Enrollment at Youth Aliyah’s residential villages has increased substantially for the 2005/06 school year. At Ben Yakir, thanks to the new partnership with The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ) the intake has increased to 148 students this year.

“We have been able to take in an extra 25 students this year thanks to IFCJ,” explained Ben Yakir’s Director Yossi Krothamer.

The numbers are also up at Ramat Hadassah Szold where 270 children are studying compared to 250 last year. This follows the opening of the village’s new high school.

At Hadassah Neurim 520 students have enrolled in the high school compared to 475 last year including 203 in the residential village compared to 174 last year. “As the school’s standards have risen,” said village Director Nachum Katz, “so has demand for places. The number of students receiving their matriculation certificate reached 62.8% this year compared to 54% last year. The figures speak for themselves.”

At Nitzana in the Negev 50 students are starting the eighth SELAH Science program and 50 Ethiopian born newcomers are enrolled in the fifth KEDMA program. Both programs are supported by the Denver/Boulder Jewish community through the Allied Jewish Federation of Colorado. “Despite the drop in Aliyah,” said Nitzana Director David Palmach, “We have had a rise in applicants which reflects the prestige of our programs.”