November 17, 2002
12 Kislev, 5763
JerusalemHigh Ranking Korean Ministerial Delegation To Study Israel's Absorption Methods At Jewish Agency Mevasseret Zion Center Tomorrow
A high-ranking 23-member Korean ministerial delegation, headed by Assistant Minister for Planning and Management of the South Korean Ministry of Unification will visit the Jewish Agency's Mevasseret Zion Absorption Center to study the Agency's methods for integrating new immigrants. The delegation includes eight directors general of ministries: Health and Welfare, Agriculture and Forestry, Interior, Treasury and Economy, Culture and Tourism Unification and the Secretariat of the Parliament.
The Assistant Minister of Planning, Jong Riol Lee, specifically requested Israel's ambassador to enable him to study Israel's absorption methods, since the Government of the Republic of Korea is faced with the prospects of large-scale immigration from North Korea. Already his country's absorption centers are hard pressed to cope with the existing numbers of refugees from the north.
The Jewish Agency was happy to answer the request of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and to share its knowledge and experience in the field of immigrant absorption.
Tomorrow's visit to the Mevasseret Zion Absorption Center will begin at 09:00 with a briefing on the absorption of immigrants in general and Ethiopian immigrants in particular by Ms. Shira Ozery, Director of Missions for the Jewish Agency. The members of the delegation will view a film on the Jews of Quara, Ethiopia. Ms. Yardena Fanta will share her personal story of her own Aliyah. The group will participate in a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony, known as the Buna. At 10:30 the delegation will tour the Ulpan (intensive Hebrew language course) and the day care center located on its premises. The delegation will present the Ethiopian immigrants with a gift, in a ceremony.
The press is invited to cover the event. Those interested should be at the Mevasseret Zion Absorption Center (1 Bilu St. [the corner of Bilu and HaYasmin Streets] Mevasseret Zion) by 09:00.
For additional information please contact the Office of the Spokesman:
Yehuda Weinraub
Liaison to Foreign Press and Media
Jewish Agency for Israel
Mobile:972-53-927017
Fax: 972-2-6204013