Performance at pre-Passover celebration with Carmiel representatives

A group of single-parent families from Moldova, 10 mothers and 13 children, arrived in Israel in the context of a special Jewish Agency project. The families will settle in Carmiel in a special absorption program, to be financed by the Pittsburgh Jewish community. The Pittsburgh community is partnered with the Carmiel-Misgav community by the Jewish Agency's Partnership 2000 program.

The group comprises academics ages 25-40, which for several months have participated in a "consolidation" process in preparation for their aliyah, by the Jewish Agency's delegation in Kishinev, capital of Moldova. The children have also participated in this preparatory program, featuring information about Israeli society and the rights of single-parent families, employment advice and a special seminar run by representatives of the Jewish Agency's Carmiel Absorption Center, the Carmiel Municipality and the Center for Academic Re-Training.

The families will initially stay at the absorption center for six months. During this period the children will be integrated in the city's education system and will enjoy an enrichment program. The mothers will learn Hebrew at an ulpan and will receive professional training and preparatory workshops before searching out permanent housing and employment. At the end of the initial absorption period, the families will rent apartments in Carmiel and will be employed in northern Israel, particularly in hi-tech. Professional staff process from the Jewish Agency, the Carmiel Municipality, the Ministry of Absorption and Employment Services will accompany the absorption.

Yael Reich, director of the Jewish Agency's Carmiel-Misgav office, said that the project is designed to ease the families' absorption process in Israel and consolidate them as a strong group, thereby assisting other single-parent families living in Carmiel. Reich added that the Pittsburgh community, which for some time has adopted the Kishinev community and operates to enhance Jewish education in Moldova, is funding the project.

Shvat 5761 - February 2001