December 19, 2012 / 6 Tevet 5773

Tomorrow at 20:00 – Gala Event at the Jerusalem International Convention Centre with the participation of the Chairperson of the Jewish Agency, Natan Sharansky

(from 16:00 an Exhibition of Masa Israel volunteering and educational programs will take place)

High school seniors in blue and white: In the last few days 858 French Jewish high schools seniors landed in Israel for a seven day educational tour organized by the Jewish Agency for Israel. The 12th graders, who come from 20 Jewish schools across France, will participate in the Jewish Agency’s educational project “High school seniors in Blue and White”. For the first time, students from the “Or Torah” School in Toulouse are participating in the project. The Chairperson of the Jewish Agency for Israel, Natan Sharansky, said that “The arrival in Israel of 858 high school students is a massive demonstration of solidarity, which reflects the warm and special relationship between French Jewry and the State of Israel”

In March this year, four members of the Jewish community of Toulouse were murdered at the Ohr Torah School: Rabbi Jonathan Sandler (29), a teacher at the school; his two sons, Arieh (6) and Gabriel (3.5); and Miriam Hanna (8), daughter of the principal of the school, Rabbi Yaakov Monsonego. Since the attack, The Jewish Agency has provided ongoing assistance to the Toulouse Jewish community and the students and families of the Ohr Torah school. The students from Ohr Torah, which is participating in the program for the first time, will be accompanied by the wife of the principal, Mrs Yaffa Monsonego.

“High school seniors in Blue and White” is a the largest program run by the Jewish Agency for Israel and Jewish schools in France to bring French Jewish teenagers to Israel to participate in educational tours. The tours are organized by the Jewish Agency’s educational tours company, “the Israel Experience.” A unique educational program is built for each participating school in full partnership with the school itself. Since the program began ten years ago, 7,697 students from 25 French schools have participated.

During their visit to Israel the high school students will visit historical and educational sites and will meet with Israeli teens of their own age. They will learn about relevant educational programs in Israel, Institutions of Higher learning, and high-tech employment options amongst others.  They will visit an exhibition of Masa Israel programs, a joint project of the government of Israel and the Jewish Agency for Israel, where they will learn about long term volunteering and educational options in Israel.

Key Events during the tour:

Thursday, 20.12: Exhibition of Masa Israel volunteering and educational programs from 16:00 at the Jerusalem International Convention Centre. From 20:00 a Gala event will take place with the participation of the Chairperson of the Jewish Agency, Natan Sharansky.

Saturday Night, 22.12, 19:00: Ceremony at the Jerusalem Archaeological Park - Davidson Center with the participation of the Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Shlomo Amar.

For further details please call Benjamin Rutland on 0526091099