Senator Boris Shpigel: "We will turn Ben Yakir into a role model for all Youth Villages in the world"

Senator Boris Shpigel, President of the World Congress of Russian Jewry, visited Ben Yakir Youth Village last Monday.

During the visit, arranged by the Jewish Agency and Keren Hayesod, Shpigel visited the village's movie theatre, renovated with his help, and inaugurated the dental Clinique which he established at the village. Shpigel met with the students of the village and with 4 alumni that came back to the village to great him. Some of them have an ongoing relationship with Shpigel from previous visits, and are expected to participate this month with the village director in a convention dealing with Holocaust denial, organized by Shpigel himself, in Kiev.

Shpigel inaugurated the 'Friendship Plaza' in the village, in which a special stone was dedicated to him, and planted a tree there. During his visit, Senator Shpigel heard from the village alumni about their life and experiences in the years they spent at the village, and the tools provided to them during these years to lead a meaningful, positive life as contributing citizens.

Shpigel watched a performance of 'The Flowers of Ben Yakir' choir, with a special performance of a song sang in Russian and Hebrew.

Senator Shpigel announced his intention to establish a museum in Ben Yakir, commemorating the brave action of Jews during the Holocaust. He mentioned that the role of commemorating the Holocaust is now in the hands of the young generation and only with their inovolvment we can ensure that this disaster will not occur once again. At the end to the visit, the village director and the representative of Keren Hayesod announced the winners of the first 3 places in a drawing contest about the Holocaust that was held in Ben Yakir last year.

The village director, Yossi Krothamer, thanked Senator Shpigel warmly for his contributions to the village, and mentioned his significant actions in commemorating the Holocaust. Krothamer spoke about the everyday life of the village and the plans for the future.

At the end of the visit, Shpigel turned to the 4 alumni, invited them to his home, and called them 'Ben Yakir's Board of Governors'. He asked them to turn to him with any request and promised to continue and act towards promoting the village and turning it into a role model for youth villages around the world.

We appreciate and thank Senator Shpigel for his moving visit, and the representatives of the Jewish Agency for Israel for their contribution to the organization and success of the visit.