Students at Ben Yakir will soon be feeling the benefit of new air-conditioning and heating unit, which were donated to the village by the Youth Aliyah Australian Committee and the Youth Aliyah German Committee. The Israel Electric Corporation is in the process of expanding Ben Yakir's electricity capacity. Ben Yakir’s students recently drew pictures which have been sent to Australia as a gesture of gratitude to the Committee for its generous donation. The drawings will be reproduced for use on Rosh Hashana greetings cards.

The Youth Aliyah German Committee recently held a major festive event to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Youth Aliyah, which was founded in 1933 by Recha Freier the wife of a German rabbi. Set up to save Jewish children from Nazi Germany, Youth Aliyah has taken in over 400,000 children over the past 70 years and continues to rescue children at risk.

Tamuz 5763 - July 2003