February 20, 2003
18 Adar I, 5763
Jerusalem

In a Press Conference Summing up Jewish Agency Activity for 2002 Jewish Agency Chairman Sallai Meridor Calls on the Chief Rabbinate to Show a More Humane Approach in Dealing With Immigrants Desiring to Convert.
Treasurer Shai Hermesh: The Jewish Agency's Budget Increased in 2002 to $477 million: Contributions of World Jewry.
Director-General Giora Romm: 10,000 Immigrants in Jewish Agency Absorption Centers are Ready For the Possibility of War.

Jewish Agency Chairman Sallai Meridor reported that in 2002 some 35,000 immigrants arrived in Israel. "This is a significant achievement considering Israel's security situation," he said. Meridor, speaking in a press conference summing up the Jewish Agency's activity during 2002, said that last year saw a 25% increase in immigration from North America; the number of immigrants from France doubled, and the number of immigrants from Argentina and Uruguay quadrupled.

Meridor added that in 2003 the Jewish Agency will devote great effort to maintain the number of immigrants, and to prolong the emergency operation in Argentina and Uruguay for an additional year. The Jewish Agency's aim will be to prevent a drop in Former Soviet Union (FSU) immigrants, and if possible, to increase the number.

Referring to the subject of conversions of new immigrants, Meridor noted that Jewish awareness on the part of FSU immigrants increased greatly in 2002. 35,000 individuals are enrolled in Jewish Identity classes in the FSU. Over 7,000 students studied in the Jerusalem Institute of Jewish Studies (an institute which prepares new immigrants for conversion), which was founded by the Jewish Agency. However, graduates of this institute are confronted with a harsh reality. Of the over 2,000 graduates desiring to convert to Judaism, only 500 were converted by the rabbinic courts. The others were refused for various pretexts. Meridor criticized the Chief Rabbinate's handling of the conversion issue, and called upon the Chief Rabbinate to help immigrants desiring to convert.

Some 20,000 youngsters and young adults participated in Jewish Agency "Israel Experience" programs during the past year, most in the context of the "Birthright" program. The Jewish Agency likewise devoted effort to bring "Israel" to Jewish youth in the Diaspora, inter alia by dispatching 2,500 young counselors to work in educational capacities in Jewish summer camps and Zionist seminars.
Meridor said that Jewish communities abroad demonstrated increased solidarity with Israel during the past year. Eight new partnerships in the Agency's "Partnership 2000" program, linking Diaspora and Israeli communities were established, bringing the total number to 39. Likewise Jews throughout the world demonstrated in behalf of Israel. Close to 2,000 volunteers, recruited by the Jewish Agency came to Israel, and Jewish communities raised a quarter of a billion dollars in the context of the Israel Emergency Campaign.

Jewish Agency Treasurer Shai Hermesh reported that the Jewish Agency's budget increased during 2002 to $477 million (as compared to $400 during the preceding year). Significant increase has been as a result of the Israel Emergency Campaign. Hermesh stressed that none of the Jewish Agency's budget comes from Israel Government funding. Contributions from Jewish communities abroad account for the lion's share of the Jewish Agency's budget. A much smaller portion ($60 million) comes from a US Government Grant for resettling refugees and a still smaller portion ($50 million) comes from Jewish Agency companies and asset realization. Hermesh likewise said that NIS 40 million were raised in Israel by the "Spirit of Israel Campaign" which was established by the Jewish Agency.

Reflecting on the demographic problem Israel in the Galilee and Negev, Hermesh revealed that the Jewish Agency will launch an initiative entitled "The New Challenge – A Zionist Majority in the Galilee and Negev." The Agency's 121 member Board of Governors, which convenes next week will discuss setting up a senior planning team to propose ways of realizing this program.

Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Giora Romm, Director General of the Jewish Agency reported that the Jewish Agency's 35 Absorption centers are prepared for the possibility of a war. Protective kits were distributed to the 10,000 immigrants who reside in these centers and emergency drills were carried out. Emergency announcements were recorded in four languages. The Jewish Agency is also responsible for the over 1,000 students in four youth villages as well as for tourists on Jewish Agency long and short-range educational programs, Agency-recruited volunteers. The Jewish Agency set up a situation room in its headquarters to control Agency activities in time of emergency.

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