I would like to welcome the tens of students here as part of the "Masa" project of the Jewish Agency and came to learn for a year at the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya. 

Today's Jewish world is divided since its majority is located in Israel but almost half of its population is located outside Israel.  Forty years ago, it was clear that a country is being built here.  It was clear that those who survived Auchwitch are building their home here in Israel and will fight for the establishment of a state.  This was the reality at that time.  It was clear to all what the State of Israel symbolizes for the Jewish people.  In my career I can understand Israel's importance for the Jewish people and the connection between them.  Those 600,000 people that began immigration to Israel have grown into seven million Israelis and the glory of Israel.  This is not a given and so the Jewish Agency must work on three main areas:

1. Aliyah (immigration) was and will always be in our hearts
2. Jewish education: The Jewish Agency supports two main projects.  The first being "Taglit" that brought 100,000 young people to Israel.  The second is "Masa" that's purpose is to bring 20,000 young people to Israel every year for the period of a year.
3. Today we are trying to aid in reducing the gaps within Israeli society.  The Agency invests in reducing peripheral gaps by way of encouraging youth who have completed army service and are willing to invest in the Negev and Galilee to study in local universities and volunteer to help children with difficulties in homework.

For me this is a third mission, and for this I thank P.M. Sharon for the phone call that allowed me to perform this mission for the Jewish people.