Private donations financed a flight that landed 190 Soviet Jewish immigrants in Israel on Wednesday, and hopes were expressed that it will set a trend.
Normally, the immigrants’ air passage is paid for by the Jewish Agency for Israel.
The new arrivals were funded by donations to the Swiss-based International Fund for Medical Education and Development, which raised $250,000 for the purpose.
Shlomo Hillel, chairman of Keren Hayesod, described the operation as an example of the civilized world’s willingness to support a humanitarian cause.
Keren Hayesod is the worldwide philanthropy which raises funds for Israel and other Jewish needs, except in the United States, where the philanthropic agency is the United Jewish Appeal.
Hillel predicted that private contributions soon would be financing more Soviet immigrant flights.
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