April 3, 2003
1 Nisan, 5763
Jerusalem

1,200 Youth and Young Adults in Jewish Agency Educational Programs to Re-Enact Ma'apilin, Pre-State Clandestine Immigration Sunday, at Atlit

The event will begin at 08:00. Concluding ceremony at 19:00.

Approximately 1,200 young adults and teenagers enrolled in Jewish Agency educational programs will take part in a unique re-enactment of pre-State clandestine immigration to Israel (the Ma'apilim) on Sunday, 6 April, in Atlit, (10 kms. south of Haifa). The program is intended to not only teach them an important chapter in the history of the State of Israel, clandestine immigration, but also to help them relate to the Zionist idea of building a homeland for the Jewish people.

Participants in this program sill visit seven centers, which deal with Aliyah, settlement and security. They will re-enact, under the guidance of a former Palmachim combatant, a clandestine immigration operation. The re-enactment includes receiving "coded messages" from "Haganah commanders" on shore, receiving ‘counterfeit documents, being "captured" by the British and interned at "detention camp." The students will also tour the Ma'apilim camp in Atlit. The day will conclude at 19:00 with a colorful ceremony in the Atlit amphitheater.

After the concluding ceremony the students will travel to a Gadna Youth base for a week's training and study.

For additional information 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