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"HAND IN HAND": ISRAEL AND SOUTH AMERICAN JEWRY A conference to encourage research of aliyah from South America, which to date totals 100,000 took place last week at Ramat Efal. Chesler: "We are committed to looking after all Argentinean Jews." Some 100,000 South American immigrants have come to Israel since the state was established. There is still not much research on their acclimation A first step in collecting information on this immigration was taken at the conference that took place at Ramat Efal last week, which was supported by many organizations including the Jewish Agency, Yad Tabenkin, the Jewish National Fund, the government of Israel, and the Latin American Immigrant Association in Israel. The goal of the conference was to serve as a stimulus and catalyst for researching this aliyah; its unique qualities, its pioneering aspect - in its initial stages pioneers settled on kibbutzim and moshavim, and its contribution in all areas of life in Israel - academia, culture, medicine, education, economics, science, etc. The conference also dealt with various forms of Israeli identity among Latin American immigrants, and the relations between Latin American countries and Israel. A special session that dealt with aliyah from South America in general and from Argentina in particular, was titled "Looking Ahead." Jewish Agency treasurer Chaim Chesler, who participated in this session, outlined the special steps taken by the Jewish Agency together with the entire Jewish world in to support and encourage aliyah from Argentina. This includes making available mortgages that are even larger than the usual mortgages granted to new immigrants, encouraging Israeli employers to offer work to these immigrants, and more. "In light of the economic crisis in Argentina we are obligated to stretch out a hand to the Jews of this country over and above ordinary efforts, to offer them and their children a better future in Israel and to ensure that their absorption in Israel will be successful to the greatest extent possible," said Chesler.
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