Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., August 10, 2009 Av 20, 5769 | | Israel Time: 05:12 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Focus U.S.A. Travel Week's End Anglo File
American Maccabiah athletes
 (Nir Keidar)
Share |
Last update - 17:33 12/07/2009
Maccabiah athletes offered $3,500 to move to Israel
By Cnaan Liphshiz
Tags: jewish olympics 

Israel will offer more than $3,500 to any foreign Maccabiah participant who decides to stay, the Immigrant Absorption Ministry announced on Sunday.

The Maccabiah, often called "the Jewish Olympics," has brought some 5,700 Jewish athletes and their coaches to Israel from all over the world in time for the opening ceremony on Monday in Ramat Gan.

For the first time, the Ministry for Immigrant Absorption is offering participants from abroad a special assistance package to the tune of nearly NIS 15,000 in addition to standard assistance given to immigrants.
Advertisement
The grant will include a one-time stipend of NIS 4,000 for sports equipment and a monthly stipend of NIS 1,200 for nine months during the first year in university or college for anyone beginning school before 2011. Additionally, the ministry will subsidize salaries given to the new immigrants by their employers for a period of 24 months.

"Currently, each athlete marches under his or her national flag," Absorption Minister Sofa Landver said. "I hope that in future tournaments, many of them will march under one flag ? the flag of the State of Israel, maybe as part of Israel's own Olympic team."

As part of the effort to persuade athletes to stay, the ministry will hold a mega welcoming event on Sunday in Ramat Gan for foreign participants.

"The ministry has taken upon itself to help with the 18th Maccabiah, which is an opportunity for thousands of Jews from all over the world to acquaint themselves with the charms of the State of Israel," Landver added. "Having athletes, coaches and their relatives stay in Israel after the tournaments would be like winning gold for us."

The Maccabiah is Israel's largest sporting event. The 18th games have brought to Israel Some athletes from 60 countries. The international guests appear to be the reason that the Ministry decided to host the welcoming this evening at the Maccabiah compound. The party will introduce guests to various Israeli foods, dances and musical styles which will range from East European Kleizmers to Yemenite folk dancing.

"The event will express the immense diversification that is to be found in Israeli and Jewish culture," the ministry said.

Related articles:
  • Jewish swimmer to skip world championship for Maccabiah
  • Health Ministry may test all Maccabiah athletes for swine flu
  • Rehearsal for Maccabiah games opening ceremony held in Rishon Letzion
    • PROMOTION: Mamilla Hotel
    Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    MKs in Jerusalem brawl
    Rightist MKs scuffle with Arab families in East Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah
    Obama wooing Syria?
    Lebanese newspaper report suggests U.S. President offering 'new page ' to Assad.
      1.   Natural growth 14:25  |  Axel 12/07/09
      2.   Dan Kahn 18:31  |  peter 12/07/09
      3.   Bribe 18:46  |  Iqbal 12/07/09
      4.   Mr Netanyahu wants to keep `Israel on the map.` 23:10  |  Maureen Ann 12/07/09
      5.   sigh 23:43  |  Miriam 12/07/09
      6.   aliyah as psychological red herring 06:35  |  JOE JEW 13/07/09
      7.   No Next Day Delivery - Why Move ? 19:13  |  Phil 13/07/09
      8.   $3,500 to move to Israel?? Who are you kidding? 17:26  |  HH 14/07/09
      9.   lazy Israel ! 16:14  |  tubbert 16/07/09
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Dead Sea Salt
    From the Dead Sea Coupon cofe Haaretz for 10% off!
    hotel Jerusalem
    David Citadel Hotel, come stay at the finest of Jerusalem hotels.
    Master's Program in Desert Studies
    An innovative, multidisciplinary, international program specialized in Desert Research
    Dead Sea Cosmetics .Summer Specials
    Velvet Hand Cream just $14.90
    Handmade In Tel Aviv
    Itay Noy, Timepiece Maker
    ISRAEL ARMY SURPLUS STORE
    IDF insignia,Uniforms, Paladium Boots Watches, Israel Army T-shirts & Collectibles
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    More Headlines
    03:08 Palestinians: Progress made in Shalit swap deal
    02:06 Fatah backs two-state solution, sharpening rift with Hamas
    00:05 Haredi mob swarms Mayor Barkat's car in Jerusalem
    04:36 Gideon Levy / In Israel, success is measured in combat service
    19:12 Clinton: U.S. has no illusions Iran wants talks over nuclear program
    03:17 IAF bombs Gaza smuggling tunnel in response to Qassam
    03:50 Report: Israeli businessmen running sweatshop in Jordan
    04:53 TV ROUND-UP: Shalit talks, Netanyahu slams Gaza evacuation
    13:01 Happy hour culture is coming to Tel Aviv
    02:34 Netanya family busted with massive haul of stolen hotel goods
    04:54 Number of Israeli children contracting swine flu stabilizes
    22:14 Report: One-fifth of European Union will be Muslim by 2050
    22:03 Homeless Holocaust survivor leaves $100,000 gift to Hebrew University
    16:27 Israel, Hezbollah ramp up war of words across Lebanon border
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Site rules |
    | Israel 2009 election results | Makom: Engaging on Israel
    | Search engine marketing
    Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved