July 27, 2010

JERUSALEM  -- More than 1,200 Russian speakers participated in 150 educational sessions at Limmud FSU Jerusalem 2010.

The Jewish Agency-organized program, which ended July 23, offered three days of activities broadcast live on the Limmud FSU and Jewish Agency websites, as well as on ejewish philanthropy.

Along with the educational sessions, a special event marked three decades years since the mass immigration from the Soviet Union in the late 1980s and 1990s. Limmud FSU awards were presented to immigrants and an institution for their contributions to Israeli society.

Yelena Yaralova received an award for her contribution to Israeli theater; Tatiyana Belokonenko, the plastic arts; Olympic pole vaulter Alex Averbuch, sport; and Ira Ginzburg, design and graphics. Also, the Israel Defense Forces program Nativ won an award for its educational work helping new immigrant soldiers.

Limmud FSU Jerusalem’s co-chairs, the Russian-born Habimah actress Evgenya Dodina and Yaron Deckel, hosted the opening ceremony. In addition to Israeli President Shimon Peres and opposition leader Tzipi Livni, other speakers included Yuli Edelstein, minister of information and diaspora affairs, and Jewish Agency Chairman Natan Sharansky.

At a reception prior to the opening, the audience heard from Gideon Sa’ar, Israel's minister of education; Danny Ayalon, the deputy foreign minister; Alan Hoffman, director-general of the Jewish Agency; and Carolyn Bogush, chair of Limmud UK, where Limmud had its beginnings 30 years ago.