August 19, 2003
21 Av, 5763
Jerusalem

Shevardnadze awards Jewish Agency emissary the order of honor

In an unprecedented step, President Eduard A. Shevardnadze awarded the Order of Honor to Jewish Agency Head of Mission Israel Zelinger, for his "notable personal input into the popularization of Georgian culture and traditions... for his efforts to strengthen friendly bilateral relations between Israel and Georgia, and for his prolific organizational charity and social activities." This is the first time that the Order of Honor was awarded to a foreign national.

President Shevardnadze issued a presidential decree concerning the awarding of the order, and expressed his great appreciation for the widespread activities of the Jewish Agency.

In his capacity of head of the Jewish Agency Mission to Georgia and Armenia, Zelinger greatly assisted the Department of Jewish Studies of Tbilisi University and organized a festival of writers and artists. Zelinger supported the arts and was instrumental in the publication of many educational books. For his efforts on behalf of artists in Georgia, Zelinger had already been awarded numerous prizes and distinctions.

Zelinger also contributed to the success of the international Queen of the Desert women's jeep rally, in which Israel sent a team. This event was the harbinger of international tourism to Georgia.

Last January, Zelinger held the convention of Jewish Agency emissaries in the capital, Tbilisi. The convention, which included meetings with high-level members of Government and leading intellectuals, received wide coverage in the Georgian media.

Zelinger, who is 58 years of age, immigrated to Israel from the Soviet Union in 1957. He is the father of three and grandfather of three.

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