April 6, 2003
4 Nisan, 5763
Jerusalem

Thousands of French Jews Participated in Jewish Agency Aliyah Fair, Sunday, 6 April in Paris

The event was held under heavy security in the wake of attacks on Jewish institutions.

Over two thousand Jews from throughout France, of all shades of religious practice, attended today's (6 April) mega Aliyah Fair, which the Jewish Agency organized in Paris. The event was held under heavy security due to the recent wave of anti-Semitic attacks on Jewish institutions in France.

The aim of the fair is to present the wide gamut of options housing, education and employment in Israel. The fair featured 45 stands set up by Israeli industries, services mortgage banks, municipalities, educational institutions as well as Jewish Agency and Government. Visitors could get first-hand information on employment, living and educational options available to prospective immigrants in Israel. The Jewish Agency's director of Aliyah for France, Olivier Rafowicz said, "There is large-scale interest among French Jews in Aliyah. Last year's number of immigrants to Israel more than doubled that of the preceding year." However, the insecurity, which many Jews feel in the wake of recent anti-Semitic attacks and incidents further heightened interest.

This year, the mayor of Nahariya, Jacky Sebagh; Ashkelon mayor Benny Ouaknine, and representatives of the Municipality of Jerusalem, were on hand to present information on absorption options in regional councils and municipalities. Likewise participating in the fair were representatives of the Health Ministry, the Employment Service and the Center for the Development of Entrepreneurship (Mati, in its Hebrew acronym) who presented employment and professional opportunities; representatives of the National Insurance Institute, explained about absorption in Israeli society and mortgage bankers and building contractors will give information regarding housing.

Those attending the fair, who expressed interest in Aliyah, were able to make appointments for personal interviews with Israeli representatives in the Jewish Agency offices as of tomorrow.

Every year the Jewish Agency holds an Aliyah Fair in Paris, in which representatives from Israel participate. During the past few weeks the Aliyah Fair has received wide publicity in local media.

The Jewish community of France, which numbers over 520,000, is the third largest Jewish community in the world. Another Aliyah Fair will be held in Marseille in the beginning of May. During the first trimester of 2003 some 200 French Jews made Aliyah. Last year some 2,500 Jews made Aliyah (most during the summer months). That number was more than double that of 2001.

Against the backdrop of the Coalition offensive against Iraq there has been an upsurge of anti-Semitic incidents in France. On 22 March two Jewish youths participating in a Hashomer Hatsair youth movement activity were beaten by a mob participating in an anti-War demonstration. On 11 March a woman student was attacked and beaten in Aix-en-Provence and a star of David carved into her arm. On 24 March a small fire was discovered in the rear of a synagogue in Cachan, on 27 March vandals stoned a woman entering the Garges-les-Gonesse synagogue to attend a cultural event and on the night of the 29th-30th of March the synagogue of Massy was firebombed. French authorities have condemned these acts.

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