September 13, 2009 / 24 Elul 5769

In the course of one week, just before Rosh Hashana
The Jewish Agency is bringing 600 new immigrants to Israel from the former Soviet Union(FSU)

The new immigrants will be greeted at a special ceremony by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Chairman of the Jewish Agency Natan Sharansky, Minister of Immigrant Absorption Sofa Landver, Minister of Public Affairs and the Diaspora Yuli Edelstein,senior officials of the Jewish Agency, mayors, directors-general of government ministries and additional public figures.
The welcome ceremony will be held at the Hebrew University amphitheatre on Mt. Scopus in Jerusalem on Monday September 14th at 5:00pm.
At this moving event, the new immigrants will receive their ID cards.

In the days leading up to Rosh Hashana, the Jewish Agency will bring to Israel approximately 600 new immigrants from areas of the FSU, among them: Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Georgia and Kazakhstan.  230 of the new immigrants will arrive in Israel on several flights landing on one day, September 13th.  The rest of the new immigrants will arrive during the course of the week and will be going to various frameworks of the Jewish Agency, such as Kibbutz Ulpan, Sela (students before their parents) and others.

The Jewish Agency's Department of Aliyah and Absorption and the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption are expecting a positive change in aliyah figures from the FSU for 2009.  According to estimates, there will be an increase of almost 20% in the number of new immigrants from the FSU for the first time in a decade.  This is in response to a program initiated by the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption and the Jewish Agency of special assistance to new immigrants from the FSU in the areas of housing and employment. 

Jewish Agency Chairman,Natan Sharansky noted with satisfaction that on the eve of  Rosh Hashana 5770 a trend in the increase of aliyah  from all over the world is evident."The Jewish Agency must use this window of opportunity that is mirrored by Israel`s  stable economy and do everything to encourage  the upward trend in aliyah to Israel," said Sharansky.

This ceremony will be an opportunity to thank the foundations and donors worldwide who support the aliyah and absorption activities of the Jewish Agency:  UJC/The Jewish Federations of North America, Keren Hayesod-United Israel Appeal, and the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews; as well as the Christian Embassy which assisted in bringing the new immigrants to the event.

For security purposes, journalists are requested to arrive at the amphitheatre by 4:00pm.  Entrance to journalists is with GPO card and additional ID card only.