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HEADS OF JEWISH COMMUNITIES ANNOUNCED AT MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE FOR COORDINATION WITH JEWISH AGENCY THAT THEY WILL RAISE FUNDS TO ALLOW EVERY JEW IN THE WORLD TO PARTICIPATE IN EFFORT ON BEHALF OF ISRAEL
The Ministerial Committee for Coordination with the Jewish Agency this week met with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Jewish Agency Chairman Sallai Meridor. The Prime Minister called on world Jewry to make a special effort at this time to help Israel. "We need you", said the Prime Minister and described Israel's unique current situation, requiring increased defense expenditures in a complex economic situation: "We share a common fate, and I view unity, cooperation and solidarity as essential for our future". The Prime Minister also called on the representatives of the Jewish people to act so that Jews everywhere can visit Israel particularly at this time as an expression of their full solidarity with Israel. Jewish community leaders from the US and other parts of the world expressed their intention to launch a campaign of solidarity by world Jewry with Israel which will include visits to Israel, public relations and the dissemination of information all over the world. Also, a special campaign to raise funds enabling all Jewish households to take an active part in this solidarity and share the load with the Israelis. The Prime Minister pledged to provide Jewish Agency leaders with every possible form of assistance in enlisting the support of Jews on behalf of Israel. Furthermore, he announced that the Coordination Committee with the Jewish Agency would be reinstated, with full cooperation in the areas of aliyah, Jewish-Zionist education, enhancing ties with Jewish communities, emphasizing the centrality of Israel and strengthening settlements in Israel. The government passed the following practical resolutions: Launching a national project to promote education among Ethiopian olim, funded jointly by the Israeli government and Jewish communities world wide. Focussing on the aliyah and absorption of Jews from the west, particularly on the communities in France, Argentina and South Africa. Those participating in the meeting were: Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, ministers Shimon Peres, Natan Sharansky, Silvan Shalom, Eli Yishai, Limor Livnat, Shmuel Avital, Rehavam Zeevi, Meir Shetreet, Matan Vilnai, and deputy ministers Yuli Edelstein, Michael Melchior and Naomi Blumenthal. Representing the Jewish Agency were: Chairman of the Board Of Governors Alex Grass, Chairman of the Executive Sallai Meridor, Treasurer Chaim Chesler, Max Fisher, Charles Bronfman, Mendel Kaplan, Joel Tauber, Daniel Liwerant, Avi Pazner, Richard Pearlstone, Rabbi Richard Hirsch, Stephen Hoffman, Stephen Solender, Harvey Wolfe, Robert Goldberg, Aaron Abramovich, Gad Ben Ari and Avraham Duvdevani. |
