January 15, 2003
12 Shevat, 5763
Jerusalem

The Jewish Agency Holds the Largest Tu Bishvat Ceremony in the World: 

The Venue: the Internet. The Ceremony will last for 24 Hours. 
The Event will launch "Israel in Jewish Education Month" in North America.

The Education Department of the Jewish Agency opened today (15 January) the largest Tu Bishvat ("Jewish arbor day") ceremony ever to be held in the world. The ceremony will be conducted via the Internet and video-conferencing in the multi-media room ("smart room") of the Kiryat Moriah Jewish Agency Educational Campus in Jerusalem. The ceremony began with tree planting at Kiryat Moriah, broadcast from the multi media room to connect dozens Jewish day schools around the world which have been hooked up for this special occasion.

Other Tu Bishvat events in the program include live ceremonies at the Western Wall, a special educational program with participation of the staff of the Naot Kedumin Biblical Nature Preserve near Ben Shemen (central Israel). There will be tens of thousands of Jewish viewers throughout the world are expected to see broadcasts.

The Jewish Agency ceremonies will be conducted in Hebrew, English, and French and will last for 24 hours (through Thursday 16 January), with the said goal of reaching every part of the world during their respective working hours. The ceremonies will be conducted with state of the art technology in the "smart room", which is run by the Educational Department of the Jewish Agency. The Tu Bishvat celebration at the Jewish Agency will inaugurate "Israel in Jewish Educational Month" in North America.

For further information contact Yisrael Chen 050-371010
or

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