Keshet is a Jewish Agency initiative enabling parents to reunite with their children, many of whom have not seen each other in years. These children immigrated by themselves to Israel without their families and are now serving in the Israeli Defense Forces. There are currently over 2500 soldiers serving in the Israel Defense Forces without their families living in Israel to provide emotional and other support.

The current Keshet group will be the 22nd since the program began. This is also the second reunion of 100 lone soldiers and their parents, sponsored by Mr. Beilowitz. “I’m proud to be able to reunite these amazing soldiers with their parents. Their personal sacrifices to help defend Israel for all Jews make them the true heroes of this journey. It is an honor to be part of such a great project,” commented Beilowitz.

The reunion will kick off with a spectacular Erev Yom Ha’atzmaut (Independence Day) party on May 2nd with the parents and their children at Moshav Magshimim. On Friday May 5th, a family reunion ceremony will be held at the Western Wall. The Keshet program will culminate in a meeting with the Honorable Moshe Katsav, President of Israel, on May 8th.

The initiative is being coordinated locally in Cherry Hill, NJ by the Jewish Community Foundation executive director, Jeff Klein. He will accompany Steve Beilowitz to Israel for these events.

For further information contact:

Israel
Michael Jankelowitz,
Liaison to the Foreign Press, Jewish Agency for Israel
Mobile: +972-52-6130220;
Voice-mail: +972-2-620-2780
michaelj@jafi.org
website: www.jewishagency.org

New Jersey:
Jeff Klein
Executive Director
Office: 856-673-2521 (office)
Mobile: 609-605-0873
jklein@jfedsnj.orgM