January 12, 2003
9 Shevat, 5763
Jerusalem

Solidarity with Israel Now:
For the First Time Jewish Educators of the North American Alliance will Hold Their Annual Conference in Israel

Conference will start tomorrow (13 January) at the Dead Sea

The umbrella organization of Jewish educators in informal education, the North American Alliance for Jewish Youth (NAA), decided for the first time in its history to hold its annual conference in Israel, as an expression of solidarity with Israel at this critical time. Three hundred educators, representing some 50 organizations have arrived in Israel for the organization's fourth annual conference, which will open tomorrow (13 January) in the Dead Sea Hotel Royal. The conference will last four days. Each year the participating organizations of the NAA cater to the needs of hundreds of thousands of Jewish youngsters, teens and young adults by involving them in Zionist educational projects.

The Jewish Agency has lent its support to the conference. Dr. Elan Ezrahi, who is the director of educational experience programs for the Jewish Agency Education Department, said that the NAA's decision to hold its conference in Israel is of great importance, given the significant decline in participants in Israel programs, as a result of the three years of Intifada. Ezrahi believes that the very convening of the delegates in Israel at the present time will have far-reaching repercussions. It will send a strong message across the United States that it is indeed possible to come back to Israel to participate in educational activities. Ezrahi noted that lately the number of educators and students registering for Israel experience programs has been on the rise.

Delegates to the conference will deliberate on professional matters including how to maintain a connection to Israel; they will visit 11 tourist sites and will be addressed by Jewish Agency Chairman Sallai Meridor and Education Department Director-General Alan Hoffmann. They will also hold a memorial service for the nine students and educators murdered in last July 31st's terrorist bombing of the Hebrew University's Frank Sinatra and will award prizes to outstanding educators, in memory of Ms. Janis Ruth Coulter, who had been killed in the attack.

Conference Chair Dina Stuhl - Leber wrote, that the single most efficient educational tool for building Jewish Zionist education among the younger generation in the United States is participation in an educational experience program in Israel. "Terror and violence against Israel greatly affects us. We felt a need to come to Israel at this time to demonstrate our commitment to the Jewish homeland and to the Jewish People."

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