Shavei Israel organizes meeting for government ministers at Givat Haviva
Absorption Ministry Director-General Dima Apartsev speaks to the advanced Hebrew class in Givat Haviva
In December 2012, Shavei Israel organized a special “study day” for 80 government and local city employees who will be working with the Bnei Menashe immigrants who are now returning from India. That meeting took place prior to the resumption of the aliyah. We wrote about it here. Now that the Bnei Menashe are finally here, many of those same government staff have paid a visit to our absorption center in Givat Haviva to meet the Bnei Menashe in person.
Last Wednesday, Shavei Israel arranged an important outing to Givat Haviva for representatives from the interior, education, welfare and social services, absorption and health ministries, as well as personnel working in the municipalities of Acre and Migdal HaEmek, where this first group of Bnei Menashe will be living after their initial absorption period.
Included in the group was the Director-General of the Absorption Ministry, Dima Apartsev. Shavei Israel’s Avi Mizrachi took the group on a tour of the facility and showed them some of the classes Shavei is running. These include courses on Judaism, Hebrew, “Getting Acquainted with Israel,” as well as special programs for the youngest Bnei Menashe.
Here are a few photos from the group. We also have an inspirational video of the Bnei Menashe children singing Od Avinu Hai! which you can find here.