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"ISRAEL IS HOME," SAY SINGLE PARENT FAMILIES FROM MOLDOVA Ever since Inga Drogomiretzky was a child, she dreamt of leaving Moldova, in the then-Soviet Union, and immigrating to Israel. "My grandmother would Israel as the promised land - as our land," she remembers. "I always dreamt that one day I would live in Israel." With the dissolution of the Soviet Union, and the resulting social and economic instability, her determination grew - with the added urgency of ensuring a brighter future for her daughter Ola, 12, and her son Roman, 11. Israel is giving Inga and her family that bright future, thanks to a program that is funded by the United Jewish Federation Community Campaign and implemented by the Jewish Agency. Inga's family is among ten single-parent families that recently resettled in Karmiel and the Misgav Region in Israel - the UJF of Pittsuburgh's Partnership 2000 community through a triangular relationship between with the Israeli communities and Moldova. This past year 40% of the $11 million raised in the UJF Community Campaign went to support human service programs in Israel and the FSU. The Moldovan women chosen for the pilot program, most of whom are university educated, were selected based on their potential to become employed and to integrated into Karmiel. They are participating in a comprehensive program designed to ease their absorption - from start to finish. The project began in Moldova with orientation seminars designed to build group identity and a cohesive network of mutual support while touching on issues that the immigrants are likely to encounter in Israel. After arriving in Israel, they were accommodated at the Jewish Agency absorption center in Karmiel, where they attended a five-month ulpan (intensive Hebrew language training), as well as vocational training programs and seminars on topics ranging from culture shock management to the Israeli banking system. Their children's formal education has been supplemented with informal educational support, and they have enjoyed field trips, recreational activities and participation in Jewish and Israeli holiday and life cycle events. Ziona Eisenstein, Director of the Karmiel Absorption Center, described the Moldovan newcomers as a very strong group. "The Jewish Agency spent considerable time helping the women with pre-aliyah preparation and orientation," she said. "They are strong and determined and have bonded well as a group. This means that - above and beyond the help that we can give them - they will be able to support each other." The Moldovan families recognize the value of mutual support. "I have wanted to make aliyah for many years," said Dr. Irina Zemchugov, who immigrated with her 11-year-old son Zhenya. "I was scared to make the move alone with my son, but being part of this program and this group made me feel more secure." A graduate of Moldova State University Medical School, she hopes to continue practicing family medicine in Israel. "The economic situation in Moldova is very difficult," she said, "and I saw no future for my son there. After just two weeks in Israel, I already knew he had a much brighter future here." "This is home," agreed Ina Hudis, who came from Kishniev with her son Edouard, 13. Ina, an occupational and speech therapist, who speaks fluent Hebrew, previously took an Occupational Therapy course at Israel's Shaare Zedek Hospital and also studied on a kibbutz near Ashkelon. "In the days of the Soviet Union," she recalled, "I hardly knew I was Jewish. The only outward sign was a Pesach meal each year put together by my grandparents. But since the collapse of the Soviet Union I have been working for JDC (the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee) in Kishinev and have learned so much about our religion and history." This project has far-reaching potential, indicated Marcie Lang, Israel Coordinator for UJF. "This is a pilot project," she said, "and we have been pleased to lend a helping hand to these deserving families. We hope for their successful absorption and, that other federations will pick up this project."
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