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Correspondence from Bucharest from E. Manea

The seminar of the Tnuat Aliya Romania (Youth's Movement for Emigration to Israel) was held between 9th and 11th of May, 2003, in Sinaia. The seminar was organized by the local branch of the Jewish Agency for Romania (Sohnut), managed by Mrs Tova Ben Nun, and was attended by some 270 young Jewish men and women who came from different cities in the country. The event (dedicated to the 55th anniversary of Israel's Independence) debated issues related to Jewish identity, Zionism and emigration. Several programs of the Sochnut were presented during the seminar. Among these may be mentioned: the Na'aleh program, which allows 14 to 16-year-old teenagers to attend a high-scool in Israel and graduate with an Israeli diploma, while keeping a tourist status; a program for students; programs of training for almost every profession; the pilot-trip to Israel program for young people who never visited the country.

Several guests from Israel took part to the debates organized for groups of pupils, students and young families: Haim Atziz (University of Jerusalem), Alex Marshon (general manager of the Jewish Agency for Eastern Europe and the Former USSR), Tova Pinto (manager of the Department for Eastern Europe of the Jewish Agency for Israel, based in Budapest), Meir Nitzan (mayor of the town of Rishon LeZion), dr. Gustav Meiseles, Tommy Kovary (medical school student in Jerusalem who emigrated to Israel two years ago), Malka Kassuto (head of the "Kibuzim - first home in the homeland" Department), Eli Taran (an official in the Ministry of Education in charge of 14 to 16-year-old pupils).

The guest list also included representatives of the Embassy of Israel in Bucharest, such as commercial attaché Hezi Pollyack and military attaché Ganem Hamada, who talked about different aspects of the current state of affairs in Israel. Dr. Nicolae Cajal (president of the Federation of the Jewish Communities in Romania), counsel Sorin Iulian (secretary general of the Federation) and other Jewish personalities in Romania were invited. The Israeli dance group "Hora", of the Tnuat Aliya's youth club in Bucharest and the choirs of the communities in Oradea and Brasov entertained the participants.

An e-mail received from Philip "Fishl" Kutner (San Mateo, California, USA) (fishl@derbay.org) informs about a website dedicated to Yiddish (http://www.derbay.org), inviting all those who are interested in the Yiddish language to visit it.

"Our mission is to foster the preservation and propagation of theYiddish language (mame-loshn) and the associated Yiddish culture, music, theater, literature and poetry via the International Association of Yiddish Clubs", says Kutner. The site contains an international Yiddish events calendar, lists of US Klezmer groups, of Yiddish performers and translators and of 250 Yiddish song titles. The site also presents thematic Yiddish word lists and many other related topics.

The award ceremony for the Sion Prize 2002-2003 (whose winner is the writer and playwright Ioana Atlas) will take place on Wednesday, May 28th, at 19:00, at the House of Writers in Tel Aviv (6th, Kaplan St.). Speeches will be delivered by prof. Andrei Strihan (president of the jury for the Sion Prize, established by the Association of Israeli Writers of Romanian Language) and Bruno Landesberg (owner of the Sano concern, sponsor of the award). "The Revenge" - an awarded play performed by the well-known Romanian actor Stefan Iordache - will be broadcast.

The host of the evening will be the poet Shaul Carmel, president of the afore-mentioned Association.