THE JEWISH WORLD   FOREIGN STUDENTS LEARN HEBREW AT ULPAN AKIVA IN NETANYA   DURING HER VISIT THE PRESIDENT'S WIFE HIGHLIGHTED THE ULPAN'S ENORMOUS CONTRIBUTION TO IMPARTING LANGUAGE AND TO PROMOTION OF TOURISM This is encouraging: In the current situation when tourism is dwindling, students are coming from abroad to study the Hebrew language at Ulpan Akiva in Netanya in solidarity with the State of Israel. This situation was highlighted in a speech made by Gilah Katsav, Israel's first lady, who last week paid a visit to Ulpan Akiva in Netanya. Mrs. Katsav met with ulpan director Esther Peron, representatives of the students studying at the ulpan, such as: Iori from Japan, Reuben from France, Katerina from the US, Galina from the Ukraine and other olim from the FSU who have been in Israel for several months. Courses in Hebrew, Arabic and English are held at the ulpan, offering dormitory options for tourists and people residing outside of Netanya, as well as for students who live in the area. Together they learn Hebrew in integrated classes, irrespective of status, profession or nationality and during the course of the studies warm ties form between students and teachers and other staff members, and some of the students return to visit the ulpan which they regard as a second home. Gilah met the ulpan Students (Hebrew and Arabic) at the graduation ceremony for Class A of the summer program, which took place in "Ohel Shulamith" named for Shulamith Katzenelson - the founder and first director of Ulpan Akiva. She also met students attending the youth ulpan (mainly from the FSU) who are studying Hebrew before being integrated into high schools. The audience was extremely excited by a performance of the ulpan choir that sang "Amen", which expresses our desire for peace and tranquility. The young ulpan students performed a short play and the atmosphere was particularly emotional and warm. In her address, Gilah Katsav noted the ulpan's tremendous contribution to promoting tourism at this difficult time as well as its contribution to instilling the Hebrew language. She congratulated the ulpan in its 50th year.

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