June 25, 2009 / 3 Tammuz 5769
As part of the events surrounding the Jewish Agency’s Board of Governors’ meetings and commemorating the Agency’s 80th year of work, a festive, emotion-filled evening of tribute was held yesterday in honor of the organization’s donors and partners.
The masters of ceremony were Mr. Richard Pearlstone, Chairman of the Board of Governors, and Mrs. Carole Solomon, former Chairwoman of the Board and Governors and currently a member of the Board. The event was held in the presence of distinguished donors and special guests from Israel and from around the world who have been close, loyal friends of the Jewish Agency throughout the years.
The children’s choir of the Ben Yakir Youth Village, one of the flagship institutions of the Jewish Agency, inspired the audience with beautiful and uplifting music and songs.
Also among the guests were a number of beneficiaries of Jewish Agency programs. Vladimir Zeev Milner immigrated to Israel from Moscow as part of the Sela program. After serving in the IDF, Vladimir now studies political science at The Hebrew University.
Addressing the audience, Vladimir thanked the donors on behalf of all participants of Jewish Agency programs, noting especially the efforts that were made to fly his mother to Israel for a visit during his IDF service. After his speech, he dedicated to the guests a large cake bearing the inscription, “Toda” (“Thank you”), acknowledging the debt of gratitude owed to the loyal donors and friends of the Jewish Agency who allow it to continue its wide range of successful activities in Israel and abroad.