60 members of the Am Shalom Congregation in Chicago, recently visited the Nazareth Elite Absorption Center.  In addition to learning about the absorption process, they heard fascinating stories from olim as well. 

No one was left untouched by the charming Mulualem, a highly capable 20 year old woman, who arrived from Ethiopia with her parents and five siblings, a year ago.

She is presently studying in the Kedma Program, making up her ten years of schooling, and is already planning to go on to medical school.

They met Masha, a doctor, who until recently worked in the Poriah hospital in Tiberias.

She, together with her husband and two children, made aliyah in 2006 from the FSU.

Masha and Leonid, a student in the Mechatronics Program, which combines mechanics and electronics, are impatiently waiting for their first sabra baby to be born. Meanwhile Masha is studying for her medical licensing exam. She shared her excitement as she told of the conversion program they underwent and of their remarriage according to Jewish law.

The visitors also met olim from Cuba and cheerfully bombarded them and others with many questions about their lives and Aliyah. 

Meanwhile, the visitors' children participated in activities with immigrant youngsters, which included playing a game of ball on the basketball court, made possible from generous donations of world Jewish communities.