October 15, 2006 / 23 Tishrei 5767

Thousands of visitors flocked to the North as part of the "Northern Israel On The House" campaign and visited nature reserves, free of charge.  This campaign was sponsored by Keren Hayesod, Jewish Communities from around the world, and the Jewish Agency for Israel.

AS A RESULT OF JEWISH AGENCY INITIATIVES TO REHABILITATE THE NORTH:

• 200,000 People Visited Nature Sites in the North During the Intermediate Days of the Tabernacles Festival  – Thanks to  a Campaign to Promote Tourism
• Colleges in the North Report a Double Digit Increase in Enrollment –Thanks to the Award of Scholarships to Students
• 2600 Small Business Owners Who Were Financially Damaged by the War Received  Emergency Grants
• Thousands of Students Who Were Called Up for Emergency Duty Will Receive Scholarships

Tens of millions of dollars were invested in these initiatives.  The money was provided by the UJC and Keren Hayesod which raised the funds from Jewish communities throughout the world.

Due to the war, the Jewish Agency launched an extensive campaign to rehabilitate the Northern and communities, financed by the United Jewish Communities of North America and Keren Hayesod.  The campaign took place under the slogan:" We were with you during the war.  We are with you today as well."  The Chairman of the Jewish Agency, Zeev Bielski, said that “the campaign running hundreds of millions of shekels, was intended to buttress the communities from an economic and social standpoint and to provide immediate assistance to their residents.”  Amongst other things, the campaign included: assistance to thousands of small business owners who were financially hurt during the war; strengthening academic institutions in the North by awarding scholarships to thousands of students; a campaign to promote tourism to the North during the course of the intermediate days of the Tabernacles Festival; and the award of scholarships to thousands of students who were called up for emergency reserve duty.

Given the sparse amount of visitors to the North in the course of the Jewish New Year, the Jewish Agency carried out a campaign to promote tourism during the intermediate days of the Tabernacles Festival.  In the course of the campaign, the Jewish Agency opened more than 20 national parks and nature reserves to the general public free of charge.  The preliminary data reveals that thanks to this campaign, about 200,000 people visited these nature sites during the intermediate days.

Due to a drop in the number of students who enrolled for study at academic institutions in the North, the Jewish Agency decided to award scholarships to thousands of students who enrolled for study in the North in the forthcoming academic year.  Thanks to the campaign, the colleges report sharp double digit increases in the number of enrollees: at the College of Safad a 50% increase in the number of enrollees by mid October was recorded in comparison with the beginning of September; at ORT Braude in Carmiel – an increase of 46%; at the Jezreel Valley College – 40%; at Oranim – 34%; at the Western Galilee College– 20% ; Tel-Hai College – 18%; and at the Jordan Valley College – 17%.

About 2600 small business owners whose livelihood was damaged due to the war and fell into substantial economic difficulties, are currently receiving emergency assistance from the Jewish Agency.  About 40% of the aid recipients come from the non-Jewish sector.

In addition to assisting the Northern communities, the Jewish Agency is currently awarding scholarships to thousands of students who were drafted during the war for emergency reserve duty, in order to help them pay their tuition for the next year.

For additional details: contact Hagit Haleli, spokesperson for the Israeli media, the Jewish Agency, 052-34 67053