A three-day conference aimed at acquainting Jewish scientists in the former Soviet Union with scientific and technological education in Israel opened here Tuesday under the auspices of Russia and Israel.
The gathering at Dom Droozbah (Friendship House), attended by more than 250 Russian Jews, was seen by some as a potential recruiting ground for Israel’s scientific establishment.
This was initially denied, although Daniel Sperber, an Israeli delegate, nevertheless observed that many of those attending have already contemplated emigration.
He acknowledged that the conference can help “explain to them in advance how they should go about organizing their aliyah” and which industries in Israel “might be interested in their expertise.”
According to Sasha Levine, second secretary at the Israeli Embassy here, the purpose is to “teach people about the organization of science and technology in Israel” and how to make contacts with the appropriate individuals involved.
Another goal is to set up channels of communication between Russian and Israeli scientists, aimed at eventually establishing joint technological projects.
The Israelis are stressing to their Russian hosts that while government agreements on cooperation in science and technology are expressions of good will, research, development and production requires people.
The conference, the third of its kind, is sponsored by Israel’s Ministry of Science and Energy and the Foundation for Education and Culture in the Diaspora. It is supported by the Russian Academy of Science and the Ministry of Science, Higher Education and Technology.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
