agency’s education campus at Kiryat Moriah in Jerusalem, where it will witness the NATIV program which enhances Jewish knowledge of immigrant soldiers from the FSU and is recognized as part of the conversion process for those who are not Jewish according to halakha. The delegation will unveil a plaque at Kiryat Moriah with the soldiers of the NATIV program to highlight its visit to Israel. The press is invited to cover Tuesday’s visit to Kiryat Moriah, 3 Haaskan St., Talpiot, Jerusalem between 11:00am and 12:30pm.

From L to R - Dr. Dimitry Shiglik, Katya & another delegation member.

For further information contact:
Michael Jankelowitz
Liaison to Foreign Press
The Jewish Agency for Israel
Cell: 052-6130220
Voicemail: 02-6202780
e-mail: michaelj@jafi.org