This fact-finding mission, sponsored by the United Jewish Communities, leaves from Tel-Aviv on Sunday Feb.5 will be accompanied by the Chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel, Zeev Bielski.

The mission will spend two days in Ethiopia visiting Gondar and Addis Ababa to learn first hand on the activities of the Jewish Agency for Israel and the Joint Distribution Committee on behalf of the Falash Mura.

On Wednesday morning Feb. 8th the mission will return to Israel on a special Ethiopian Airlines flight together with 150 new immigrants. The following two days in Israel will be spent surveying initial absorption activities for the Falash Mura carried out by the Jewish Agency, JDC and Israeli Ministry of Absorption.

The mission comes as the North American federation system is trying to raise as part of  "Operation Promise"  $100 million for the estimated 20,000  Ethiopians still waiting to immigrate and for the absorption of the Ethiopians Jews in Israel.

The United Jewish Communities, The Federations of North America has already pledged $45 million in this special campaign. The Falash Mura are Ethiopians whose ancestors converted to Christianity, but are now returning to Judaism.

For further information contact:
Michael Jankelowitz
Liaison to Foreign Press
Jewish Agency for Israel
mobile:052-6130220
voicemail:02-6202780
e-mail: michaelj@jafi.org
website: www.jewishagency.org