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The Jewish state was established as the state of and for all Jews, and the global Jewish community has collectively taken on a responsibility to help Jews wherever they are to come to Israel. At the same time, there has been a recognized commitment by Israel to welcome all Jews in their historic homeland, under the Law of Return, and an understanding that Israel and the Jewish people will jointly support them in making aliyah and integrating into Israeli society. The task of aliyah is not finished. Rather, the need of aliyah has become even greater. The need to rescue Jews is sometimes quite evident. Currently about one million Jews live in areas where they are either persecuted, subjected to a harsh political environment, suffer from poor economic conditions, and/or find it very difficult to continue to live as Jews. Jews from all corners of the world - Moslem countries, the Former Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, South Africa, Latin America and many other places are exposed to these conditions and situations that are constantly arising that need attention. In many other places the need is less obvious, Jews may simply not feel at "home." It may be the way some people look at them or talk to them or it may be their desire to participate in the great undertaking of building the Jewish homeland by living in Israel. All of these olim need a helping hand, some more than others. They need someone to give them knowledge and advise them as they go through this very difficult decision-making process. When they arrive in Israel there needs to be a truly effective mechanism for the initial absorption of Jews with particular needs should be in place. The elderly, the young, the poor and the uneducated need special assistance in adjusting to their new home. The Jewish Agency response to the needs of these Olim is expressed in six programmatic areas:Rescue and aliyah operations, reaching out and assisting Jews in their aliyah, experiencing Israel for potential olim, helping olim with special needs, introducing Hebrew language, Israeli culture and Jewish heritage to support absorption and enhance Jewish identity, and empowering olim. |