June 28, 2008 / 25 Sivan 5768

Nearly 100 new Olim who are due to make Aliyah in the coming moths attended a farewell reception recently held by the Jewish Agency Aliyah Department at the residence of the Israeli Ambassador in London.

Picture 1 (above): All the participants in the party

Picture 2 (below): The Jewish Agency Aliyah Dep. staff –London & Manchester

Picture 3 (below): The Israeli Ambassador, Mr. Ron Prosor with The Jewish Agency's CEO of Europe – Mr. Arieh Abir

Taking over of Aliyah shlichim

Mrs Meira Katz, The Jewish Agency Aliyah Shlicha, and her family: Dror, Maya & Noy, will be completing this summer their term of Shlichut in the UK. They will be returning home to Haifa following an extremely successful and enjoyable period of Shlichut - which saw a considerable increase in the number of people making Aliyah – an interesting period filled with diverse activities and achievements.

Mr Rafi Nassi is due to take over from Meira in August 2008. He is married to Margalit and they live in Reut with their 3 daughters. Rafi has an M.B.A degree in business management from Bar Ilan University. Margalit is a motion therapist by profession and works at Gehah Hospital.

This will be Rafi's second Shlichut in the UK - he previously served as a Community Shaliach in Liverpool from 1990 – 1992. There he took part in establishing "The Israeli House" where Israelis could regularly meet and interact. At the same time the footballer Ronny Rosenthal was playing in Liverpool and he also participated in "The Israeli House" activities.

At present, Rafi runs the Cultural Section Strategic Planning at Bat-Yam municipality. Throughout these years Rafi has been involved in organisational consultation, as well as demographic boost in Kibbutzim and Moshavim in the Negev.

Additional information:

The Jewish Agency is pleased to announce a 50% increase in applications to open Aliyah files in the current quarter of 2008, as compared with the number of Olim during the corresponding period of last year.

During the course of the summer months we anticipate approximately 300 new Olim will make Aliyah from the UK.

The Jewish Agency Aliyah Department also reports that many Israelis living in the UK have been expressing interest to go back to live in Israel.

In celebration of Israel's 60 anniversary, the Israeli Ministry of Absorption has come out with an extensive campaign aimed at Israeli expatriates urging them to come home, offering benefits and assistance to returning Israelis.