27 Elul, 5762
Jerusalem

34 Thousand Immigrants Came to Israel in 5762
Twenty Thousand Youngsters Participated in Educational Programs in Israel

According to Jewish Agency statistics approximately 34,000 immigrants arrived in Israel during the 5762 (Jewish calendar year).  Of these, 21,600 are from the Former Soviet Union, 4,100 are from Argentina, 1,700 are  from France, 1,500 are from the USA and 3,000 are from Ethiopia. 

On the eve of the Jewish New Year, Jewish Agency Chairman Sallai Meridor asked all citizens of Israel to open their hearts and homes to the new immigrants. He said that the National Institutions have the great honor of serving the Jewish People in its most important missions. 

937 immigrants are expected to arrive during the final week of 5762. Included in this number are young adults in Jewish Agency University preparatory programs. 

The last immigrants to arrive this year will be a group of 34 individuals from Ukraine, who will touch down at Ben-Gurion Airport before dawn on Friday, 6 September. In addition to the immigrants, some 20,000 teens and young adults participated in educational programs in Israel during 5762. Foremost among these programs are the Na'aleh high school program (run together with the Ministry of Education), the Israel Experience, Birthright, as well as a number of other programs of several months' duration. 

Due to the situation prevailing in Israel, the Jewish Agency dispatched 1,500 young emissaries to Jewish communities abroad in order to impart to them first-hand information and a feeling for Israel. 

Approximately 10,000 individuals throughout the Former Soviet Union will celebrate the holidays in central events organized by the Jewish Agency. Jewish Agency-organized ceremonies will take place in Jewish communities from Birobijan (in far eastern Siberia) to Estonia (in the West). Last night the Jewish Agency assisted by local Jewish organizations organized a New Years event attended by some 2,500 individuals. Some 800 are expected to attend a ceremony to be organized in Kiev. 

For the first time the Jewish Agency will organize New Years Eve ceremonies in far-away towns in the Urals. In the Ural city of Kishtim the Jewish Agency will hold a New Years event for 50 Jews from the closed city of Ozorsk. Entry into closed cities, in which Russian defense industries are located, is prohibited to those who are not permanent residents of these cities. For that reason the Jewish residents of Kishtim will join fellow Jews from Ozorsk in their celebration, and, for the first time in 100 years, will celebrate the Jewish New Year in public. 

The World Zionist Organization's Center for Religious Affairs together with the Israel Ministry of Religious Affairs distributed over 7,000 High Holy Day prayer books in Hebrew and Russian among the Jewish communities of Uzbekistan. The Congress of Bukharan Jews published the prayer books. The Center for Religious Affairs likewise distributed dozens of shofars to Jewish communities throughout the Former Soviet Union. Some 10,000 newly arrived immigrants residing in Jewish Agency absorption centers will celebrate the Rosh HaShanna in special communal events organized by the Jewish Agency. Likewise many veteran Israeli families have volunteered to host new immigrants.  

For additional information contact Yehuda Weinraub, 053-927017