September 18, 2007 / 6 Tishrei 5768

On September 18th, chairman of the Jewish Agency, Zeev Bielski, awarded scholarships to 300 students, former residents of Gush Katif and northern Samaria, who were evacuated from their homes nearly two years ago. The event took took place in cooperation with the committee of evacuees headed by the Chairman of the Gush Katif Settlers Council, Lior Kalfa.

The scholarships are part of a donation from the United Jewish Communities of North America who raised ten million NIS to be distributed primarily by the Jewish Agency for the assistance of former residents of Gush Katif and northern Samaria. The assistance package addresses psychological, educational and vocational needs. The scholarships awarded today came to 1.5 million NIS from the total donation.

Chairman of the Jewish Agency Zeev Bielski shakes hands with a scholarship
recipient in Nitzan, a community that is providing housing for Gush Katif evacuees.

At the ceremony, chairman of the Jewish Agency, Zeev Bielski announced that  "it is our obligation to mobilize on behalf of the evacuees who sustained such a severe trauma and now we have to assist them to find their way in all walks of life and I take considerable satisfaction over the contribution made by world Jewry and the Jewish Agency toward this national mission."