June 16, 2003
16 Sivan, 5763
Jerusalem

Jewish Agency and "Jewish Healthcare International" Dispense Eyeglasses
to New Immigrants

200 pairs of glasses distributed today in the Agency's Beersheba Absorption Center (16 June) by JHI founder, Dr. Stephen Kutner: First of a nationwide operation in which 3,000 pairs will be distributed

Dr. Stephen Kutner (seated) examines the vision of an immigrant from Ethiopia.
Phorto Credit: Dudu Greenspan

The Jewish Agency and "Jewish Healthcare International," (JHI) a humanitarian organization of Jewish physicians, dispensed today 200 pairs of eyeglasses free of charge, to Ethiopian immigrants in the Agency's Nurit absorption center in Beersheba. Today's event launched a nationwide operation, in which 3,000 pairs of glasses will be distributed to new immigrants residing in Jewish Agency absorption centers throughout Israel.

This operation was realized thanks to the efforts of Dr. Stephen Kutner, an Atlanta ophthalmologist, who founded JHI, and the Jewish Agency's "People-to-People" Center, which promotes connections between Diaspora and Israeli Jews on the basis of professional interest or affinity. Dr. Kutner arrived in Israel to personally oversee the distribution of eyeglasses.

JHI joined forces with "P2P" to expand its outreach and enable it to facilitate its global outreach and give medical assistance and support to Jewish communities throughout the world. "The gift of sight" is of extreme importance to Dr. Kutner, "This is a "basic ingredient for the quality of life," he said. Dr. Kutner pledged that his organization will devote efforts to help solve complicated eye problems among immigrants and to give them appropriate medical treatment.

The organization is not resting on its laurels and is already planning, together with the Jewish Agency, a dental hygiene education pilot project for Jewish youngsters in Jewish Agency summer camps in Odessa.

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