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Five star absorption center
New initiative brings Jewish immigrants to Israel in bid to counter tourism industry employee shortage
Yehudit Rahav
Dozens of Jews around the world participated recently in a hotel industry and Jewish Agency workshop in a bid to convince Jews to immigrate to Israel in order to counter the country's hotel industry employee shortage, Israel's leading newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported on Sunday.
In light of the renewed surge in tourism to Israel, local hotels are facing a shortage of 3,000 workers, with Israelis not quick to take up tourism jobs.
Under the special project, 60 Jews already made Aliyah to Israel from France, the former Soviet Union, and South America. All integrated in hotel positions around Israel in kitchens, cleaning, housekeeping, security, restaurants, and entertainment. All received the special immigrant aid package for new immigrants, and live at the same hotel they are employed by. In their free time they study Hebrew.
Most of the immigrant-employees arrived to the southern town of Eilat, including Vadim Frikaski who immigrated from Russia and works now at the Golden Tulip hotel as a sous-chef. For years he dreamt about making Aliyah but his wife refused.
"I decided to divorce her and realize my dream" he said emotionally.
"I came to Eilat following a visit by representative of the Jewish Agency and the hotel industry to Russia. I was impressed by the film about tourism in Israel, and since I worked already in upscale hotels in Switzerland and Germany I decided to continue doing it in Israel," he said.
Looking for partners
Most of the new immigrants who found work in the hotels are singles hoping to find a partner in Israel. One of them is 25-year-old Sergio Kleiman from Brazil who has a degree in physics but works as a landscaper in the hotel.
"I plan on staying here and make Israel my home, and later on bring my parents from Brazil," he said.
Sergio is not alone. Noesablla Eshakyev from Russia works as a housekeeping supervisor, Vladimir Namakin, also from Russia, works at the laundry room, Juan Pablo from Argentina works in the pool, Abba Dassa from Ethiopia works as a dishwasher in the kitchen.
"We view it as true Zionism" said David Fattal, chairman of the Fattal hotel chain who initiated the project in conjunction with with the Jewish Agency.
"The new immigrants receive the immigrant absorption aid package, study Hebrew in the ulpan, get a place to stay and work at the hotels. We, on the other hand, get the satisfaction of bringing to Israel Jewish people who want to make Israel their home," he said.
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