December 23, 2010 / 16 Tevet 5771

One hundred and twenty one young immigrants from the Former Soviet Union (FSU), all recent graduates from the nine-month Selah program, received their Israeli identity cards at a ceremony on December 14, 2010 in Jerusalem. 

Selah, a Hebrew acronym for "Students before parents," is one of the Jewish Agency’s most successful youth programs that facilitates the successful immigration and absorption of young immigrants (ages 17 -20) from the FSU in Israel.

The ceremony was attended by Eli Cohen, Director General of the Aliyah and Absorption Department of the Jewish Agency and Zalman Perlmutter, Director of Absorption Unit of the Jewish Agency.

The youth, who live at the Jewish Agency Absorption Center in Carmiel, performed songs and gave speeches in Hebrew including an explanation of the symbolism of the Israeli flag and other Jewish and Israeli emblems. 

Many of them, upon their graduation, will go to the Army or to universities.  Most of them are now studying for the psychometric exams.  A third of them have already been accepted to the Technion College in Haifa for next year. 

From the group that received their Israeli identity cards last year, close to three-quarters after their graduation went to serve in the IDF.