January 22, 2008 / 15 Shevat 5768

Dear friends,

I'm happy to inform you that this year a 10% increase was recorded in the number of young Jews who arrived in Israel for high school studies in the framework of the Naaleh Program (young people preceding their parents in making aliyah) of the Jewish Agency and the Ministries of Education and Absorption. Last week the last group arrived for the present school year, and this year 450 new students, including for the first time students from Australia and Honduras, arrived in Israel in the framework of this program.

The Naaleh Program was launched 16 years ago and since then about 11,000 young people studied in its framework and subsequently immigrated to Israel. The program is intended for ages 15-16, who arrive in Israel after evaluation and preparation in their home countries and they are integrated into 32 of the best schools in all parts of Israel in varied courses of study leading to the matriculation certificate. Together with their studies, the pupils participate in social and cultural enrichment programs and get a chance to make a closer acquaintanceship with Israel, including its scenery, people and historical and cultural heritage.

In its early years most of the program's participants came from the former Soviet Union, but from 2001 onwards the program was opened to other countries throughout the world including Europe, North America, Latin America, and Australia and the number of students from Western countries has risen gradually every year. This year for example, 60 pupils arrived from the United States, representing a record number of participants from the United States in the three years that the program has been operating in North America.

Together with their studies, the students participate in social and cultural enrichment programs and acquire a first-hand acquaintanceship with the State of Israel, its sceneries and historical and cultural heritage.

Although the students could return to their countries of origin following the completion of their studies, ever since the program was launched more than 95% of the participants have elected to make aliyah to Israel. About 90% of them completed their studies with a full matriculation and 60% of their parents have followed in their footsteps to Israel.

The Naaleh Program is but one of a series of programs earmarked for youth run by the Aliyah and Absorption Department of the Jewish Agency. The department is developing and expanding them in order to increase the total number of young people throughout the Jewish world who arrive in Israel to study and experiment with the experience of life in Israel.

The Selah Program (university students without parents) that originated 13 years ago is another familiar program that has grown and expanded during this period. It is intended for young people aged 17-21, who are studying at institutions of higher education in Israel. The participants live in Jewish Agency absorption centers for young people throughout Israel that are adjacent to the academic institutions, where they are studying and undergoing a preparatory process, including Hebrew study, familiarity with Israel, its heritage and culture and they benefit from broad cultural activity.

The spectrum of activities in Selah is wider and provides a response for young people of varied interests at the finest academic institutions in Israel.

In recent years the Selah framework was expanded to accommodate new target populations specializing in professional and technological training, while creating unique frameworks suitable for young people with various talents and areas of interest. These programs facilitate professional training in additional areas, including for example hotel management and tourism, restaurant management and cooking, automotive and electrical subjects, computer programming, dental assistants etc.
This program as well is a source of pride to us. About 12,000 young people, who participated in the Selah programs made aliyah to Israel and became citizens since the program was launched. A third of their family members followed in their footsteps to Israel.

As I frequently tour throughout Israel and meet with Naaleh pupils and participants in the Selah Program, my heart swells with emotion and joy over the thousands of young Jews, all of whom elected to come to Israel, study here, live in Israel, and bond with their Jewish heritage and roots. A large majority has even elected to make aliyah and build their future here. These wonderful young people alongside the young people, who were born and bred in Israel, constitute the most important human capital of the Jewish people and the State of Israel.

This represents an opportunity for me to thank all our partners throughout the world and in Israel and especially the UJC - The United Jewish Communities of North America, and the Keren Hayesod Communities, for the partnership, support and assistance that they have displayed on behalf of these important programs. My congratulations are extended to the Chairmen of the Aliyah and Absorption Department for their assumption of department leadership in this critical juncture, to the Director General of the Aliyah and Absorption Department and to all the department staff for the professionalism of their activity and the commitment and devotion they have displayed on behalf of aliyah to Israel in general, and the aliyah of young people in particular.

Yours,

Zeev Bielski
zeevik@jafi.org