Highlights of Activities:

• The Festival of Lights: At each of our 35 Absorption Centers, an array of Chanukah celebrations were organized, ranging from traditional ceremonies, to field trips and other cultural activities for children and adults. The highlight of this eight-day festivity was the bringing together of the 1,000 Selah, Atid, Kedma, and Kibbutz Ulpan students in the tradition of a day-long national celebration.
• "At Home - Together Program": This flagship program, which brings together veteran olim and native Israelis with new immigrants, is making its mark in close to 50 towns across the nation - with the city of Lod being the latest to join this growing list. Throughout cities in the South, Chanukah celebrations and other events took place in Ashkelon, Beer Sheva, Kiryat Gat, Arad, Yerocham, Dimona, Mitzpe Ramon and Eilat!
• Involvement of the Israeli Educational School System in Nurturing Healthy Klitah: Going hand-in-hand with "At Home - Together", six junior high schools have incorporated into their curricula a program designed to raise the students' awareness about aliyah and klitah and the historical contribution of aliyah to the State of Israel. An integral part of this program is social activities that bring together new olim with the veteran student population.
• "Israel Expo 2003", London: An overwhelming 8,300 people attended this annual expo - far exceeding all expectations. For the first time, a new venture was featured, "Quick Start in Israel", which provides assistance in securing employment in Israel while still in Britain. Scores of people met the following day for more in-depth and hands-on meetings.
• Empowerment of Single New Immigrant Mothers: As part of our program to strengthen this highly vulnerable population group, a conference and panel discussion was held at the Beit Canada Absorption Center in Ashdod for 70 single mothers residing in that city as well as in Ramle.
• Expanding our International Marketing Network of Student "Reps" on Campus: 90 university students from the USA, most of whom are long or short-term program graduates, have come to Israel for a week-long training seminar. The students will learn about all of our Israel experience programs (and meet with current participants) in order to effectively promote these programs on campus, and receive training on marketing, public speaking, etc.
• Reaching out to FSU émigrés in North America and Germany: Recognizing the aliyah potential among this population, 28 out of the 90 student "reps" are the children of FSU émigrés in the US. Their role will be to reach out to this specific target population on campus.

  Aliyah Statistics Anticipated aliyah for the week of Dec. 28, 2003 - Jan. 3, 2004: FSU: France: North America: Latin America: Ethiopia: Other: Total: 134 56 29 219 48 18 504

  In addition, for the first time, a group of 11 FSU émigrés from Germany participated in an expanded seminar, which included all aspects of aliyah and klitah, such as housing, employment, olim benefits, etc. In yet another first, a group of 14 FSU émigrés currently living in Germany, participated in the Sarel volunteer program.
• Expanding our International Marketing Network in Latin America: A similar training seminar was held for nine young adults from northern Latin American countries, including Mexico, Brazil, Venezuela, Guatemala, and Columbia, who will now constitute an expanded out-reach team in those countries.