August 11, 2003
Aware of the large number of enthusiastic French tourists in Israel this summer, Robert Zbili, president of the French Zionist Federation, proposed organizing special Zionist day trips for them during August.

Aware of the large number of enthusiastic French tourists in Israel this summer, Robert Zbili, president of the French Zionist Federation, proposed organizing special Zionist day trips for them during August.

The Zionist Federation undertook promotion of the venture in France, while the Department for Zionist Activities worked with UNIFAN (The Association of Olim from France and North Africa) and Tnu’at Aliyah of the Aliyah Department to turn the idea into reality.

More than 300 tourists left the beaches of Netanya and Ashdod, with hundreds more flooding the phone lines to try to get on to the tours, and came to Jerusalem for guided visits to Mount Herzl, the Kotel, and the Hebrew University. The highlight of the day for the tourists was having the opportunity to meet and mingle with recent olim from France, who shared with them their experiences and answered questions.

The tremendous success of this pilot project was above and beyond our expectations and has led the French Zionist Federation and the Department to look forward to expanding this exciting new program of Zionist Day Tours next summer.

Other Zionist federations interested in adapting this project to their particular needs are invited to contact us at naftalil@jafi.org .