October 31, 1999
21 Cheshvan, 5760
JerusalemJewish Agency for Israel decides to increase Jewish studies programs in the FSU in order to assist those new immigrants interested in conversion to achieve this goal within a reasonable period of time so as to facilitate a smooth absorption into Israeli society.
Interior Minister, Natan Sharansky in an address to JAFI Board of Governors: 75% of the new immigrants from the FSU are Jewish according to the Halacha (Jewish orthodox code of law).
The Jewish Agency for Israel has decided to increase Jewish studies programs in the Former Soviet Union in order to assist those new immigrants interested in conversion to achieve this goal within a reasonable period of time so as to facilitate a smooth absorption into Israeli society.
This resolution which was raised by JAFI Chairman, Sallai Meridor and adopted by the Board of Governors of JAFI which concluded its deliberations in Jerusalem this weekend, states "The Jewish Agency for Israel will substantially increase its efforts in the fields of Jewish and Israel education among the Jews in the FSU intending to immigrate to Israel and also among new immigrants in Israel during their initial stages of absorption". The resolution further states that "The Jewish Agency for Israel will cooperate with the Government of Israel to ensure that this endeavor will succeed and calls upon the Government of Israel to increase the resources needed for this effort".
Interior Minister, Natan Sharansky addressed the JAFI Board of Governors and stated that 75% of the new immigrants from the Former Soviet Union are halachically Jewish, 10 - 15% are children to a Jewish father and the remainder have Jewish family connections going back to their grandparents. Sharansky added that the process of conversion must be made more simple and should already begin in the Former Soviet Union, before the immigrants leave for Israel.
Sharansky attributed the increase in immigration from the Former Soviet Union to the political and economic uncertainty in the FSU and stated that if the situation will continue and the right approach is taken 100,000 new immigrants could arrive in Israel each year from the FSU. Sharansky added that all the Jewish organizations working in the FSU and the State of Israel must maintain a maximum level of activity in the Former Soviet Union and must support each other in order to ensure that activity among the Jews there continues.
Sharansky reported to the JAFI Board of Governors on his successful efforts together with the JAFI leadership in order to obtain the departure of Jewish students from the Ukraine who were due to participate this summer in programs in Israel and whose departure had been delayed at the last moment. Sharansky emphasized that in spite of differences of opinion between various Jewish organizations, unity must prevail because if there is an attempt to harm the activities of one of the organizations this can lead to a decrease in the total amount of activity of all the organizations.
For further information contact:
Michael Jankelowitz
Liaison to Foreign Press and Media, JAFI
Tel: 972-2-6202780
Fax: 972-2-6202708
Mobile: 972-51-601706