September 2, 2009 / 13 Elul 5769

US $6 million Agreement between Jewish Agency and Genesis Philanthropy Group on Educational Activities in the Former Soviet Union

The Jewish Agency for Israel and the Genesis Philanthropy Group(GPG) have reached a general agreement on widening the scope of mutual cooperation in the field of Jewish education and in the strengthening of Jewish identity of Russian-speaking Jews in the Russian Federation and in other Former Soviet Union countries. The cooperation in question includes support of Jewish schools, summer camps, and other projects.

Within the framework of the agreement, GPG will invest up to US$6 million into its joint programs with the Jewish Agency over the course of the next 3-4 years. GPG will also help the Jewish Agency in evaluating the efficiency and effectiveness of the projects operated by the Jewish Agency in the former Soviet Union.

Natan Sharansky, Chairman of the Executive, Jewish Agency for Israel said:

"Over the last years the Jewish Agency has been active in working on the return of hundreds of thousands of Jews to their historical roots and the strengthening of Jewish identity. The Jewish Agency worked together with the Government of Israel,its many friends around the world, UJC/The Jewish Federations of North America, Keren Hayesod and in recent years, with the active participation of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews(IFCJ-USA). I welcome the fact that today the representatives of Russia's Jewish community are more and more involved in building Jewish institutions in Russia and are doing their utmost to strengthen the Jewish identity of Russian-speaking Jews around the world. "

Photo Credit: Fatima Burnatzeva/Jewish Agency

Caption Above - from left to right: Pyotr Aven-President Alfa Bank (Genesis Group) Mikhail Fridman-Founder Alfa Group (Genesis Group) Natan Sharansky -Chairman Jewish Agency for Israel Stan Polovets-President and CEO of Genesis Philanthropy Group