September 25, 2008 / 25 Elul 5768

The war in Georgia ended shortly after it began. Despite the evacuation of many Jewish families from the war-torn city of Gori by Jewish Agency officials, the horror of war remains. Some families have no homes to go back to, while others are desolate, with no money to buy basic necessities. Many of the children are still suffering from trauma.

The Jewish Agency brought 40 Georgian youngsters, aged 10-16, to Israel for a one-week respite of travel, fun and learning about their homeland. For many of these youth, it was their first time in Israel. The camps were made possible thanks to the assistance of the United Israel Appeal of United Jewish Communities.

According to the Jewish Agency's Idan Peysahovich, who recently returned from Georgia, it is important for these children to know that the Jewish people care about them, and for them to get away, even for a little while, from the war-torn country. "This was the greatest Rosh Hashana gift these children could have received," said Peysahovich.

The group visited the Tisch Family Biblical Zoo in Jerusalem, went kayaking on the Jordan River in the North and enjoyed activities with their Israeli peers. One of the most moving highlights of the trip was a visit to the Kotel (Western Wall), where the children prayed, danced and heard the blowing of the shofar by the Kotel Rabbi, Shmuel Rabinovitch.

Dr. Beso Menasherov, the "father" of the Jewish community in Gori and the Jewish Agency's local coordinator, who saved many Jews during the war, and continues to tirelessly take care of the community's needs says, "After what these children have been through, it is so wonderful to see them singing and dancing like normal children. They are so excited to be in Israel, and their parents are so thankful that their children were given such an incredible opportunity."

Peysahovich met Sandro Mensharshvili and his parents on his first day in Gori in late August. They were still in shock and Sandro was quiet and withdrawn. When Peysahovich met him again in Jerusalem, with the summer camp, he was a different boy. Decked out in a Jewish Agency tee-shirt and hat he was laughing and playing around with the other kids. The light was back in his eyes. "It is amazing how quickly things happen, and how in such a short span of time he went from his shattered city to Israel," says Peysahovich. Sandro's father will also be arriving in Israel shortly with the Jewish Agency to explore aliyah opportunities for his family.

In addition to the activities, the participants learned about the various life and learning options available to them in Israel. High school students can participate in the Naale program, in which they complete their high school education in Israel, and then have the option of making aliyah. During their high school years they receive tuition to a residential school, room and board, and living expenses.

The older participants have the option of coming to Israel upon graduating from high school, to participate in a long-term MASA program, where they are entitled to a generous scholarship.

Teona and Giorgi Shvanishvili (top, 2nd and 4th from right) with their family and the Jewish Agency's Idan Peysahovich (top right) in Tbilisi.

Teona Shvanishvili is currently on the Jewish Agency's Naale program and is flourishing in Israel. Her 15-year-old brother Giorgi is starting the program this year, and both youngsters are determined to bring their mother, three younger siblings and grandparents to Israel. "I know that my family will have a finer quality of life in Israel," says Teona. "And that we will all have a better future."

Since the outbreak of the war in August, 150 families have made aliyah from Georgia with the assistance of the Jewish Agency, and dozens more are expected to arrive in the near future.

The Jewish Agency's broad range of rescue assistance to Georgian Jews, including immediate evacuation from war-torn regions, emergency aliyah operations and special short- and long-term absorption opportunities, was made possible through the generous support of United Jewish Communities (UJC) – Federations of North America, Keren Hayesod, Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County, Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, and individual donors around the world.