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Newsletter : 9fax0409.txt
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>JN April 9, 1999, Vol. 7, No. 68
Decision to Absorb 100 Refugees from Kosovo
By IsraelWire
Following Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's decision to take in
100 refugees from Kosovo, and his directive that the Jewish Agency
bring the refugees to Israel in conjunction with the Foreign
Ministry, the Jewish Agency has approached the Foreign Ministry
with a request for assistance in this task.
Thursday morning the Foreign Ministry -- via official Israeli
representatives in Macedonia held preliminary contacts with
Macedonian authorities and the UNHCR. The Foreign Ministry
representatives are examining the details involved in bringing the
refugees to Israel.
The Foreign Ministry briefed the Jewish Agency on the situation and
the Jewish Agency is scheduled to send a delegation to Macedonia
Friday to handle preparations for bringing the refugees to Israel,
where two locations have already been designated to receive them.
The Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago opened the
JUF-Kosovo Refugee Relief Fund to provide additional aid in the
war-torn region.
All donations will be forwarded to the national United Jewish
Appeal Federations of North America -- Kosovo Refugee Relief Fund,
to provide humanitarian aid to all in need, Jew and non-Jew alike.
JUF's overseas agencies and partners in humanitarian aid -- the
Jewish Agency for Israel and the American Jewish Joint Distribution
Committee -- already are working to assist those fleeing the war
zone and to provide care for the remaining populations in the area.
An estimated 3,000 Jews remain in Yugoslavia, including about 50
who live in Kosovo, just 18 miles from the Macedonian border. JDC
and JAFI have worked with the Macedonian Jewish community, making
arrangements to house the Kosovar Jews. The small Jewish
communities in Kosovo and Macedonia thus far have declined to be
evacuated, despite the worsening situation there.
In Belgrade, the Federation of Jewish Communities, supported by the
JDC, has established temporary shelters in the community building
and synagogue. Just before NATO warplanes began to bomb Yugoslav
targets, 250 Jewish women and children were taken by bus from
Belgrade to Budapest by the JDC. They have been taken in by the
Budapest Jewish community, with JDC's and JAFI's help. Those
without friends or relatives in Hungary are being sheltered at a
local Jewish school and Jewish community center.
"As we celebrate Passover, the Jewish festival of freedom, we are
thankful that JUF's humanitarian safety net has once more helped
Jews in peril," said Manfred Steinfeld, JUF Chairman. "As we
continue to assist our Jewish brothers and sisters across the
ocean, we are committed to reaching out to the members of our
greater human family who also need help."
El Al Approaching its Jubilee Birthday
By IsraelWire
El Al, Israel's flagship carrier is celebrating its 50th
anniversary this year, since flying its first flight July 31, 1949.
To celebrate, the carrier is offering special fares of up to 50
percent discounts to passengers who share the same birthday year.
On Jan. 8, 1961, El Al began its first Boeing 707 service, between
Tel-Aviv and New York with an aircraft leased from Varig. On March
26, 1984, it received a 767-200ER and became the first airline to
offer twin-engine aircraft service across the North Atlantic.
Most notably, in May 1991, El Al assisted in airlifting more than
14,000 Ethiopian Jews as part of "Operation Solomon," one of the
most dramatic rescue missions in the history of Israel's national
airline. In June, 1995, it became the first airline to operate non-
stop flights from Los Angeles to Tel-Aviv, in a record 12 hours and
32 minutes.
Celebrate the Millennium in Israel
By IsraelWire
If you are between 8-16, enter the Bible 2000 Art Contest and win a trip to Israel for the last week of December. Submit your illustration of a scene from the Bible along with your name, age, complete mailing address, school or sponsoring organization, phone number and passport size photo by June 1. All creations can be of any size; drawn, sculpted, or painted. You need not restrict yourself to any media. Simply design a scene from the Bible and enter to win a free trip to Israel in December.
Submit all Illustrations by June 1 to:
Consulate General of Israel
Department of Media and Public Affairs
800 Second Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Tel: (212) 499-5426
E-MAIL: www.newyork.israel.org>nycon@interport.net
www.newyork.israel.org
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