July 31, 2008 / 28 Tammuz 5768

The main event for participants in the Israel Experience programs took place this year at the foot of Jerusalem’s walls and marked the 60th anniversary of the State of Israel.

Participating in the event were about 4,000 youths and students from all over the world who are currently in Israel.  They form part of the 30,000 participants of the Jewish Agency's Israel Experience programs for the year 2008.

The event that took place in the Valley of Ben Hinom included greetings from the Jewish Agency executiv and a sound and light gathering that dealt with the achievements of the State of Israel during its 60 year existence.  A special section was devoted to the issue of ransoming captives while mentioning the return of the kidnapped soldiers’ bodies and offering a prayer for the safe return of Gilad Shalit. 

Amos Hermon, the chairman of the board of directors of the “Israel Experience” company greeted the participants on behalf of the Jewish Agency Executive and called upon the students to serve as ambassadors for the State of Israel in whatever forum that they may happen to find themselves, and likewise, he invited them to come participate in the MASA programs that allow young people to savor the Israel Experience in various programs that extend over a year.

Amos Hermon told the young people that Israeli society attaches extreme importance to the arrival of tens of thousands of students to Israel and challenged them to take a genuine role in the building of Israeli state and society.