25 Heshvan, 5765

The Jewish Agency For Israel CELEBRATES ITS 75TH BIRTHDAY

Since 1929, the Jewish Agency For Israel (JAFI) has remained steadfast in its mission to help promote the immigration of Jews and their absorption in Israel. Through its efforts, three million olim - roughly two-thirds of Israel's current population - have been assisted by JAFI.

Come celebrate with JAFI at the GA. Meet the people who are shaping JAFI's future and the people whose futures JAFI is helping to shape.

Media interviews with JAFI representatives and olim can be arranged apart from scheduled sessions. For information, contact:

Michael Jankelowitz, 011-972-50-760-1706,
e-mail: michaelj@jafi.org

Wendy Hirschhorn, 212-826-8790,
e-mail: wendyhi@nyc.rr.com

Monday, November 15, 4:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Tuesday, November 16, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.

ISRAEL'S HOPE FOR THE FUTURE

JAFI has established three funds to provide direct, immediate assistance to young olim at risk:

• Fund for Immigrant Soldiers Alone in Israel

• Fund for Immigrant Students Alone in Israel

• Fund to Prevent Immigrant Youth from Dropping Out

Speakers:

• Rachelle Schilo, Director of Funds

• Andrea Arbel, Advisor to Director-General of the Aliyah and Klita Department

• Young Immigrant Soldiers and Students who will share their unique stories:

  Idan Feigenbaum, 27, co-founder and chief technology officer of Haifa-based SpeedBit, Ltd., developer of Download Accelerator Plus, one of the world’s most popular download managers

  Inbal Ron – Director residential facility for Youth at Risk, Kibbutz Eshbal

  Elias Inbram, law student at ONO Academic College. The eldest of seven children, he made Aliyah from Ethiopia in 1983.

  Ifat Taraboulos, 21, IDF operations officer, Etzio Brigade

  David Greilsammer, acclaimed pianist; first-prize winner of Julliard Concerto Competition 2004; performed this year as a soloist at Lincoln Center; his repertoire includes a piece by a Jewish composer who died in a concentration camp.

  Ya'acov Benenson, selected as one of the "100 Best Inventors of 2004" by MIT's Technology Review Magazine

Monday, November 15, Noon-4:00 p.m.

MASA-The Project for Long-Term Programs in Israel

Panel Discussion and Video Conference with Jerusalem

Israel and JAFI have joined together to dramatically increase participation in long-term Israel education programs. This session will address these questions:

• What is the power and potential of the life transforming long-term Israel program experience and what does research show?

• How can Jewish community norms be changed to attract one in five Jewish youths (ages 18-26) to study in Israel?

The live video conference will be with participants in Israel's long-term programs (Young Judaea Year Course, USY Nativ, Hebrew University Junior Year Abroad, Pardes Institute).

Session Chairperson: Julie Wise Oreck, International Otzma Co-Chair

Panelists:

Dr. Elan Ezrachi, Panel Moderator, Director, Project MASA

Alan Hoffmann, Director General, Department for Jewish Zionist Education (JAFI)

Yisrael Maimon, Cabinet Secretary, Israel Government (tentative)

Professor Steven M. Cohen, The Hebrew University

Gil Troy, McGill University

Erika Bodziner – Project Otzma, Long-Term Program Alumnus

Monday, November 15/11/04, 6:00 – 9:45 p.m.

ALIYAH FROM THE WEST

The future of Israel depends upon Aliyah, and Western Aliyah or Aliyah-of-Choice holds the key for continued aliyah. For the first time in its history, JAFI has placed Aliyah-of-Choice on top of its agenda.

Panel participants will address the following questions:

• How is JAFI addressing this challenge?

• What is the role and responsibility of the Federation in helping to support increased aliyah and ensure the absorption of North American olim into Israeli society?

• What partnerships are already in place to make that happen?

• What more can be done?

Panel Chair: Alan Shulman, Co-Chair of the Western Aliyah Subcommittee,
JAFI Board of Governors

Panelists:

• Robert Goldberg, Chairman, United Jewish Communities
  North American Federations' Role in Encouraging and Supporting Aliyah-of-Choice
• Rabbi Joshua Fass, Executive Director, Nefesh B'Nefesh
  Putting Aliyah on the North American Agenda through Partnership

Personal Account: New Immigrant Making Aliyah to Israel with the Support of Nefesh B'Nefesh

• Caryn Rosen Adelman, Chicago Federation and Member of the Jewish Agency Board of Governors Aliyah and Klitah Committee; How the Chicago Federation Encourages and Supports Olim from Its Community
• Marc Gold, Vice President, Federation CJA Montreal and National Chair, Canada Israel Committee; P2K Montreal/ Be’er Sheva: A Model Partnership Uniquely Supporting Aliyah and Klitah
• Arieh Levy, Member of the Montreal-Be'er Sheva Magshimim Garin, Tells His Story

Tuesday, November 16, 7:30-9:30 a.m.

PARTNERSHIP – TAKING IT TO THE NEXT DECADE

Partnership 2000 continues to be the lead strategy for the continuity of the Jewish people in Israel and abroad. This session will explore how Partnership can respond to the needs and challenges of its mutual communities and includes a live video hook-up with Cleveland’s partner, Bet Shean.

UJC Chair – Fran Immerman

Opening Remarks	Dov Lautman, Co-Chair, JAFI P2K Subcommittee
Greetings	Jackie Levy, Mayor of Bet Shean Yael Shaltieli, Mayor of Emek Bet Shean
Panelists and Discussion
Geographical Partnership	Stanley Stone, Executive Vice President
Partnership 2000	Jewish Federation of Central New Jersey
Non-Geographical Partnership Young Leadership	Yehudit Passov and UJC Cabinet Member

Tuesday, November 16, 5:00-7:00 p.m.

THE NEXT GENERATION – INVESTING IN OUR FUTURE

This session will focus on a number of proven models that are being implemented to strengthen our Israeli youth, society, and in turn our Global Jewish community.

Opening Remarks Jane Sherman, Co-Chair, JAFI Israel Committee

Panelists:

Tal Dilian, CEO, Atidim

Avi Naor, Founder , Oran Foundation and Member, JAFI Board of Governors

John Morgridge, Chairman, Cisco

For further information contact:
Michael Jankelowitz
Liaison to Foreign Press
The Jewish Agency for Israel
Mobile: 050-7601706
Voice mail: 02-6202780
e-mail: michaelj@jafi.org