September 15, 2009 / 26 Elul 5769

Jewish Agency Chairman Natan Sharansky handed out Israeli ID cards to 230 new immigrants from the former Soviet Union who arrived in Israel Monday (Sept. 14) at a special ceremony at the Mount Scopus Amphitheater in Jerusalem. The group was among the 600 immigrants from the FSU to immigrate this week, before Rosh Hashana. This year is expected to see a 20% increase in the number of new immigrants from the FSU.

In the picture: The Binyaminov family from Baku, Azerbaijan; from left: mother Zumrood, Ramim, 21, father Giorgi, Fuad, 13, and Elman, 23, with Jewish Agency Chairman Natan Sharansky. The family moved to Israel after sons Elman and Ramim were on a Taglit-Birthright Israel trip and decided they wanted to immigrant on their own; the Jewish Agency, with support of the UJC/ The Jewish Federations of North America, funds Taglit-Birthright Israel for young adults from around the world at $5 million annually.

 Photo credit: Sasson Tiram/Jewish Agency for Israel

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