On August 12th, 2008 Vazha and Irina Mamisashvili and their two young sons Nikoloz, 8, and David, 5, were airlifted to Israel during the height of the war in Georgia. They arrived at Ben Gurion airport emotionally and physically drained, but with incredible hope for the future. They were home.  Two weeks later, the Mamisashvili family is living on Kibbutz Masada, in the Jordan Valley. They are part of the Jewish Agency's First Home in the Homeland program, in which new immigrant families are directly absorbed by Kibbutzim around the country.  More
 

34 New Immigrants Saved from the Fighting in Georgia

This emergency work that is now being done is only possible due to the foundation of professional and productive activities that have taken place throughout the year in Tbilisi and throughout the FSU, and which will result with many thousands of new immigrants arriving in Israel by the end of 2008.  More

Israel at sixty remains, with all its complexities, contrasts and contradictions, a success story of almost implausible dimensions. Born into poverty and war, upon its inception the young State could barely feed itself. Sixty years later, Israel can gaze with gratification and pride upon its phenomenal accomplishments. Yet, pride by no means translates into complacency. Israel is not all we would wish her to be; of course, no place is. Israel is a work in progress of the Jewish people. In these pages, we try to present a slice of Israel — spirited and sober, Jewish and worldly, introverted and extroverted, impassioned and fun. We invite you to come and visit: explore her cities, climb her mountains, swim in her waters, get a feel for her people, discover her spirituality, sing her songs and taste of her bounty. More