Moving to Israel

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu will recommend to the Board of Trustees of the Jewish Agency that Nathan Sharansky be appointed to head the agency in place of Zev Bielski, who recently resigned and was elected a Kadima Knesset Member.

This is important news for people considering making the move to Israel as the Jewish Agency, which was established in 1923 and served as a quasi-government of the Jewish population in Israel until independence was declared in 1948, has spent the past sixty plus years has focusing on bringing Olim (Jewish immigrants) to Israel.

Sharansky was a symbol of the struggle of Jews to make Aliyah (immigrate to Israel) from the Soviet Union and spent nine years in jail and in labor camps. Since being freed and coming to Israel in 1986, he has been extremely active in the political landscape of Israel, serving in the Knesset and taking various stands against the the planned withdrawal from Gaza and the uprooting of the Jewish communities there.

For those thinking of making the dramatic move of uprooting their lives and starting anew in Israel, it would be encouraging to see someone of such honor be appointed to this crucial post and help with the process of seeing other Jews making the final trip home.

Ari