August 13, 2008 / 12 Av 5768

34 GEORGIAN JEWS, INCLUDING FROM THE WAR-TORN CITY GORI, IMMIGRATE TO ISRAEL YESTERDAY

THE JEWISH AGENCY ANTICIPATES ANOTHER 100 OLIM FROM GEORGIA

The Jewish Agency for Israel brought 34 Georgian Jews to Israel yesterday (Aug. 12), including several from the war-torn city of Gori.

Jewish Agency Chairman Zeev Bielski told the Knesset's Immigration and Absorption Committee today (Aug. 13) that another 100 Jews from Georgia are anticipated to make aliyah.

Meya Papisnedov, from war-torn Gori, Georgia, arrives in Israel with her husband, one of 34 new immigrants brought to Israel by the Jewish Agency yesterday (August 12).

Fifteen-year-old Anri Baavovi, an only child from Gori, made aliyah with his aunt Eka Davarashvili and his cousin Gabi, 10, yesterday (Aug 12). Baavovi, pictured at the new immigrants arrival hall at Ben Gurion Airport, is one 34 new immigrants brought to Israel by the Jewish Agency yesterday. Baavovi's mother and father stayed behind in Tbilisi, hoping to return to Gori after the ceasefire to salvage their property and business.

Vazha Mamiashvili, a 37-year-old engineer from Tbilisi, with his wife Irena and two sons, Nikoloz and David, at the new immigrants' arrival hall at Ben Gurion airport, were among the 34 new immigrants brought to Israel yesterday (August 12) by the Jewish Agency. The Mamiashvili family will be staying in a Jewish Agency Absorption Center in Jerusalem, and will then make their home on Kibbutz Masada in the north of Israel. "We have been thinking about aliyah for years This war was the last straw. We knew it was time to come. In Tbilisi we always drank a toast to peace in Israel. Now, we are in Israel and we will drink a toast to peace in Georgia."

Yossi Djanashvili, 13, and his sister Hava, 10, from the city of Holon in Israel were in Tbilisi visiting their grandfather (pictured) and grandmother for the summer vacation when the war broke out. Their parents told them to come home immediately, and to bring their grandparents as new immigrants. The grandparents were among the 34 new immigrants brought to Israel by the Jewish Agency yesterday (Aug 12).

Jewish Agency Aliyah Department Director Eli Cohen greeted the new immigrants yesterday at Ben Gurion airport. "The current operation is unprecedented in its speed," he said. "In 72 hours we evacuated Jews under fire, helped them to obtain visas to leave Georgia, verified their eligibility to immigrate to Israel under the Law of Return, and got them on a plane to Israel."

For more information please contact Jacob Dallal, director of public relations at 212-339-6064 or 646-644-1205 or via e-mail at jacobd@jafi.org.