ALIYAH COMMITTEE
AMTON Newsletter
Spring 2003

Leaders of United Synagogue Launch Project Recconnect, New York, December 2002

Seeks to Link Up Alumni of all Conservative Youth Groups: USY, ATID, KOACH and NATIV

Project Reconnect's Israel Division has a special significance because of the support system it generates for olim. Begun in the administration of Judy Yudof, USCJ International President, and spearheaded by Rabbi Paul Freedman and Jackie Saltz, as well as our own Tnuat AM alumni Charlie Kalech and Reuven Lerner, it is expected to be supportive not only socially, but also professionally, as it seeks to provide a clearinghouse for the sharing of information in Israel among olim and also between olim and their North American counterparts. "The dialogue that our Project Reconnectniks here will engage in with their fellow alumni in North America will also help to strengthen Israel-Diaspora relationships at a time when such is needed," Freedman noted.

Plans are in the works for a Yellow Pages that will list all alumni who have made aliyah and their professional/business services. "We hope that our North American Conservative Jewish community will then avail themselves of the services provided by our alumni, i.e. by considering doing business with and purchasing services from alumni in Israel," Freedman said. In addition, the Israeli contingent decided to do everything possible to stimulate aliyah and to lend support to those who have already made aliyah and may want assistance, i.e. with job referrals in these difficult times. A spirit of friendship and networking has been obvious from the start. For this to continue to grow and develop, they are seeking the names, addresses and where possible e-mails of all people from the movement whether here in Israel or in North America as well as those who have made aliyah or are contemplating it.

A sophisticated data bank is being set up by Project Reconnect, with the involvement of Charlie and Reuven.

EVERYONE WHO IS NOT YET REGISTERED, PLEASE WRITE TO:
Paul Freedman at nina_f@netvision.net.il
For more information, www.projectreconnect.org

Also, please refer all your friends who may not yet know about Project Reconnect.

A study commissioned by birthright Israel reveals that twice as many Israelis said that they prefer that Diaspora Jews visit Israel rather than either give money or advocate on its behalf. The Conservative Movement Israel Tourism Project, a partnership between the Conservative Movement and the Israel Ministry of Tourism, is working to encourage members of our community to go. For more information about its programs, call Yoni Schwab at 212-840-1166 or visit yoni@perrydavis.com or goisrael.com.

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